Apply for grants before Sept. 30
Businesses looking to spruce up their exteriors can apply to the Taylor Economic Development Corp. for beautification funding, officials said.
With a $200,000 overall budget, the Building Infrastructure Grants are donated to local businesses to help with outside improvements.
“The Building Infrastructure Grant is what the Taylor EDC has to offer as a matching grant,” said Regina Carlson, vice president. “It’s up to $30,000 and is available to anyone in downtown Taylor or the corridors.”
Downtown retailers, restaurants and cafes, servicebased businesses and commercial property owners are the biggest beneficiaries of the funding.
At the moment, the EDC has approved 15 businesses for BIGs and nine of those have completed their projects. The total amount for approval is $158,183.
According to Carlson, the grants cover painting, awnings, signage, windows, doors, murals or anything that beautifies and helps make a structure’s appearance more appealing.
“We have an application and it’s an easy process as far as filling it out and setting up a meeting,” Carlson said. “The process consists of filling out the application at the EDC building or on the website and submitting it with the amount you’re requesting. From there, it’s reviewed and you get a notice to proceed upon approval.”
The website is tayloredc.
org/ and the office is at 111 W. Third St. The window to submit a grant application and use it ends Sept. 30.
A year ago, 16 businesses benefited from grants totaling $130,116 total.
However, the EDC was not allowed to carry over the remaining $69,000 from the $200,000 available.
“It’s use it or lose it,” Carlson said.
Businesses benefitting from the grants during the previous fiscal year, 2024-25, included Best Caliber Rental, Donuts 95, Taylor Nails, Texan Café and Pie Shop, Texas Bay Seafood and Steak, Lake Drive Shopping Center, Barbie Salon, Sky & Co. Jewelry, New Orleans Shaved Ice, Monarcas Mexican Restaurant, Sweet & Southern Finds, Roadrunner Charters, the Hawt Spot, and businesses located at 404 E. Fourth St., 200 E. Fourth St. and 316 Elliott St.
Businesses receiving BIGS and finishing projects for the current 2025-26 fiscal year are Taylor Tea House, McCleery’s, Vintique Mall, Vintique Collective, Haciendo Coffee, and businesses located at 104 W. Fourth St., 119 E. Third St., 121 E. Third St. and 311 N. Main St.
“It’s amazing with everything that’s happening. Good things are happening here in Taylor,” Carlson said. “We want the jobs here to be beneficial to our residents. There’s so much here and we need to get the word out.”
The EDC, created by voters in 1994, is a quasigovernmental agency funded by one-half percent of the annual sales tax in Taylor. Though separate from the city, the City Council appoints the five EDC board members for three-year terms.
