The Lakewood Small Business Grant Program (SBPG) offers local business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to locate in/relocate to the City a 100% forgivable loan up to 15% of total start-up or expansion project costs. Funding is capped at $50,000 per project and scaled to fill the gap between total project costs and the sum of 75%+ SBA-financing and the business owner’s required 10% equity contribution.

Requirements

• Minimum 10% owner equity contribution
• Minimum 75%+ SBA loan financing
• SBA Small Business Development Center (SBDC) consultation
• New Job creation & reporting

Loan Terms

• Forgiven over 3-5 years
• 0% interest
• No payments

Eligible Uses

• Leasehold improvements
• Real estate acquisition
• New construction
• Exterior building improvements
• Signage
• Selected equipment

*other uses considered on a case-by-case basis

Application Evaluation Criteria

• # full-time equivalent jobs created
• Return on investment (e.g. annual payroll * 1.5% municipal income tax rate)
• Repayment period (# years to repay grant via payroll taxes)
• Owner/entrepreneur’s experience & track record
• Neighborhood/commercial district & overall economic impact

Get started by completing the SBPG Intake Form!

For additional information contact  Dan Wyman @ 216.529.7680 / daniel.wyman@lakewoodoh.net. 

Madison on the Move is the collective name for a number of ongoing projects along Madison Avenue. The city has invested millions of dollars to transform the city’s second-busiest commercial district, with investments ranging from a complete resurfacing project to a focused storefront renovation program.

Help Lakewood’s community of soon-to-be entrepreneurs turn their ideas into business realities. Startup Lakewood Initiative is a program approved by the City of Lakewood, which is geared toward making Lakewood a more appealing place for entrepreneurs to build and grow ideas into legitimate businesses.

To get more information, or to find out how to get involved, email info@startuplakewood.com.

Commercial Property Revitalization Program: Up to $30,000 in grant assistance for the renovation of Lakewood storefronts. For more information call program director Mary Leigh at (216) 529-HOME (4663) or send an email to dcd@lakewoodoh.net.

• Commercial Property Revitalization Program Guidelines
• Commercial Property Revitalization Program Summary
• Complete Commercial Revitalization Program Application
• Available Funding Options in Northeast Ohio

• The Board of Building Standards reviews applications for variances to the city’s Building Code.
• The Architectural Board of Review considers architectural proposal for commercial and residential properties.
• The Sign Review Board reviews all sign proposals, including those that require a variance.
• The Planning Commission reviews requests for lot consolidations, lot splits, major and minor subdivisions, determination of similar and conditional use.
• The seven-member Loan Approval Board reviews and approves applications for the various rehabilitation programs offered by the City of Lakewood’s Division of Community Development (DCD).
• The Board of Zoning Appeals reviews applications for variances to the zoning code.
• The Lakewood Heritage Advisory Board has been established to serve in an advisory capacity for the purpose of educating, informing, and making recommendations to City Officials, Departments, Boards and Commissions, and the community on matters relating to historic preservation.

For more information about any of the boards or commissions, or to request past agendas or related materials, call the planning department at 216-529-6630.

• Application to serve on Board/Commission
• Architectural Board of Review/Sign Review/Board of Building Standards Application
• Board of Zoning Appeals Application
• Lakewood Planning Commission Application
• To nominate a Lakewood property for historic designation, click here.

The role of the Office of Community Relations is to ensure the widespread recognition and use of the City of Lakewood’s resources, programs and capabilities, enhance the City’s image by communicating its assets and development both externally and internally, increase awareness of the City’s programs, resources and facilities, and encourage respect for diversity.

The Lakewood Community Vision is an expression of where we stand as a community and where we hope to be in the future. To see the Vision, click here.

• Commercial Design Guide
• Home Rehabilitation Design Build – 12217 Plover RFP
• Understanding Bike Lanes in Lakewood
• Understanding Shared Lane Markings in Lakewood
• 12th Annual Historic Preservation Awards Presentation
• Contractor Section 3 Screening Form
• 2012 Housing Survey Map
• Parking Meter Permit Program for Businesses
• Small Business is Big Business in Lakewood
• Financial and Technical Resources
• Tips on securing your Certificate of Occupancy
• Outdoor Dining Design Guidelines
• Zoning Map
• Building Line Map

• Bicycle Master Plan
• Gold Coast Master Plan Presentation
• City-Wide Parking Study
• Lakewood Park Master Plan
• Parks System Strategic Plan
• Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan
• Birdtown Action Plan
• Kauffman Park Master Plan
• Uptown Madison Parking Study
• Parking Study Book, March 2010
• Parks Master Plan 2015