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A new grant program is hoping to drive economic growth in Louisville’s South End by supporting new and existing businesses.
In September, Mayor Craig Greenberg announced a $2 million fund through the Louisville Economic Development Alliance’s METCO loan program. The program is two-fold, with $1 million going to loans and grants for existing businesses within the South End.
The second part of the fund aims to attract both local and national restaurants to the Dixie Highway corridor, offering up to $30 per square foot for new tenants in a 5,000-square-foot or larger space. New restaurants can use the money for ADA improvements, buildout costs and upgrades. They must also sign a five-year lease agreement to be eligible for the program.
Metro Councilman Khalil Batshon, who represents part of South Louisville, said Metro Council members, including Crystal Bast, Dan Seum and Jonathan Joseph, worked closely with the mayor’s office to attract greater development within the South End. Batshon said for a long time, constituents have felt the South End was “left out of the loop and the last to get the opportunity.”
“We felt that this was a great way to incentivize not only helping small businesses grow and expand into the community but also incentivize and expand on more anchor tenants,” Batshon said. “… Our constituents deserve some of the same amenities as other parts of our communities.”
Vince Jarboe, president of the Southwest Dream Team, a community-led group that aims to drive economic development within the South End, said the two-fold program will support existing businesses and help attract something the area has been missing: locally owned restaurants.
“It’s pretty easy for corporate fast casual businesses to come in, you know Panera and Chick-fil-A,” Jarboe said. “I’m not discounting that, I’m glad that they’re there, but trying to get more of a local chef-owned restaurant to come out there has been tough.”
Nick Jewell is one business owner who’s already applied for the incentive program, hoping to open a Crumbl location in the South End in 2026.
Jewell said he hopes the loan program will help him open on a much faster timeline, allowing him to renovate the signage, storeroom and front area to be in line with the cookie franchise’s standards.
“With the fund, this allows us to create even more jobs for our contractors that are building the space out, getting it open even sooner to the public instead of having to wait through a long, arduous process and more investment dollars,” Jewell said.
Jarboe said he believes business costs, like rent and the increasing price of goods and materials, can be daunting and both funding programs can help businesses get their feet underneath them.
“Sometimes I think that the amount of money that people want for the property, whether they’re selling or leasing it, is pretty high,” Jarboe said. “So I think that this is a good incentive for some because some of the costs are underwritten by the city.”
Jarboe said residents of the South End are excited to promote and support businesses that move into the area, and programs like this keep the economic momentum growing.
“When some of these places come into the Dixie corridor, people immediately start going there because they’re trying to tell the owners that we’re glad you’re here, thanks for coming out here,” Jarboe said. “I think that it helps with the momentum of what we’re trying to accomplish. And I think people take pride in it.”
Applications can be submitted at LEDA’s website: louisvillealliance.org/southend.
Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com.
