What Is the Security Grant Program?
The objective of the Security Grant Program is to reduce the opportunity for crime and create a safer environment for employees and customers. 

Maximum Awards:
The program provides 50% reimbursement as follows:

• All eligible buildings (unless shopping centers):....................$3,000
• Shopping centers under 30,000 sq/ft with at least 3 retail tenants:...........................................................................$9,000
• Shopping centers over 30,000 sq/ft with at least 4 retail tenants:...........................................................................$15,000
  

Eligible Businesses:

• Owners or tenants of buildings that are used by and for for-profit business.   Use of the building must conform to all current codes and ordinances; non-conforming uses of any kind are not allowed.  Prohibited businesses include national and regional chains, new construction projects, bars, nightclubs, tattoo parlors, body piercing shops, check cashing, adult businesses, non-profits, businesses operating from residential property, and any non-conforming uses.  Portions of buildings occupied by ineligible businesses of any kind, including non-profit entities, are ineligible for program funds.  
• Owners of vacant buildings shall be eligible if the owner's purpose is to rehabilitate the structure to attract eligible businesses.  Expenses will be reimbursed only after an eligible business occupies the space and opens to the public.
• Owners and tenants are eligible to re-apply until the maximum award is reached.  
• All related City/County real property taxes of any kind must be paid in full.

Eligible Geography:
Business, office and industrial zoned property located in the City's  Business Revitalization Geography are eligible.  Click here to find out if your property lies within the eligible geography or view the Business Corridor Revitalization Program Geography Map(246k/pdf).

Eligible Improvements:
Based on a security analysis by a certified Char-Meck Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Police Officer, improvements may include:

How the Program Works:

1. Applicant submits an initial application (Part 1) to determine eligibility.  A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) Officer will visit the site to conduct a security analysis and will make security improvement recommendations, prioritized in order of importance.
2. The CMPD recommendations, in order of importance as originally ranked by the Officer, are the improvements deemed eligible for participation in the program.  The recommendations are provided to the Applicant with Part 2 of the application.
3. Applicant completes and submits Part 2 of the application identifying which CMPD recommendations they are choosing to complete, together with cost estimates for each item.  Eligibility for the recommended items is based upon priority ranking as originally determined by the Officer.
4. City enters into a grant contract with Applicant for 50% of the costs for the CMPD approved items, in the priority ranking that the Officer originally assigned.
5. Applicant completes installation of the eligible improvements and provides City with paid receipts and cancelled checks for work completed,  together with photos of each completed improvement.
6. City funds 50% of actual costs incurred, up to the maximum amount of the grant awarded, after completion of the work and per the grant contract.

Additional Program Information:

• Projects may be phased, but sites are limited to the maximum award set forth above.
• Work is expected to be done by professionals and to be completed within 90 days of approval.
• No expenses will be reimbursed for work done prior to the grant being awarded and the grant contract signed.
• Staff will be permitted to inspect the project to ensure conformance with the grant contract.

For Additional Information or to Submit an Application:
Contact the Economic Development Office at 704-432-1395, or download the online Security Grant Application (151k/doc) (48k/pdf).