The Tucker Development Authority at its June meeting heard reports that a number of businesses in the area are interested in, or have already applied for, the Tucker Development Facade Grant program.

TDFG, according to the authority’s website, provides matching grant awards up to $12,500 to eligible businesses, and will match up to 50% of the project – with a maximum of $5,000 for minor projects and $10,000 for major projects.

“This program is a reimbursement grant program, meaning grant funds will only be provided once projects are approved, and paid invoices have been provided to the TDA,” the website said.

A total of $50,000 is available through the program and will be awarded on a first-come first-served basis until funds are depleted or the fiscal year ends, the website said.

In order to be considered for a TDFG, businesses and commercial property owners must make an application, which will be evaluated by the TDA. The projects must comply with the city’s planning, zoning, and permitting requirements.

Tucker Economic Development Director Jackie Moffo told the seven-member panel that at least 10 businesses have either put in applications for the grants or indicated they were in the process of gathering information to make the request.

“Just last week we received five [applications],” Moffo told the panel at its June 3 meeting. “To date, we have requests that total about $35,000.”

Some of the requests, Moffo reported, involved businesses that were out of the defined area of eligibility. The group discussed revisiting the boundaries in July.

The owners of Nicky’s Undefeated, a Philadelphia-inspired restaurant that is slated to open this summer on Main Street, have made an application for one grant, and plans to submit another, Moffo said.

“They are looking at installing a sliding window for take-out orders, which would be great for them and for downtown,” she said.

In other action, the TDA also decided to table a discussion regarding the possible addition of a trolley tour program that would give participants an opportunity to explore restaurant’s, parks and other city attractions. The panel heard reports about the success of a similar program in Dunwoody, but agreed to wait for several parks and other attractions to be completed before considering a full-scale program.