Small Business Center


South Dallas/ Fair Park Opportunity Fund


​Mission

The purpose of the South Dallas/Fair Park Opportunity Fund is to provide loans and grants to promote economic development and support human development initiatives in the neighborhoods surrounding Fair Park. Loans or grants are available to support businesses or entities located with specific census tracts, or that serves a population that is made up of at least 90% of residents from those census tracts.

Grants and loans are available in the following program areas:

  • Human Development contracts must demonstrate measurable outcomes related to the following goals in the service area: increase workforce participation and readiness; stimulate small business activity and growth; improve health outcomes; improve public safety; or, improve educational outcomes.
  • Economic Development projects must demonstrate the creation of new jobs, the retention of existing jobs or an increase in the Service Area tax base.
  • 25% of annually budgeted funds may be awarded as grants; a maximum of $200,000 may be awarded for human development contracts.
  • A minimum of 75% of budgeted funds must be awarded as repayable loans

More details on the program requirements can be found in the Program Statement

Projects

Projects are accepted on a rolling basis. The application form and underwriting criteria will be the current forms and criteria in use by the Office of Economic Development, and the size of any loan or grant will be determined based on that underwriting criteria.

Eligible Program Areas can be seen here. 


Apply Today! 

Announcement

As of August 1, 2024, the Small Business Center Incentives Programs will be transitioned to the City of Dallas Economic Development Department. Please contact Economic Development for current and future inquiries.

City of Dallas Economic Development

https://www.dallasecodev.org/

Incentives Overview

https://www.dallasecodev.org/599/Incentives

Incentives Inquiry Tool

https://dallasecodev-economicdevelopment.app.transform.civicplus.com/forms/31186

City of Dallas Departments and Offices

https://dallascityhall.com/departments/Pages/default.aspx