Business
City of Berlin Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
The Berlin Community Development Corporation administers the Small Cities CDBG Close fund for the City of Berlin offering low-interest loans for Business Retention and Expansion in the City of Berlin.
United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)
The Berlin Community Development Corporation administers the USDA-RLF program that offers low-interest loans for small emerging businesses in the City of Berlin.
USDA RLF Manual and Application
TID #15 (Downtown Tax Increment District) Funding Options:
- TID Facade Improvement Program Information
- TID Facade Improvement Program Application
- TID Building Improvement Program Information
- TID Building Improvement Program Application
- TID Program Release Form – REQUIRED FOR BOTH PROGRAMS
- TID Map
For more information on the above programs, please contact our Planning & Development Director Tim Ludolph at (920) 361-5156 or tludolph@cityofberlin.wi.gov.
Department of Administration Community Development Block Grant:
- Economic Development Program
- Public Facilities Economic Development Program
- Emergency Assistance Program
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Funding:
United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development – Note Some Programs have limited open periods.
Other Business Funding:
Redevelopment
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation:
- Brownfield Site Assessment Grant
- Brownfields Grant Program
- Community Development Investment Grant
- Idle Sites Redevelopment Program
- Historic Preservation Tax Credit (With WI Historical Society and DOR)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:
- Wisconsin Assessment Monies
- Ready for Reuse Loan and Grant Program
- Dry Cleaner Environmental Response Fund (DERF)
- Stewardship Program
In unusual situations of contamination, the Department of Natural Resources may assist with Environmental Protection Agency Funding
- EPA Brownfield Grants:
- assessment grants;
- revolving loan fund grants; and
- cleanup grants.
- TID #15 (Downtown Tax Increment District) Funding Options:
- TID Facade Improvement Program Information
- TID Facade Improvement Program Application
- TID Building Improvement Program Information
- TID Building Improvement Program Application
- TID Program Release Form – REQUIRED FOR BOTH PROGRAMS
- TID Map
For more information on the above programs, please contact our Planning & Development Director Tim Ludolph at (920) 361-5156 or tludolph@cityofberlin.wi.gov.
Residential
City of Berlin residents can apply for the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to offer housing rehabilitation program for community’s ability to conserve, rehabilitate, and improve residential properties occupied by low-to-moderate (LMI) residents. The City of Berlin is part of Juneau County Housing Authority and can apply for the funds through them. Click here.
CDBG Residential Rehabilitation Brochure
United State Department of Agriculture Rural Development:
- New* Single Family Housing Repair Loans + Grants (Section 504)
- Housing Preservation & Revitalization Demonstration Loans & Grants
- Multi-Family Housing Rental Assistance
- Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans
- Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants
Affordable Housing Loan Program (TID):
The City of Berlin’s TID Affordable Housing Loan Program is a housing stock renewal loan program that is intended to improve the quality, functionality, affordability and attractiveness of homes in Berlin. The program was created by the City of Berlin’s Common Council. Most of Berlin’s housing stock was constructed many years prior and although most of the homes have been well maintained, many of them no longer meet the needs of today’s households, particularly young families with children.
Funds from the program will be available in the form of a loan with 2% interest over the life of the loan. Loans will be funded using TID funds from a closing TID district in the city. The primary goals of the program include rejuvenating existing and aging housing stock to make it more attractive to buyers, especially young families, and well as working to close the income gap through a program making repairing a property in the Berlin community more accessible to all.
TID Affordable Housing Information Sheet
TID Affordable Housing Loan Application
Tax Incremental Finance (TIF)
Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) is a financing option that allows a municipality (city, village or town) to fund infrastructure and other improvements, through property tax revenue of newly developed property. A municipality identifies an area, the tax incremental district (TID), as appropriate for a certain type of development. The municipality identifies projects to encourage and facilitate the desired development. Then as property values rise, the municipality uses the property tax paid on that development to pay for the projects. After the project costs are paid, the municipality closes the TID. The municipality, school(s), county, and technical college are able to levy taxes on the value of the new development.
Types of TID:
- Blight
- Rehabilitation
- Conservation
- Industrial
- Mixed-Use
- Environmental Remediation
City of Berlin Tax Increment Districts and Plans
TID #15 Funding Options:
- TID Facade Improvement Program Information
- TID Facade Improvement Program Application
- TID Building Improvement Program Information
- TID Building Improvement Program Application
- TID Program Release Form – REQUIRED FOR BOTH PROGRAMS
NEW – TID Affordable Housing Loan Program:
The City of Berlin’s TID Affordable Housing Loan Program is a housing stock renewal loan program that is intended to improve the quality, functionality, affordability and attractiveness of homes in Berlin. The program was created by the City of Berlin’s Common Council. Most of Berlin’s housing stock was constructed many years prior and although most of the homes have been well maintained, many of them no longer meet the needs of today’s households, particularly young families with children.
Funds from the program will be available in the form of a loan with 2% interest over the life of the loan. Loans will be funded using TID funds from a closing TID district in the city. The primary goals of the program include rejuvenating existing and aging housing stock to make it more attractive to buyers, especially young families, and well as working to close the income gap through a program making repairing a property in the Berlin community more accessible to all.
TID Affordable Housing Information Sheet
TID Affordable Housing Loan Application
For more information on the above programs, please contact our Planning & Development Director Tim Ludolph at (920) 361-5156 or tludolph@cityofberlin.wi.gov.
Tourism Events & Projects
Nonprofit organizations can apply for room tax funds for tourism events or projects that will likely generate paid overnight stays in the City of Berlin.
Tourism event or projects includes:
- Marketing projects, including advertising media buys; creation and distribution of printed or electronic promotional tourist materials; or efforts to recruit conventions, sporting events, or motor coach groups
- Transient tourist information services
The Tourism Commission reviews applications two times a year: Spring and Fall. Dates of application periods will be announced as they become available.
The 2025 Spring Grant Period is now open through March 30, 2025, see the links below to Apply. Applications will be reviewed at the April meeting of the Travel and Tourism Commission.
Tourism Grant Event or Project Application