Funding

Funding

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.

RLF Manual and Application

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

KIVA Loans

TID #15 (Downtown Tax Increment District) Funding Options:

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:

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Funding:

 

United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development – Note Some Programs have limited open periods. 

 

Other Business Funding:

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

CDBG Homeowner Application

CDBG Rental Application

CDBG Income Limit

United State Department of Agriculture Rural Development:

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:

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

Tourism Grant Event or Project Reporting

Tourism Grant Review Form