This initiative, launched by the Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association (FVDA) and powered by a grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, is designed to help our local business owners navigate the rapid growth of our town.

With Fuquay-Varina growing at an annual rate of 6.59%, the landscape of our community is changing quickly. The goal of this program is to provide downtown businesses with the strategic capital needed to remain competitive, modernize operations, and capture the opportunities presented by our growing population.

Program Intent

We are looking for "high-impact" projects. This grant is not intended for day-to-day survival, but for strategic investment. We want to fund tangible assets—such as equipment, technology, or renovations—that will directly increase your capacity to attract new customers and grow your revenue.

Award Details

• Grant Amount: Selected businesses will receive an Impact Award of up to $5,000.

• Eligible Locations: Businesses must be located within the DC-1 or DC-2 Downtown Districts.

• Business Size: Applicants must have 50 or fewer employees.

• Timeline: Grant Application is due by 11:59pm on February 20, 2026. All awarded funds must be spent and documented by June 30, 2026.

Investment Categories

Your proposal should fall into one of the following categories:

• Renovations: (e.g., façade upgrades, signage, or interior improvements to enhance foot traffic).

• Equipment: (e.g., machinery or tools that increase your production or service capacity).

• Technology: (e.g., new POS systems or e-commerce platforms to reach more customers).

• Inventory: (e.g., initial stock for a new product line expansion).

Additional grant information: 

• In compliance with the Duke Energy Foundation’s requirements, these funds cannot be used for ongoing operational expenses, including payroll, rent, or utilities.

• There is no 'match' required for this grant.

• Funding will be awarded for future projects only.

• The FVDA will serve as the administrator of funds for this grant. They will pay invoices directly or via receipts for completed work only.

• The FVDA will not pay for deposits.

• To ensure payment, please be aware all work must be done in accordance with Town ordinance.