A newly approved grant program aims to encourage longtime Calumet City businesses to stay in the community and to help them grow.

Through the business retention grant program approved last week, a commercial or industrial business could be eligible for grants ranging between $500 to $50,000, Calumet City attorney Joe Montana said.

"(The grant) has got to support private investment and it has to aid a business in expansion plans or a real property improvement or something to help increase employment opportunities," he said.

The criteria could be tweaked as the program evolves, Montana said, but so far the business would have to have been in Calumet City a minimum of 10 years and would have to provide a percentage of matching funds.

The grant money could be used for infrastructure repairs, beautification, lighting, fencing, landscaping, infrastructure, water, sewer, electrical, parking improvements, signs, security and permanent fixtures.

Because appearances matter, the business retention grant program should help boost businesses and the community, 4th Ward Alderman Brian Wilson said.

"I think it will be beneficial to some of our longstanding businesses in the community who it's devised to help," he said. "We'll see, hopefully, how it goes and how it works."

Businesses would not have to repay the grant money as long as they stay in town for five years, Montana said. If they were to leave or go out of business, the city would place a lien on the property and the business owner would have to repay the city, he said.

Harry Morton Jr., president of Morton Roofing & Engineering Inc., has been in business in Calumet City since 1972, he said. Although he's semi-retired, he said the program should help other businesses, especially those looking to expand.

"I can't see why it would hurt, doing that," said Morton, a former Calumet City Chamber of Commerce president.

Calumet City Community and Economic Development Coordinator Jim Gigliotti said interested business owners should contact his office and request an application. The Mayor's Advisory Committee on Business Development will review the applications and make recommendations to the City Council.

Gigliotti encouraged struggling businesses to contact his office. Even if they don't qualify for this program, he said there might be other help available.

"One of our goals is to help the group of businesses that have had the least opportunities to have any type of assistance," he said. "As we all know, if you are a brand-new business and building a new building, there are all kinds of opportunities for assistance. We definitely care about all the businesses in the community and want them all to succeed."