Five retailers to score free rent and $1,000 for holiday pop up shops

This summer, the City of Cincinnati released its Downtown Retail Action Plan. The plan outlines a series of strategies that will help create a more lively retail environment for residents and visitors.
 
Part of that plan includes Cincy Pop Shop, which will open up vacant storefronts during the holiday season to future business owners who may have had trouble finding accessible, affordable and flexible spaces. The city teamed up with Downtown Cincinnati Inc. to help business owners to create, expand and nurture their businesses with relatively low risk.
 
As part of Cincy Pop Shop, applicants will receive free rent from Nov. 1-Dec. 31 in individual or co-op retail spaces in the Central Business District. Exact locations will be announced in the next few weeks, but they will be near other active retail spaces, holiday events and Fountain Square.
 
The city has allocated up to $1,000 for each selected business, with a total of up to $5,000 available for the entire program. Applicants will be able to use the funds, which are made possible through the city’s Community Development Block Grant, for merchandising materials like racks, hangers, shelving, window displays and payment processing equipment.
 
Applications for Cincy Pop Shop will be accepted through Oct. 23, and winning applicants will be announced on Oct. 28. Applicants will be able to move into their retail space on Nov. 1, and a kickoff event will be held on Nov. 25.
 
Interested business owners can download the application here.