Business & Development Resources

photos of businesses and workers

Interested in opening a business Downtown?

The Downtown Department is here to help connect you with resources:

  • Information on how to access federal and state tax credits for property rehabilitation
  • Access to free design renderings for downtown building facade improvements, signage, and lighting
  • Downtown Tyler Revitalization Grant for approved building renovations (available to business and property owners)
  • Information on available properties
  • Connection to successful business models and mentors in other Texas Main Street communities 

Give us a call at (903) 593-6905 or contact us. We can't wait to help you thrive in Downtown Tyler!

Downtown Revitalization Program

The Downtown Revitalization Program is part of the City of Tyler's goal to encourage economic development. The primary goal is to increase the occupancy of the City's Downtown.
The secondary goals of the program are to:
  1. Address safety issues
  2. Improve the Downtown aesthetics and building facades
  3. Extend the life-cycle of existing historic buildings by implementing appropriate design standards for the rehabilitation of historic properties.

Downtown Revitalization Grant 2026(PDF, 762KB)

 

 

Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone

The City of Tyler Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TlRZ) was established on September 28, 2016 and consists of approximately 574.64 acres of land located in the City’s central core.

City of Tyler TIRZ #4 is bounded by W. Queen Street to the north, Palace Avenue to the west, Front Street to the south, and Beckham Avenue on the eastern border.

What is Tax Increment Financing?

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) is a tool to help finance public improvements and development projects within a defined area. A municipality makes an area eligible for TIF by designating it a TIRZ. Within the designated zone, all of the incremental tax revenue growth flows to an established tax increment fund to help pay for public improvements within the zone.

Following incremental growth in property values and the collection of tax revenue in the established TIRZ fund, the TIRZ board and the City Council disburse funds to promote revitalization efforts within the zone.

While TIRZ’s are generally established by cities, other taxing jurisdictions such as a county or junior college are allowed to participate in the zone at their own discretion.

Tax Increment Revenue Overview

The City of Tyler TIRZ #4 base value was established in 2016 with a real property taxable value base of $97,124,075. The City of Tyler has chosen to contribute 100% of its incremental tax revenue to the TIRZ fund for a period of 30 years, while Smith County and Tyler Junior College have agreed to contribute 50% of their incremental tax revenue to the TIRZ for years 1-5, and 75% of their incremental tax revenue for years 6-20.