Atlanta Beltline's Business Façade pARTnership Grant Program Transforms Five More Local BusinessesAtlanta Beltline's Business Façade pARTnership Grant Program Transforms Five More Local Businesses

The Atlanta Beltline has transformed five local businesses using the vision of local artists through the Beltline Business Façade pARTnership Grant program.The collaborative murals and storefront improvements make the businesses more accessible to Beltline users by enhancing visibility and nurturing the connection with nearby communities.

Currently in its third cycle, the grant program investment totals $538,838. Since 2019, the Business Façade pARTnership Grant has successfully completed storefront improvements for ten businesses through three cycles. Previous recipients include Carver Neighborhood Market, CreateATL, Pegleg Studio, A/C Clutch Bicycle Shop, and Red's Beer Garden, in addition to the new grant recipients below.

“The façade improvement grant program  does more than refresh storefronts - it connects the energy of the Beltline trail directly to the small businesses along adjacent commercial corridors. ” said Kelvin Collins, Vice President of Economic Development of the Atlanta Beltline. “This program continues to evolve as a powerful tool to support local artists while helping local businesses stand out, stay competitive and thrive. 

The grant invests in capital improvements to business façades by pairing local artists and makers with local businesses. The program is designed to catalyze economic growth within the Beltline Tax Allocation District (TAD) that spans the 22-mile Beltline corridor.

Third Cycle Highlights

The five businesses that received grants in this cycle represent diverse industries and neighborhoods along the Beltline:

• One Source Affiliates: 1530 Ralph David Abernathy Ave., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310

About: One Source Affiliates is a residential property management company that specializes in single-family homes and small multi-family units. Led by broker and property manager, chMia Fairly, the company provides end-to-end property management services for Atlanta landlords and investors.

Artist: Sway Jones is a visual artist, muralist, designer and owner of community-driven art business Sway Art. The Atlanta-themed mural Sway designed was created to represent the “Atlanta History” theme proposed by the business, featuring an eye-catching, joyful design. Dedicated to Atlanta, the mural features a color-surrounded collage of Atlanta monuments, landmarks, sports teams and politics.

• Lee Street Meats: 1265 Lee Street SW Suite A, Atlanta, GA 30310

About: Lee Street Meats is a grocery store offering high-quality meats, seafood and groceries. The store focuses on products from local farms and trusted suppliers, featuring organic, non-GMO and locally sourced items for the community.

Artists: The MOMA Murrell Collective, established in 2024, unites the dynamic talents of visual artists Marryam Moma and Tracy Murrell. This duo combines Moma's innovative mixed media techniques and contemporary aesthetic with Murrell's narrative-rich style and extensive experience in community engagement. Murrell's role on the Atlanta Beltline Public Art Advisory Council brings valuable insight into public art curation and implementation. The Moma Murrell collaboration aims to create compelling public art that not only transforms urban spaces but also resonates deeply with diverse communities. 

The mural is a visual manifestation of Lee Street Meats' commitment to being a community focused grocery store that bridges the gap between Oakland City's past and its future. The artwork features a display of products, food, and neighborhood pride. The Collective's work reflects Atlanta's vibrant spirit while exploring broader themes of culture, identity, and social connection.  

• Executive Realty Solutions: 956 MLK Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30314

About: Executive Realty Solutions Inc. (E.R.S.) is a minority-owned property management & preservation company, established in July 2004 by founder Justin Menifee. Since 2006, E.R.S has sub-contracted to perform a wide variety of property preservation services. These include clean-outs, landscaping and numerous construction tasks on residential and commercial properties owned and managed by some of the largest asset management firms in the industry.

Artists: This mural is a collaboration between three artists. Fabian Williams is  a visual and performance artist whose work explores themes of liberation, innovation and joy despite systemic racism and oppressive forces at play in Black American life. Assistant Artist Partner Ruby Chavez is a self-taught artist known for her multi-faceted approach to creativity, seamlessly transitioning between visual art, set design, creative direction and sculpture. Assistant Artist Partner Shawn (Stu) Stewart is a self-taught, well-known realism and portrait artist. They teamed up to create a mural that observes and honors the history of the Ashview Heights Neighborhood. The mural pays tribute to the neighborhood’s rich legacy as one of Atlanta’s first planned Black suburbs. His design incorporates layered imagery that reflects the area’s deep roots—from the early presence of the Creek Nation, to the founding of the Atlanta University Center, to the blooming Gabriel Oak roses that line the streets today. Scenes of neighborly connection and local pride speak to the community’s guiding value: “Bringing Unity to the Community.”

• Harbor Coffee: 331 Elizabeth Street, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30307

About: Harbor Coffee, co-owned by Caitlin Hemmer and John Noojin, began as a pop-up cart in 2021 and has since grown into a brick-and-mortar cafe rooted in community and comfort. After relocating to Atlanta in 2019, they launched Harbor Coffee, first through pop-ups in Inman Park and now as a permanent cafe. True to its name, Harbor represents a place of refuge and connection, a vision reflected in their minimalist menu that highlights the natural flavors of coffee. 

Artist: David Moore is a designer, maker and founder of Referent Studio. Trained as an architect and rooted in public art and placemaking, his work blends craft, construction, and community. His latest piece draws on dual meanings of “Harbor”—as both refuge and maritime structure—while paying homage to the bentwood café chairs that bridged the era between handcraft and industry. 

Using steam-bent wood, his design softens the building’s industrial façade with flowing forms that create accessible seating, integrated planters, and a welcoming gathering space. A sculptural bench wraps around a planter and transitions into a ramp to improve accessibility, while maintaining clear pedestrian flow. Jasmine climbs a cable system, adding greenery and scent. A second installation extends a planter, canopy, and ramp from a central curved column, blending organically with the existing façade.

• Fred Martin Welding: 536 Edgewood Ave., NE, Atlanta, GA 30312

About: Fred Martin Welding Co., Inc. is a family-owned welding shop serving Atlanta's Historic Old Fourth Ward since 1938. Led by Marty and Kelly Martin with their son Luke, the business provides quality metalwork and welding services to the local community.

Artist

David Moore reimagined the façade and outdoor space as both a functional extension of the welding shop and a gathering space for the Old Fourth Ward community. Inspired by the Martin family’s 90-year legacy, the design creates space for outdoor meetings, lunch breaks, and neighborhood events.

A 70-foot painted pathway now guides visitors to the shop, featuring a hand-lettered timeline that highlights the business’s history, including its fourth-generation leadership. A custom deck, shaded by a metal trellis and anchored by a locally sourced sassafras table, is underway. The Martin family is fabricating key metal elements, reflecting a collaborative design that blends Moore’s vision with the family’s craftsmanship.

“What makes this program so special is watching genuine partnerships form between our local artists and business owners,” said Laura Linman, Economic Development Project Manager at the Atlanta Beltline. “Each cycle, we see how these collaborations don't just improve storefronts; they strengthen the entire fabric of our communities. These 10 businesses now serve as vibrant landmarks along the Beltline, drawing visitors and customers while celebrating the incredible talent of Atlanta's creative community.”

Program Supports Small Businesses

Applicants for the Business Façade pARTnership Grant are eligible for up to $50,000 in funding with a required 5% match (not to exceed $2,000). The program works in collaboration with grant facilitation partners Purpose Possible and provides access to local Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) general contractors, architects and structural engineers.

The selection criteria for businesses includes visibility of locations, potential for clustering other façade improvements and the area's economic need, ensuring the program creates maximum impact for both individual businesses and surrounding commercial districts.

Before-and-after images of the façade improvements are available here. For more information on the façade improvement project, click here. Two projects remain underway and are nearing completion.