Atlanta Beltline Marketplace Applications for Cycle III Now Open Atlanta Beltline Marketplace Applications for Cycle III Now Open

Applications are now open for the third cycle of the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace, a small business incubator program that offers affordable commercial spaces directly on the Atlanta Beltline to local entrepreneurs. Now entering its third cycle, the Beltline Marketplace connects local businesses to the customers, investment and economic opportunity generated by one of the country’s most ambitious and comprehensive urban redevelopment projects.  

The program provides affordable, fully built-out commercial spaces across multiple locations strategically located on the corridor, including wrap-around business mentoring and support to entrepreneurs. 

“The Atlanta Beltline is showing what’s possible when infrastructure is designed as a catalyst for opportunity, investment and long-term community impact,” said Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc. “As cities look for ways to invest in infrastructure while creating economic opportunity and supporting existing communities, the Beltline offers a model for connecting infrastructure investment with affordable commercial space, small-business support and pathways for local entrepreneurs to benefit from growth.” 

A National Model for Transformative Infrastructure  

As the 22-mile loop moves towards completion by 2030, the Beltline is shaping Atlanta’s growth for decades to come while serving as a blueprint for cities across the country seeking to leverage infrastructure investment to drive inclusive economic development.  A recent Beltline analysis shows that for every dollar of public money invested in the Beltline so far – $941 million – the result has been 15 dollars in private investment – or $14.2 billion  – leading to 91,000 jobs sustained by the trail’s economic ecosystem. 

 Commercial lease rates along the Beltline are among the highest in metro Atlanta, creating growing challenges for locally and minority-owned businesses. With limited availability of smaller, flexible commercial spaces and increasing barriers to ownership, small businesses face greater risk of displacement. The Beltline Marketplace helps address this gap by creating affordable commercial space for local businesses and new entrepreneurs, while supporting inclusive and sustainable growth along the corridor. 

 Program Details 

The program selects applicant businesses who are established, community-focused and display a high likelihood of success on the Beltline. Potential businesses may include retail, soft goods, food-based and arts-centered ventures. To qualify for Atlanta Beltline Marketplace, businesses must: 

• Be in operation for at least one year. 

• Have annual revenue of at least $50,000. 

• Have the capacity to staff a Marketplace location for at least five hours per day, five days a week. 

 Launched in 2022 ,with financial support from the Kendeda Fund, as one of the Beltline's commercial affordability initiatives, the Beltline Marketplace is part of a broader economic development strategy designed to ensure that communities and entrepreneurs can participate in and benefit from the investment of the corridor and the 2 million visits the Beltline sees annually.  

The previous applicant pool reflected a diverse cross section of Atlanta business owners with more than 125 entrepreneurs applying for the program. Seventy-two percent of applicants' businesses are helmed by k women and 87 percent are Black-owned. 

 The Atlanta Beltline Marketplace is made possible through the generous support of Google, with additional support for the incubation programming from Kaiser Permanente and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Other supporters include Aprio, Delta Air Lines and Norfolk Southern. In-kind support comes from Fiserv. 

Applications for Beltline Marketplace are now open. Interested businesses should apply at www.beltline.org/marketplace. Applications are due October 7^th at noon with the program’s start anticipated in spring 2027.