The Place-Based Enhancement Program (PBEP) is a real estate development program aimed at providing commercial affordability relief focused on our local small business, legacy businesses, non-profits, cooperatives, and those in the creative sector. The PBEP is a pay-for-performance program that pays out annually to approved projects that meet annual compliance. Learn more about the program below:

If interested in seeking assistance through the program, submit an Incentive Inquiry Form.

Program Categories:

The Place-Based Enhancement Program provides incentive opportunities in the following categories:

Category 1: Affordable Space

The Affordable Space category seeks to connect developers with incentives to provide affordable, long-term leases to high priority community benefit targets.

Eligibilities:

  • Project is new construction, expansion, tenant improvements, or redevelopment of mixed-use or commercial real estate.
  • Project has a minimum investment of $2 million for new construction.
  • Project leverages City Incentive at a minimum 1:2 ratio
  • Project is in a Target Area.
  • Project provides affordable real estate to Community Benefit Targets

Category 2: Community Impact

The Community Impact category seeks to provide incentives to assist in the establishment of stand-alone facilities of Community Benefit Target projects.

Eligibilities:

  • Project is new construction, expansion, tenant improvements, or redevelopment of a stand-alone facility.
  • Project is in a Target Area.
  • Project supports the development of a Community Benefit Target business.

Category 3: Cultural Preservation

The Cultural Preservation category seeks to support retention and enhancement of music venues, creative spaces, and legacy businesses to enhance operational resilience and mitigate long-term displacement pressures.  

Eligibilities:

  • Business is located in Austin, or has been displaced within the past ten (10) years.
  • For Music Venues: Venue must have a site capacity under 5,000.
  • For Legacy Businesses, Cooperatives, Non-Profits: Business must be in operation for at least twenty (20) years within Austin city limits; or ten (10) years within a recognized Economic and Cultural District.
  • For Legacy Businesses, Cooperatives, Non-Profits: Business must be locally owned and not part of franchises.

Category 4: Transformative Infrastructure

The Transformative Infrastructure category seeks to support infrastructure elements that further the transformational achievement of an adopted community plan or development tied to Council resolution.

Eligibilities:

  • Project must be associated with a site-specific adopted community plan or development tied to Council resolution.
  • Project is new construction, expansion, tenant improvements, or redevelopment of mixed-use or commercial real estate.
  • Project leverages City Incentive at a minimum 1:2 ratio

For a full list of minimum requirements/eligibilities for all categories, please see the Place-Based Enhancement Guidelines.

Awards Offered

Category 1, Category 2, Category 4

Property and Sales Tax Reimbursement
  • Up to 100% reimbursement of eligible property and/or sales taxes on new real property improvements

Category 3

Property and Sales Tax Reimbursement
  • Up to 100% reimbursement of eligible property and/or sales taxes of the project site

Program Resources

  • Place-Based Enhancement Program - Definitions *COMING SOON*
  • Place-Based Enhancement Program – Scoring Rubric *COMING SOON*