A little-used incentive program from the Pendleton Development Commission just netted a downtown business more than $10,000.

The commission’s Jump Start program is best known for providing low-interest loans to downtown-area businesses for equipment or start-up expenses, but less utilized is the $1,000 grant participants earn for each new full-time job they create within the first year of their businesses’ operation.

Since he started working with the commission in January 2015, Associate Director Charles Denight said the Pendleton Coffee Bean & Bistro is the first Jump Start participant to apply for the incentive.

The commission agreed to loan the Pendleton Coffee Bean $30,000 in 2014 to help the business move its drive-thru coffee shop on Emigrant Avenue to a larger Main Street restaurant space.

Denight said an accountant recently verified that Pendleton Coffee Bean had hired the equivalent of more than 10 full-time jobs, the owner excluded, triggering a $10,360 grant.

Denight said the grant doesn’t have specific requirements and the owner of Pendleton Coffee Bean can spends it how she chooses.

Given the infrequency in which it’s used, Denight said he hopes more Jump Start participants apply for the grant.