CITY OF TACOMA SMALL BUSINESS RENEWAL GRANT

INFORMATION

The Community and Economic Development Department continues to respond to the needs of our small business community impacted by Covid-19 pandemic. These impacts have included an increase in crime and vandalism resulting in damage to storefronts across the city. And, as many entrepreneurs have sought to keep their storefront, they may run into challenging space or compliance requirements exacerbated by limited access to capital.

There is $250,000 in grant funds available.

This grant provides an opportunity for Tacoma’s small businesses to seek funding to help offset two types of costs:

  1. Damage Repair – up to $5,000 for one occurrence of damage to repair your storefront, such as broken windows, doors, locks, fencing, gates, or etching on windows, that occurred after January 1, 2022. Repairs must be completed and eligibility verification paperwork with receipts must be submitted no later than July 30, 2024. This grant will not cover the loss of stolen goods or graffiti removal/paint.
  2. Impact Upgrade – up to $10,000 for an eligible tenant improvement to a physical location for the (non-homebased) business, such as grease interceptor, safety upgrades (window security film, lighting), ADA access, curbside seating, takeout window, etc. This grant is for a project initiated after January 1, 2022, that is complete or demonstrates project readiness (including already active in permit process) and able to complete by July 30, 2024. Lease holders must have property owner approval. Selection of awardees and grant amounts will be based on viability (owner experience), project completeness or readiness, and impact (community), with preference provided for low- and very low-equity opportunity areas. Tenant improvement must be completed and eligibility verification paperwork with receipts must be submitted no later than July 30, 2024.

Grant amount is based on actual and verifiable costs. One grant per business (business owner, EIN, SSN, UBI number, business license number, or business address).

 

To be eligible, applicants must have/be:

  • a for profit business within the Tacoma city limits (Verify Address)
  • a physical location that serves the general public
  • have no more than two locations
  • no more than 30 FTE employees, including the owner(s)
  • annual net revenue of no less than $1,000 and no more than $2,000,000, as reported in Business and Occupation (B&O) taxes to the City of Tacoma.
  • an independently owned, non-franchise, non-chain business
  • a current City of Tacoma business license (Business License – City of Tacoma)
  • a current Washington State Business License, UBI number (dor.wa.gov/businesses)
  • compliance with all federal, state, and city laws and regulations
  • a valid WA State Driver’s License or alternate ID
  • a business Unique Entity ID (UEI)
    As of April 2022, a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required to receive grants from federally funded programs. You may request a UEI number and find answers to frequently asked questions at sam.gov

 

Not eligible:

  • business located outside of the Tacoma city limits (Verify Address)
  • adult entertainment businesses
  • cannabis shops, growers, and dispensaries
  • short- or long-term rental or investment property
  • food trucks, taxis, rideshare, or food delivery services
  • nonprofit entities
  • business owned – or partially owned – by a City of Tacoma government employee or official

 

Reimbursement requires submission of valid receipts and/or insurance documentation related to the repair or tenant improvement transaction(s) at your business location. Recipients need to current on payments to City, State, and Federal governments prior to disbursement of grant funds. Duplication of benefit is not allowed, meaning you may not receive this grant to cover expenses already covered by other Covid-relief or insurance funds.

The online grant application is at MakeItTacoma.com  and is available is English, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Language assistance available upon request.

This application is due on April 2, 2024, 11:59pm PST. Late applications will not be accepted.

All applicants will be notified by April 12, 2024.

For questions or assistance regarding this Small Business Renewal Grant application, please contact RenewalGrant@cityoftacoma.org or 253-591-5208

Information sessions: Free workshops for grant applicants will be held virtually on March 19, 2024 at 3:30 PM and March 25, 2024 at 10 AM . Each workshop is one hour long and allows for Q&A. Interested individuals are asked to pre-register by emailing RenewalGrant@cityoftacoma.org to receive a Zoom link

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