Neighborhood Economic Recovery Fund
The Seattle Office of Economic Development has invested more than $6 million in Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) established under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support neighborhood economic recovery. Funding was invested through both direct grants to neighborhood business district organizations and public request for proposals (RFP) to support community driven solutions from a broader range of eligible applicants. Applicants included business organizations, community organizations, cultural districts, cultural organizations, arts organizations, small businesses such as community event producers, artists, consultants, or a collection of individuals supporting neighborhood strategies with broadly shared benefits.
Best For:
Public and commercial space activations </br> outdoor seating </br> retail/vendor markets, public art and music, community events and commercial space popups Digital equity projects, such as neighborhood digital marketplaces Communications infrastructure, such as websites, social media, and contact databases to promote community news and resources, and share stories of local businesses and events Physical Improvements, such as lighting, sidewalk cleaning, murals, façade Community safety projects, such as business block watches, community organizing Outreach to support businesses and residents build partnerships and shared vision, and Other economic recovery projects specific to neighborhood needs Selection of awardees and grant amounts were based on the following criteria: Equity: Projects serving highest COVID impacted and high displacement risk neighborhoods and/or projects focusing support for BIPOC businesses and communities. Neighborhood Economic Recovery: Projects helping businesses and communities recover economically from COVID impacts and stimulating economic activity. Community Supported: Projects directed by and directly benefiting the community.