Ground-floor businesses in downtown Tampa can once again take advantage of a generous grant program through Tampa Downtown Partnership to spruce up their outside appearance.
The Partnership’s Storefront and Sidewalk Café Grant Program supports investment in the street-level appearance of downtown businesses. The deadline is Aug. 20. The matching component for the grant is temporary suspended since businesses have been struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tampa Downtown Partnership President and CEO Lynda Remund.
“Our hope is this infusion of cash will allow some businesses to make improvements or additions that they were forced to pass on because of the economic struggles of the past year and a half,” Remund said.
Ashly Anderson, the Partnership’s Marketing and Design Director said the grant program was established nearly a decade ago “to help enhance the investment and design of the public real and ground-floor building faces in Tampa’s downtown. There are similar programs in downtowns across the country to help support investment in small business and property owners.”
Businesses that have previously received these grants can still apply, as long as they are downtown property owners or have a sidewalk presence located within the Downtown Tampa Special Services District boundary.
Businesses interested in opening a sidewalk café can seek a permit from the City of Tampa while also applying for the Partnership’s grant, Anderson said.
Improvements might include storefront façade repair, awnings, sidewalk café furniture, architectural signage and other improvements.
Applications can be filled out online.
