04/20/10 – Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) has awarded a total of $520,464 dollars through the Commercial District Capital Grant Program to support the City’s commercial corridors and local business districts.

San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) is providing one-time funding for strategic capital projects in targeted neighborhoods to help stimulate the local economy. Projects were selected through a competitive process requiring the demonstration of a short-term time frame but long-lasting positive impact within the neighborhood.

The catalytic role of the arts in community development, and its contributions toward creating vibrant communities in a neighborhood commercial district is an example of a qualifying project. Some examples of potential uses of the program funding include façade projects, tenant improvements, commercial outdoor enhancements and amenities.

“San Francisco owes much of its global appeal to the unique character of its neighborhood commercial districts,” said Mayor Newsom. “Small businesses in these commercial corridors are the lifeblood of our local economy. These grants for strategic capital projects in targeted neighborhoods will help stimulate the local economy and help ensure that these corridors weather these tough economic times.”

Grant Award Recipients

• Visitacion Valley Business Improvement Group (formerly known as Visitacion Valley Business Opportunities and Outreach to Merchants)
  Award: $3,000
  Project: Wayfinding Signage to the Leland Avenue Commercial Corridor
• Lower Polk Neighbors
  Award: $15,000
  Project: Four Community Murals along Alleyways
• North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
  Award: $39,197
  Project: Acid etch graffiti removal and protective film installation to serve at least 24 businesses along the Divisadero Commercial Corridor
• Taraval Parkside Merchants Association
  Award $44,000
  Project: Storefront Awning and Sign Program to serve at least four businesses along the Taraval Commercial Corridor
• Ocean Avenue Revitalization Collaborative
  Award $79,310
  Project Storefront Improvements and greening to at least 15 businesses along the Ocean Avenue Commercial Corridor
• Excelsior Action Group
  Award $67,000
  Project Greening and construction of an outdoor seating area at Persia & Mission, and installation of Excelsior historic sign on theater marquee at Ocean & Mission
• Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District
  Award $56,500
  Project Pavement to Parks 17th Street Plaza Permanent Improvements
• Portola Neighborhood Steering Committee
  Award $55,907
  Project Storefront Awning and Sign and Tenant Improvement Program to help at least 7 businesses along the San Bruno Commercial Corridor
• Chinatown Community Development Center
  Award $26,400
  Project Storefront awning and sign program to serve at least 2 businesses along the Broadway corridor of Chinatown
• North of Market Neighborhood Improvement Corporation
  Award $50,000
  Project Improvement of Original Joes Restaurant signage and lighting, and preliminary tenant improvement,
  leading to re-opening of restaurant
• Tenderloin Housing Clinic
  Award $20,000
  Project Cadillac Hotel Façade Improvement, future site of the Tenderloin History Museum
• Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefit District
  Award $25,250
  Project Installation of additional hanging flower baskets, and the replenishing the 40 existing baskets
• Noe Valley Association Community Benefit District
  Award $38,900
  Project Pavement to Parks project implementation to create a pedestrian plaza at Noe and 24th