The Tacoma Community and Economic Development Department is accepting applications for Small Business Restoration grants through 11.59 p.m. on Feb. 2. The department has $500,000 available. The grants are designed to help eligible small businesses in Tacoma offset two types of costs: 

  1. Property damage repair (up to $3,000 for one occurrence of storefront damage occurring after Jan. 1, 2022)
    Examples of storefront damage qualifying for coverage include broken windows, broken doors, broken locks or etching on windows. Loss of stolen goods or graffiti removal or paint are not eligible for coverage. You must complete repairs and submit eligibility verification paperwork with receipts, no later than May 1. 
  1. Market enhancement (up to $20,000 to complete or comply with permitting requirements to open – or keep open – a physical location or to increase market share)
    For non-homebased businesses, examples of line items qualifying for coverage include grease interceptors, safety upgrades, ADA access, curbside seating, takeout windows, etc. Awardees and grant amounts will be based on viability (owner experience), project readiness and community impact, with preference provided for low- and very low-equity opportunity areas. You must complete or have underway market enhancements and submit eligibility verification paperwork with receipts or estimates no later than May 1. 

Small Business Restoration grant amounts will be based on actual and verifiable costs, with a limit of one grant per business owner (EIN, SSN, UBI number, business license number or business address). 

Grant recipients of funding for property damage repair will be selected via random lottery and recipients and amounts of funding for market enhancement will be evaluated and selected; all applicants will be notified by Feb. 21. 

Free workshops for Small Business Restoration Property Damage Repair and Market Enhancement grant applicants will be held virtually at 10 a.m. on Jan. 20, and at 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 23. Each workshop is one hour long and allows for Q&A. Interested individuals are asked to register by emailing to receive a Zoom link. 

Small Business Restoration grant eligibility requirements and application details are available now at makeittacoma.com. The online grant application is available at makeittacoma.com in English, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Language assistance is available upon request. Questions, or requests to receive information in alternate formats, can be submitted via email to  or by calling 253- 591-5208 at least one week prior to the application deadline.