SPACE Grant Program
The SPACE Grant program identified creative ways to bring people back to commercial districts to revitalize our local economy.
The SPACE Grant program has ended, as it used ARPA Funding that needed to be allocated by the end of December 2024. Please sign up for the Small Business Newsletter to stay updated on future opportunities.
About SPACE
The SPACE (Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises) Grant Program supported over 90 businesses, using over $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help them with expenses related to new lease agreements. The program provided opportunities for small business owners to open their new or next storefront location in major commercial districts like Downtown and Back Bay, bringing vibrancy to all neighborhoods, and helping to close the racial wealth gap. All recipients received grants of $200,000 or less.
Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion developed the SPACE Grant program as a direct result of recommendations made by small business owners. SPACE prioritized food service, childcare, laundry services, retail, creative economy, and fitness—industries that were most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City is continuing to support all grantees with technical assistance, connections with developers and landlords, and with business-serving organizations for site selection support. Many SPACE Grantees have also applied and received low interest small business loans from the Boston Local Development Corporation (BLDC).
SPACE GRANT RECIPIENTS
RECIPIENTSThese 32 grantees in the third round were awarded a total of $2,925,000 for rent, build-out, and start-up costs for their business as they fill vacancies across the City in addition to wrap-around technical assistance through our Small Business Technical Assistance Program. All recipients received grants of $200,000 or less.
For more details about the third round of the program, view the SPACE Grant press release from November 18, 2024.
Blue Mountain Jamaican Restaurant
Cha Feo
Eat Pho
Esther's Garden Family Childcare
Genelys Early Learning Center
Leche y Miel
Nubian Notion
SJ's
Sorrel & Lime
These 37 grantees in the second round were awarded a total of $4,425,000 for rent, build-out, and start-up costs for their business as they fill vacancies across the City in addition to wrap-around technical assistance through our Small Business Technical Assistance Program. All recipients received grants of $200,000 or less.
For more details about the second round of the program, view the SPACE Grant press release from April 3, 2024.
A Salon
The Biz Barbershop
Curry Leaf
Electrk Juice Bar
Essence Cafe
(Im)Possible Shows, LLC
Jadu
Lisboa Cafe and Mini-Market
Little Crafters Child Care Center
Little Steps Family Care
Oasis Vegan Veggie Parlor
Ruthie’s Juice Cafe
Selam Eritrean Cuisine
sweeties, LLC
The Pyramid Lounge
Tom Yum Yang
The 24 grantees in the first round were awarded a total of $2,780,000 for rent, build-out, and start-up costs for their business as they fill vacancies across the City in addition to wrap-around technical assistance through our Small Business Technical Assistance Program. All recipients received grants of $200,000 or less.
For more details about the first round of the program, view the SPACE Grant press release from July 26, 2023.
Eligibility and Benefits
Eligibility and BenefitsAll grantees met the following criteria:
- Business were incorporated in a Qualified Census Tract or one of the prioritized businesses mentioned above.
- Fewer than twenty-five (25) employees (not including the business owner).
- Business owners provided proof of a Boston business address (e.g., a signed lease, business permit / license / title, utility bill in which the business is named directly, or other home office documentation).
- Business and business owner were in good-standing with the City of Boston
- Business provided a copy of its up to date Business Certificate
Each application was reviewed utilizing this score card criteria. In addition, for the final round of SPACE Grants, businesses needed a signed lease from the past year, between January 2023 through March 2024, to be eligible.
- SPACE provided grants of up to $200,000 to small businesses disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 that were looking to fill vacant commercial space in Boston. Grant amounts varied.
- The grant could be used for start-up costs like rent, infrastructure build-out, security, deposit.
- The funding was delivered over the course of two years, not all at once.
- In addition to grant funding, SPACE Grantees received wrap-around technical assistance services thanks to the Small Business Technical Assistance Program, and free one-year memberships to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) organizations. Grantees were also granted a two-year membership to the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
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