Relief Program Helps Improve Storefronts for OKC Small Businesses

OKLAHOMA CITY — Applications opened this week to help Oklahoma City small businesses make exterior improvements to their buildings. To qualify, a business must be located in Oklahoma City, have been in business before April 2022 and be either minority owned or located within a Qualified Census Tract (majority low-income) area.
This third round of storefront improvement programs administered by The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, will reimburse businesses up to $25,000 in expenses for outdoor building repairs such as windows, paint, signage or other improvements. To qualify for Storefront Round 3, businesses must have estimates from third party contractors for work and submit them with their application. Assistance will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis and projects must be completed within four months of project approval.
“We are using the last of our federal ARPA funds on a proven program to assist small businesses. Funding exterior improvements supports businesses that want to improve curb appeal, get noticed or comply with the new ordinance from the City of Oklahoma City that requires business owners to repair or replace broken, damaged or illegible signs,” said Kenton Tsoodle, president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.
Jacob Keyes, Owner of Skydance Brewing, a Native American craft brewery on 7th Street, received funding through a previous program to install a new sign. “This was a tremendous help to have the new sign paid for,” Jacob said. “Before we had the sign, no one knew we were even here. The simple thing of not having a visible sign is key, especially when you’re surrounded by so many businesses.”
The Alliance has created multiple programs since the spring of 2020 to maintain jobs and support small business recovery and increase their resiliency. The Storefront Round 3 program is modeled on past successful programs for small businesses in Oklahoma City.
“These types of storefront improvements help stabilize businesses and neighborhoods and can serve as a catalyst for improvements to neighboring homes and businesses. It creates contagious neighborhood pride among residents,” added Tsoodle. “Many times, they are improvements the business desperately wants but can’t fit into their operating budget. Oklahoma City has been very intentional about using ARPA funds to give small, disadvantaged businesses a boost that improves their stability and capacity in the long run.”
The Storefront Round 3 program is administered by the Alliance for Economic Development for Oklahoma City and is funded by The City of Oklahoma City’s allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. For details or the application, visit www.theallianceokc.org/arpa-programs