Vacant Storefront Improvement

Assistance Program

The Vacant Storefront Improvement Assistance Program assists challenged retail or commercial properties in the City of Phoenix by providing financial assistance for public infrastructure improvements (improvements) to support the recovery and occupancy of vacant retail properties. The program allows retail building owners to remain competitive while revitalizing and beautifying the surrounding community. Building owners may apply for up to $250,000 of assistance. This program is funded through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund program (SLFRF) as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

Eligibility

Owners of existing retail or commercial building owners located in the City of Phoenix who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria may qualify for the program:

25% revenue loss or 10% vacancy increase when comparing 2019 to 2020 and 2021; or
Located in or immediately adjacent to a Qualified Census Tract (QCT); or
Are an adaptive reuse development opportunity created by the pandemic.

Application Requirements

Explanation of how the COVID-19 Pandemic caused vacancy and/or stalled development/redevelopment of the project. Provide a description of the project and the public infrastructure improvements that are delaying or preventing the development and occupancy of an existing building and overall site.

Examples of potential public infrastructure items include:

Sidewalk/street installation and/or repairs
Street/traffic lights
Placemaking signage
Landscape enhancements/improvements in the right-of-way
Median installation
Bus shelter enhancements/improvements
Water/sewer line installation and/or extension
Public art installation
A copy of W-9 and 1099 Disclosure must be included with the application.
The approved applicant entity must be registered within the State of Arizona and in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission. A copy of the entity's current status must be attached to the application.

Application Review / Approval

The application can be found here: Vacant Storefront Improvement Assistance Program Application

An evaluation panel comprised of City staff will review each application for eligibility and provide a recommendation for approval or denial.
The panel will consider costs, location, historic nature of the property, and community benefit.
Each approved applicant will enter a grant agreement with the City to outline the terms and conditions of awarded funds.
Each approved applicant must register with www.SAM.gov to obtain a Unique Entity Identification (UEI) number and submit that number to the City before being issued a grant agreement.
Applications will be funded at the sole discretion of the City of Phoenix.

Contract Requirements

The Improvements will either be scheduled for completion by the City's Street Transportation Department (Streets) or other appropriate department(s), or the approved applicant may be approved to complete the Improvements directly. Any improvements completed by an approved applicant must be in compliance with Planning and Development, Streets and other associated departments' standards, and Arizona Revised Statutes Title 34. Each grant agreement will include performance and timeline indicators to ensure compliance with the ARPA Final Rule.

For more information regarding the Final Rule, please visit: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-01-27/pdf/2022-00292.pdf

An overview of the Final Rules can be found at: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/SLFRF-Final-Rule-Overview.pdf

For more information regarding the SLFRF program please visit: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/state-and-local-fiscal-recovery-funds

For more information regarding the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/american-rescue-plan/

Reporting and Invoicing

Upon grant agreement execution:

The grant recipient will submit a detailed invoice with any accompanying documentation for reimbursement to be processed once all Improvements are completed and accepted by the City.
The grant recipient will provide current project vacancy numbers and a list of existing tenants.

If a project has multiple suites, an updated list will be provided as vacant suites are leased.

For questions regarding the Vacant Storefront Improvement Assistance Program contact:

Karla Scott, Program Manager
602-534-7511

Abby Garcia, Project Manager
602-261-8013
vacantstorefront@phoenix.gov

Applications may be submitted via email at: vacantstorefront@phoenix.gov

Applications will be accepted until 5pm local Phoenix time on Friday, May 3rd or until all grant funds have been awarded.

Applications may also be mailed to:

City of Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department

Vacant Storefront Improvement Assistance Program

200 W. Washington St., 20^th Floor

Phoenix, Arizona 85003