Storefront Repair Fund

While I’m sure most readers are not small business owners, let alone owners of small, brick-and-mortar businesses, I thought you’d be interested to know that the city has funds available for the repair of windows, doors, locks, signs, etc. that have been damaged by vandals. That’s both good news and sad news, right?

As of this November 14 update, the city had disbursed $800,000 from a $2 million fund. The online application form is still open, so I assume that there is still some money left. The eligibility criteria, according to the update, are:

• Business must be open for at least 12 months.
• Date of damage incident occurred on or after March 1, 2020.
• Experienced direct economic disruption because of COVID-19.
• In compliance with all federal, state, and city laws and regulations, including a current City of Seattle Business License.
• Located in Seattle city limits.
• For-profit and independently owned businesses (franchise and chain businesses are not eligible). Nonprofit organizations, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(19).
• Up to three (3) locations.
• Currently open for business.

More information is available here.

I noticed on the application form that cannabis shops, growers and dispensaries are not eligible for these funds although they seem to be frequent targets of robbery which, I assume, would include window breakage in at least some cases. Perhaps that has to do with the requirement to be in compliance with “all federal, state, and city laws and regulations.” Other notable exclusions include money spent on graffiti remediation, and losses due to stolen goods.

Mr. Gyros on 45th has been sporting a plywood door for several months now. I wonder if they know about this fund? And even if they did, would they bother to fix their door glass? They may have concluded that replacing glass is, at least for now, futile.