Boston's brick-and-mortar landscape is getting a major boost thanks to Mayor Michelle Wu and her latest economic push. Announcing the second round of Supporting Pandemic Affected Community Enterprises (SPACE) Grant recipients, a cool $4.575 million is being doled out courtesy of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This hefty sum aims to support 37 Boston entrepreneurs hungering to breathe new life into the city's vacant storefronts. With the doors now open for a third round of funding applications, the city's business scene is looking brighter by the minute.
The grants, landing in the laps of businesses like AfroBeats Boston Dance and The Biz Barbershop, mark the latest move to revive and revitalize Boston's commercial districts left sagging in the wake of the pandemic. Flushed from the success of the first grant round, which saw $2.83 million support 24 businesses, Mayor Wu is doubling down on her promise to foster a diverse, vibrant economy, according to the City of Boston's official announcement.
"Our local businesses, the stories of their development, and the customers that they serve are what make Boston’s storefronts alive and unique," Mayor Wu was quoted in the statement released by the City of Boston. She's not just cutting checks; the SPACE Grant program also wraps businesses in a cozy blanket of support services, ranging from lease negotiation to marketing know-how.
The selection of grantees sings a tune of diversity and inclusion, with over 73 percent minority-owned and a whopping 75 percent women-led ventures making the cut. Breathlessly detailed by Segun Idowu, Boston's Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, the grant represents a triumph not only for business owners but also for local communities looking to bounce back stronger and more unified. From artisanal juicers like Electrk Juice Bar to the cultural pride of Selam Eritrean Cuisine, these grantees are painting a promising picture of the future.
Handpicked from a mountain of applications, each grantee's story spills into a narrative of opportunity and urban renewal. Take, for example, the gratitude expressed by Akou Diabakhate of BoldSkinBabe, which opened in January downtown, who told the City of Boston, "Thanks to the SPACE Grant program, I was able to bring a vision to life." Further growth and the potential for new jobs only strengthen the city's economic fabric, as Robinson, owner of Romper Room Family Childcare, and Shaw, founder of Boston Flower Co., shared their own stories of success facilitated by the funding
Ripples of this initiative extend beyond cash infusions. Becoming part of business chambers, getting technical aid from the city’s Small Business Department, and landlord concessions nudge these enterprises closer to long-term stability and success. With $1.535 million still up for grabs in the forthcoming final grant round, the SPACE Grant program is reaching for the stars, helping Boston recreate a small business cosmos rich with diversity and promise.
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