If you have a plan for a shop, food stall or creative venture in Overtown, there is fresh money on the table to help turn it from sketch to storefront. The Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency’s Small Business Grant Program is handing out awards that average about $5,000 from a $250,000 pool approved by Miami commissioners in 2025, with grants available until that money runs out.
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, so timing matters. Forms can be submitted by email or dropped off at the Overtown Business Resource Center at 1490 NW 3rd Ave, Suite 106, or at the SEOPW CRA office at 819 NW 2nd Ave, third floor. Office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the SEOPW CRA. The full application packet is available for download on the agency's programs page.
How the grants work
The program is aimed at businesses that operate inside the Southeast Overtown/Park West redevelopment boundaries and requires applicants to hold a City of Miami business license and be in good standing on tax and regulatory obligations. The average award comes in around $5,000, pulled from the $250,000 allocation approved by Miami commissioners in 2025, according to the Miami Herald. Mark Stallworth, the SEOPW CRA project manager, told the Herald the program is "about economic revitalization, to help local businesses offset their operational costs, invest in infrastructure and be on the road for long-term sustainability."
Who’s eligible and how to apply
To qualify, a business must sit within the SEOPW CRA boundaries, hold a City of Miami business license and be current on taxes while complying with local, state and federal rules. The SEOPW CRA says the money is meant to help cover everyday operational costs and support investments in equipment, façade upgrades and other infrastructure, per the SEOPW CRA's program page. Applicants should be ready with documentation showing ownership, proper licensing and a short budget explaining how the grant funds will be used.
Entrepreneurs who have tapped the program say even smaller checks can make a big difference. Aamir Taylor, founder of Italian Vice and a program graduate, told the Miami Herald that earlier awards helped him grow from street carts into stadium booths and event sales. "That $5,000 or $20,000 grant will come in handy when you least expect it," he said, noting how seed money can cover equipment, permits or event fees right when capital is tight.
The Overtown grants sit alongside other local efforts aimed at micro-businesses, including Miami-Dade’s Mom-and-Pop Small Business Grant, which can provide up to $5,000 in certain commission districts, according to Miami-Dade County. Taken together, county and CRA programs give entrepreneurs several small-dollar funding paths, although the rules and availability shift from one neighborhood to the next.
For anyone starting a business in Overtown, the message is simple: get your licensing and tax paperwork squared away, then dig into the application packet early. Grants are awarded until the SEOPW CRA’s $250,000 pool is exhausted, and for many local operators, that one small grant can be the nudge that helps a cart or pop-up become a permanent business.
