March 9, 2023

Following a vote of approval from the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday night, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced that 42 small businesses will receive ARPA Community Grant funds during the first grant phase. The second phase will open on March 20 and run through April 18.  

The funding for ARPA Community Grants comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was signed into law on March 11, 2021. In April of 2022, Salt Lake City Council and Mayor established the Community Grant Program with a $4 million budget to be administered by both The Department of Economic Development and the Community and Neighborhoods Department.

To aid in the program process, the Council also established the Community Recovery Committee (CRC) to deploy the funds of the program quickly, transparently, and fairly.

“This will be a financial boost to our residents and business owners,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “Small businesses and local artists are the soul and economic engine of our city, but many are still feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m grateful for the work of the Community Recovery Committee, and for the support of the Council, in providing ARPA Community Grant assistance to these small businesses who were hardest hit. We all benefit when our small businesses and artists flourish.”

“Our team, in close collaboration with the Community Recovery Committee, has worked hard to ensure this program was executed well and with equity top of mind,” said Lorena Riffo Jenson, Director of Economic Development. “With the vision and support of the Mayor and Council, with the feedback from the community, and with the dedicated efforts of the Economic Development ARPA staff and CRC, these valued businesses and artists will receive much-needed recovery funding.”

Salt Lake City’s Community Grant Program was created to provide limited, one-time financial assistance to eligible small businesses, artists, artisans, creative workers, and nonprofits (as individual businesses) in Salt Lake City that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or related shutdowns. The Community Grant Program is funded through ARPA, and run by the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development. Grants are intended to help the economic health and welfare of the City.

More information about the program and process can be found here. 

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About Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development: Formed in 2016, Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development is focused on building Salt Lake City as a vibrant, beautiful, prosperous, diverse, and authentic place – a place that is economically accessible to everyone. Known as the “Crossroads of the West,” Salt Lake City is strategically located for businesses to succeed. SLCDED works to streamline processes, provide excellent customer service, and offer an array of resources and services to recruit and retain businesses in the City, and ensure they have the tools to thrive.  Learn more at www.slc.gov/ed.