More than $480,000 in community grants from the American Rescue Plan Act were approved for small businesses, artists, and nonprofits

Dec. 13, 2023

Following a vote of approval from the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday, December 5, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced that 15 small businesses will receive ARPA Community Grant funds during the second and final grant phase.

“It’s a win for everyone when our small businesses thrive here in our City, and I am proud of our efforts to disperse this funding,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “This final grant phase will help businesses that still feel the impacts of the pandemic. Small businesses are a fundamental piece of our community and economy, and we must support their growth and resilience. I want to thank the Community Recovery Committee for their efforts, as well as the Council for their support in helping our small businesses with ARPA Community Grants.”

“The Economic Development ARPA staff and the Community Recovery Committee have done an incredible job executing on this program,” said Lorena Riffo Jenson, Salt Lake City Director of Economic Development. “Thanks to their efforts in each phase, we have been able to deliver recovery funding to our valued businesses and community.”

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 pandemic or related shutdowns. The Community Grant Program is funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law on March 11, 2021. In April of 2022, Salt Lake City Council and the 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. 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. SLC DED 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.