Updated 8/6/2025
The Storefront Repair Fund reimburses business owners for the cost of repairs for property damage for up to three (3) different incidents. Reimbursements will cover costs up to $3,000 per incident. Applications are open through December 2025, or until funds run out.
You can apply for more than one grant in one application, but each grant must be for a separate incident that happened on a different date. If you are a business owner who has already received a grant, but another eligible incident happens, we encourage you to apply again.
Eligible storefront property damage includes, but is not limited to:
- Doors
- Locks
- Fences
- Gates
- Signs
- Broken or etched windows
The damage must have happened on or after July 1, 2024 to qualify for a grant. Grants will not cover loss of stolen goods or graffiti.
Applications are open through December 2025, or until funds run out.
Please review the full eligibility criteria, required documentation, and other information below before applying. You can also review this document with the application questions before applying: Back to Business Fund Application Questions Guide.
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Storefront Repair Fund online applications will be accepted, reviewed, and processed as they come in.
You can review this document with the application questions before applying: Back to Business Fund Application Questions Guide.
Eligible applicants will need the following information to submit their application:
- Unified Business Identifier number (nine digits).
- You receive a Unified Business Identifier number when you apply for your Washington State Business License. Applicants can search for their UBI number online through the Washington State Department of Revenue.
- City Business License number (four to six digits).
- If you are doing business in Seattle, you must have a Seattle Business License tax certificate, also known as a City Business License Number. You must renew this certificate each year by December 31.
- This City Business License number is separate from the Washington State Business License. If you cannot find your number on the City Business License Find a Business search tool, you may only have a Washington State License.
- You can apply for a City Business License and renew online at filelocal-wa.gov or by mail.
- Proof of payment for equipment purchases and/or repairs.
- Provide copies of receipts and/or paid invoices for purchases of equipment or completed repairs.
- Estimates and/or quotes will not be accepted.
- The Storefront Repair Fund operates under a reimbursement model, which means applicants already purchased equipment or paid for repairs.
- Seattle Police Department Incident Number. You can get an incident number by submitting a police report on the Seattle Police Department website.
- Optional: Proof of property damage.
- Applicants may upload photographs of property damage if desired.
- Proof of property damage is optional.
The Storefront Repair Fund application must be submitted online in English.
Translation or interpretation support
We have bilingual staff available to answer questions and help you complete your application.
To request translation or interpretation services, you can call (206) 684-8090. Please leave a voicemail with your name, phone number, preferred language, and the type of support needed.
Additional help with application
Our office is dedicated to creating an accessible and inclusive economy that works for everyone in Seattle by ensuring all communities have access to economic opportunities. If you need help, translation, disability accommodations, or materials in a different format, contact our office at (206) 684-8090 or at OED@seattle.gov.
To qualify for the Storefront Repair Fund, eligible businesses must:
- Experience physical damage to their storefront on or after July 1, 2024.
- Purchase equipment and/or have paid for repairs.
- The Storefront Repair Fund operates under a reimbursement model, meaning you already made a purchase and/or paid for repairs.
- Provide paid invoices or receipts for purchases and/or completed repairs.
- Estimates and/or quotes will not be accepted.
- Have an active City of Seattle Business License.
- Be in compliance with all federal, state, and city laws and regulations.
- Be located in Seattle city limits.
- Be an independently owned and non-chain business.
- Independently owned franchise businesses are also eligible to apply.
- Be a for-profit business or a nonprofit entity, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(9).
- Have no more than three (3) locations.
- Currently open and active for business.
Additional criteria:
- No more than three (3) incidents may be submitted per business, business owner, EIN, SSN, UBI number, Business License number, home, and/or business address. You can apply for more than one grant in one application, but each grant must be for a separate incident that happened on a different date.
- Business must be in operation for at least 12 months prior to date of application submission.
- Business must operate from a physical location and/or mobile truck that serves the public.
- Grants will not cover any damages submitted to insurance as part of a claim unless that claim is rejected and closed.
- If awarded, businesses must complete a W-9.
Criteria by business size:
- Business must have no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees.
- Business must make more than $1,000 and not exceed $7 million in annual net revenue as reported in Business and Occupation taxes to the City of Seattle Department of Finance and Administrative Services in 2024.
Businesses NOT eligible to apply for the Storefront Repair Fund include:
- Business located in unincorporated King County.
- “Adult entertainment” businesses regulated under Seattle Municipal Code 6.270.
- The business is a short- or long-term rental or investment property (personal real estate and independent realtors; short-term rentals that include Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.).
- The business is a taxi, rideshare, or food delivery service (e.g., Uber, Lyft, Yellow Cab, Door Dash, Uber Eats, etc.).
1. What is the difference between the Storefront Repair Fund and the Storefront Security Fund?
The Storefront Repair Fund helps with the reimbursement of damages from vandalism or other property damage.
The Storefront Security Fund helps with the reimbursement of preventative security measures. Learn more about the Storefront Security Fund.
2. Will the Storefront Repair Fund grants be limited to repairs of storefronts, such as only replacing windows and doors?
Funding can only be used for storefront damage repairs and reimbursement of those repairs. Eligible damage includes broken windows or etching on windows, broken doors, broken locks, broken signs, broken fences, and broken gates. The funding does not cover preventive measures, graffiti removal, painting, purchase of security cameras, or loss of stolen goods.
If you want to apply for funding to go towards preventive security measures, check out the Storefront Security Fund.
If you see graffiti, in a public place or on private property, you can report it by:
- Using the Find It/Fix It app, the online report form, or by calling the City’s Graffiti Report Line at (206) 684-7587.
- For graffiti on private property, the property owners are responsible for the removal of graffiti on their property. However, if the owner wants help from the City to remove the graffiti, they can fill out the Permission and Release Form for free graffiti removal.
For further information about graffiti removal and abatement, please review the Graffiti Prevention and Removal brochure.
3. Storefront Repair Grants reimburse repairs up to $3,000. Will there be any chance of a grant exceeding that limit in special circumstances, such as excessive damage?
We recognize that some businesses may face damages costing more than $3,000. However, grants will be limited to $3,000 so the City can help as many businesses as possible. If funds are available, businesses can apply up to three grants if they experience multiple incidents of storefront vandalism. The incidents must occur on different days to qualify for a second or third grant.
4. What type of businesses qualify for this funding?
For-profit business or nonprofit entities, 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(19), that have brick-and-mortar, ground floor storefronts that serve the public as well as food trucks qualify for the Storefront Repair Fund. All applicants must have an up-to-date City of Seattle Business License.
5. How will grant recipients be selected?
We will review and process applications as they come in. To help small businesses that have likely experienced the greatest economic impacts, we will give priority to the following groups:
- Small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
- Woman-owned small businesses.
- Small businesses located in a highly distressed census tract with a minimum of 30% poverty or not exceeding 60% median income. Note: These areas meet the Small Business Administration’s definitions of "low-income communities."
Note: Our staff will contact applicants via phone with an area code of 206 or email ending in @seattle.gov. Businesses can verify the identity of the staff by calling our office at (206) 684-8090.
6. How can I file a police report?
You can file a police report by calling 9-1-1 or via the Online Crime Reporting website. You must provide your police report incident number during the application process as one of the required documents.
7. Do awardees need to pay the money back?
No, this is a grant. Businesses are not required to pay the money back.
8. Do the grants count as taxable income?
No, the grants are not taxable income.
9. Do part-time employees count as employees?
Yes, any person on payroll counts as an employee.
10. What is the source of funding for the Back to Business Program?
The Storefront Repair Fund is funded by the Payroll Expense Tax.
11. Can applicants receive the funding before making a purchase?
No. The Back to Business Program operates under a reimbursement model, which means applicants already purchased equipment or paid for repairs.
12. How will applicants receive the funding?
Eligible applicants will receive a check in the mail. You will have the option to receive checks in person if needed.
Our office is dedicated to creating an accessible and inclusive economy that works for everyone in Seattle by ensuring all communities have access to economic opportunities.
The City of Seattle encourages everyone to participate in its programs and activities. If you need help, translation, disability accommodations, or materials in a different format, contact our office at (206) 684-8090 or at OED@seattle.gov.