For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Gloria Chan
gloria.chan@sfgov.org
SAN FRANCISCO – The Office of Economic Workforce Development (OEWD) announced $6.8 million in funding to launch and implement economic recovery initiatives throughout San Francisco. The funding will boost cultural celebrations and events that attract residents and visitors to the City’s vibrant commercial districts and public spaces such as the Mission, Tenderloin, Fillmore, Bayview, Excelsior, and Ocean Avenue, West Portal, and others. This investment complements funded initiatives underway throughout the City.
“We are implementing strategic initiatives to strengthen San Francisco’s economic vibrancy and support our neighborhoods, and this investment empowers our diverse, culturally rich organizations to be a part of that important work,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “By providing support to small businesses, delivering more ambassadors, and expanding festivals and activities, we can make a real difference for our residents and improve our communities for everyone.”
As the city recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the investment will provide organizations with grants to develop new programming, organize festivals and events, and offer technical assistance to launch and strengthen small businesses. It will also provide organizations the opportunity to create activities that connect residents and visitors to neighborhood commercial corridors with the aim of improving the well-being and vibrancy of the community.
“The investment and activities under this procurement are vital in celebrating the diversity of San Francisco. We want to not only support our small and underrepresented businesses, we also want to create opportunities for visitors and residents to experience the city’s rich and diverse cultures,” said Kate Sofis, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “The opportunities outlined in this RFP complements our continued investments toward the vibrancy of this City and we encourage organizations to apply and be a part of this important work.”
The $6.8 million investment includes 22 program areas seeking proposals from organizations, some of those areas include:
- Providing technical assistance and mentorship to existing and new small businesses including entrepreneurs with resources such as lease negotiations, marketing and outreach, connection to grants and loans, and permit support.
- Developing, organizing, and implementing events, activations, and festivals in our public spaces including in commercial districts such as the Fillmore, Bayview, Excelsior, and Ocean Ave. and Ocean View, Merced Heights, Ingleside (OMI), and West Portal neighborhoods with music, performances, temporary art installations, block parties etc. to bring residents and visitors into San Francisco in support of the economy and to ensure the cultural vibrancy of commercial corridors.
- Launching economic development plans around increasing foot traffic and visitors to commercial areas.
- Providing resources that enhance the safety and overall vitality of a corridor including community ambassadors in the Mission with the aim of offering a consistently welcoming atmosphere for workers, residents, and visitors to support the reopening of storefront businesses and economic recovery.
- Supporting the new community spaces of deeply rooted nonprofits that provide important services in the community including the American Indian community.
The funding will be made available through an open Requests for Proposals (RFP) process. Submissions are due February 22, 2023. An optional virtual Technical Assistance Conference will be held Monday, January 30, 2023 at 3:30 P.M. to assist applicants in determining the eligibility of proposed projects, completing the proposal package, and navigating City requirements. For more information on the RFP, please visit https://sf.gov/resource/2023/request-proposals-rfp-225.
Throughout the year, OEWD solicits request for proposals for a range of programs and projects. To learn more about opportunities with OEWD and with the City of San Francisco, please visit https://sf.gov/information/bid-opportunities
About Office of Economic and Workforce
The Office of Economic and Workforce Development advances equitable and shared prosperity for San Franciscans by growing sustainable jobs, supporting businesses of all sizes, creating great places to live and work, and helping everyone achieve economic self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.oewd.org.