San Francisco, CA - Local nonprofit SF New Deal announced today the launch of its newest program Vacant to Vibrant in partnership with the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), that will support small businesses, artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural organizations to collaborate with local property owners and create engaging pop-up experiences and community spaces in vacant storefronts in downtown San Francisco.
Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, storefront vacancies have skyrocketed in downtown San Francisco. Ground floor vacancies are a reminder of the economic, cultural and social regrowth potential that is critical and will be possible with considerable public-private investment.
“Making it easier for temporary and pop-up activations is an essential step to pave the way for San Francisco’s recovery. SF New Deal’s Vacant to Vibrant program, developed together with OEWD, will create a window into what the future of downtown can be: innovative, diverse, creative, and vibrant,” said Simon Bertrang, SF New Deal’s Executive Director. “We aim to build bridges between downtown and thriving communities across the Bay Area, and help people develop a relationship with the vibrant neighborhood downtown can be.”
All local artists, businesses, entrepreneurs, and cultural organizations are invited to pitch their pop-up ideas. Proposals will be reviewed by an advisory committee and for the selected pop-up concepts, SF New Deal will handle everything from matchmaking with vacant spaces and property owners, to managing permitting and providing grant funding from $3,000 - $8,000 to support the activations. The program is designed to streamline, support, and expedite the process for small businesses and others engaged in temporary activations. Pop-ups will take many forms including one-day events and multi-month activations, and span arts, retail, food & beverage, nightlife, and entertainment that will transform vacant storefronts into vibrant gathering places and help re-energize the neighborhood.
Vacant to Vibrant will launch with programming in San Francisco’s economic core. Each cohort will activate 10-15 ground floor vacancies in a 1-3 block stretch to engage the community and inspire activity downtown.
Vacant to Vibrant serves a critical purpose in the greater vision of Mayor Breed’s Roadmap to Downtown San Francisco. “San Francisco’s always been a beacon of light for creativity and entrepreneurship energy,” said Kate Sofis, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, which leads the Mayor’s Roadmap initiative and funds programs such as Vacant to Vibrant. “We are thrilled to partner with SF New Deal and San Francisco’s potential applicants on this integral program that will energize San Francisco’s downtown corridor as we enter a new phase of economic recovery.”
Applications are open today for the first cohort and will be accepted through June 1, 2023. Applications will remain open on a rolling basis thereafter. The first cohort of pop-ups will launch in late summer 2023. Applications are available online at www.vibrantsf.org and for those without computer access, assistance and information is available over the phone (415) 480-1185.
Vacant to Vibrant is a program of SF New Deal, a nonprofit that strengthens neighborhoods by making it easier for under-resourced small business owners to succeed. Join the @vacanttovibrant conversation on Instagram and learn more at vibrantsf.org.
Media Contact: media@sfnewdeal.org
About SF New Deal
SF New Deal is a nonprofit that strengthens neighborhoods by making it easier for under-resourced small business owners to succeed. Through diverse programs, SF New Deal has disbursed more than $35 million to more than 660 local businesses. To learn more about SF New Deal’s impact, please visit sfnewdeal.org. Join the #sfnewdeal conversation on Linkedin and Instagram @sfnewdeal.
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