Our Programs
SF New Deal strengthens neighborhoods by addressing the urgent needs and operational barriers that make it hard for under-resourced small businesses to succeed in San Francisco.
We design and implement diverse programs utilizing both public and private funding and work in close, collaborative partnership with small businesses, community-based organizations, corporate and private philanthropy, and City departments.
Our work is driven by two initiatives
Increasing Neighborhood Vibrancy
We invest in arts, culture, and nightlife activations citywide to bring life back to commercial corridors and create the conditions small businesses depend on: foot traffic, activity, community engagement, and connection.
CITYWIDE VIBRANCY
Our Building Blocks pilot is the evolution of Shared Spaces (parklets) in San Francisco. This innovative model demonstrates how public and commercial curb space can be designed, constructed, and maintained to lower the burden on small business owners and increase street level vibrancy.
Building Blocks
Vacant to Vibrant is a program by SF New Deal and the City of San Francisco that helps small businesses, artists and cultural organizations collaborate with local property owners to create pop-up experiences and community spaces in downtown San Francisco. Vacant to Vibrant draws the public downtown, bringing people from all over San Francisco and beyond to build the future of downtown together.
Vacant to Vibrant
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
Bricks exists to activate and celebrate the cultural and civic history of a landmark plaza by infusing it with fresh programming that realizes the space’s full potential. Located on the Embarcadero Plaza (filled with red, ahem, bricks), Bricks jam packs food, music, dancing, mixers, games (and much more) onto the waterfront for a new(ish) outdoor destination where everyone can participate.
BRICKS at the Embarcadero Plaza
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
Pronounced ‘energy’- this program is breathing new life into downtown San Francisco by supporting arts, culture, and entertainment activities. Programming represents a range of activities, from concert pop-ups and theater performances to drag showcases and street parties in newly created Entertainment Zones.
Downtown ENRG
We provide under-resourced small business owners financial resources and technical assistance where they need it most, including help with permitting, compliance challenges, and capacity building so their operational foundations are strong.
Supporting
Small Business
Success
Supporting SF restaurants & families
The Family Meal Pack program provides recurring supplemental revenue to small restaurants citywide and meal support to low-income families with at least one child age five or younger. Families use our SMS-based ordering system or physical redemption cards to order and pickup meals from neighborhood restaurants.
This program is funded by The City of San Francisco’s Human Services Agency.
Family Meals
Capacity Building & Funding
We offer several grantmaking programs in partnership with The City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). We are focused on ensuring that resources are disbursed rapidly and equitably to bolster the vibrancy of small businesses and their neighborhood corridors. Small businesses are awarded grants between $2,500 and up to $50,000 to fund construction projects, equipment purchases, building signage, hiring and staffing, training and other operational and capacity-building needs.
Small Business Grants
Across our programs to date…
We have disbursed over $48 million to 1,600+ small businesses in all 11 districts of San Francisco.
Learn more about how funds have been disbursed here.