During the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of San Francisco issued temporary permits allowing businesses to utilize sidewalk and street parking space for outdoor dining, services, and other activities. The City has since opened a pathway for businesses to apply for permits for permanent structures. SF New Deal is working to support businesses navigating the path to compliance in partnership with the City of San Francisco’s Shared Spaces team.

During the first phase of the program, SF New Deal is disbursing $2,500 grants to businesses that intend to make their spaces permanent by undergoing compliance modifications to their Shared Spaces. Applications are still open, please apply here.

Building upon SF New Deal’s ongoing work supporting small businesses in bringing their outdoor Shared Spaces into permanent compliance, the next phase of the program supports artists and cultural organizations with grant awards up to $10,000. This investment, in partnership with the City of San Francisco’s Shared Spaces team, creates greater opportunity for community engagement and connection and enhances the use of Shared Spaces in neighborhoods citywide.

Applications for Arts + Culture grants are open; apply here.

Shared Spaces Technical Assistance Grants provides resources and assistance to organizations that are activating vacant lots and/or closed streets. The resources are intended to cover costs on permitting, event planning, programming and on-site staff. Technical assistance is provided on permitting processes, logistics and reporting to city agencies.

The application for Technical Assistance Grants: District 1 is now available. If you have any questions, please email Diego at diego@sfnewdeal.org.

Applications are open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are fully disbursed.

These activations are recurring events happening across 11 neighborhoods throughout the city of San Francisco. This program is a partnership with SF Planning and OEWD.