The following is a special announcement from Love The Ave Partners New Bedford Creative:
NEW BEDFORD, MA — To support local small businesses and energize commercial corridors this holiday season, New Bedford Creative at the New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) has announced a new rapid-response initiative: Wicked Cool Storefronts: Holiday Placemaking Grant.
This grant program is made possible through the City of New Bedford’s Arts, Culture, and Tourism Fund, and provides immediate financial support to New Bedford’s brick-and-mortar retail shops, service-oriented businesses, restaurants, and cafes. Designed to drive holiday foot traffic, encourage shop-small initiatives, and boost seasonal revenue, the program offers grant awards from $500 to $5,000, with an average award of $2,500.
“Our storefronts are the lifeblood of New Bedford’s commercial districts,” said Tony Sapienza, President of the NBEDC. “Whether it’s festive lighting, temporary pop-ups, or live music at a cafe, this program gives our small business owners quick-turnaround funding to make our streets vibrant and welcoming during the most critical retail season of the year.”
Eligible Projects
Funding is available for creative storefront enhancements and engaging cultural activations, including:
- Physical Placemaking Upgrades: Eye-catching seasonal window displays, storefront lighting, decorated outdoor seating, or welcoming entry signage.
- Creative Placekeeping Programming: Live music performances, pop-up events, artist demonstrations, creative workshops, storytelling, and interactive holiday experiences.
Application & Review Process
- Eligibility: Must be a brick-and-mortar retail, service-oriented, restaurant, or cafe business located in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
- Process: Applications are accepted on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis and will be reviewed until available funds are fully depleted.
- Independent Review Team: Submissions will be evaluated by a collaborative panel of local promotional partners, including representatives from AHA! New Bedford, Downtown New Bedford Inc., Love The Ave, and Explore New Bedford.
How to Apply
Small business owners can submit applications online in English or Spanish via the Good Grants portal linked at https://newbedfordcreative.org/grant-programs/
