OKC's small businesses have a final chance to get help with outdoor building repair costs

When Jeff Richards, owner of Geronimo’s Bakery at NE 18 and Martin Luther King Avenue, drives up to his business, he’s overwhelmed with pride. Over the last few months, Geronimo’s has received fresh paint, a brick skirting, new windows and a new, illuminated sign — all reimbursed by a program that uses Oklahoma City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

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He reports the new look has been a springboard to attracting new customers. One of these new customers recently asked him when his business opened. He’s been there since 1972.

Oklahoma City small businesses have a final opportunity to receive help through that program. The Storefront Improvement Program, administered by The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, has reopened applications to reimburse businesses up to $25,000 in expenses for outdoor building repairs such as windows, paint, signage or other improvements.

To qualify, a business must be located in Oklahoma City, have been in business before April 2022 and be either minority-owned or located within a Qualified Census Tract (majority low-income) area.

This is the third round of funding for storefront improvements, and the alliance has reopened applications because the program has proven to be so successful. Since the program’s launch just over a year ago, we have helped over 60 small businesses improve their storefronts and are currently working with 50 more. It’s a strategic way to provide one-time funding that helps a business increase self-sufficiency. Funding exterior improvements supports businesses that want to improve curb appeal, get noticed or comply with the new ordinance from the city of Oklahoma City that requires business owners to repair or replace broken, damaged or illegible signs.

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We’ve heard from many small business owners, just like Jeff, who received reimbursements for storefront improvements and soon noticed an uptick in revenue, saw higher foot traffic and heard from new customers who visited for the first time after passing by the business many times before. Not only does the business see a boost, the entire neighborhood can benefit. Earlier this year, we launched a similar program with the Strong Neighborhood Initiative program to revitalize exteriors in the MLK, Capitol Hill and Metro Park neighborhoods. Facade improvements can be a catalyst, whereby other nearby businesses and homes follow suit, upgrading entryways and exteriors, following a relatively small injection of capital.

Our role at the alliance is to enhance economic development in Oklahoma City, and we do that in a variety of ways, from helping companies expanding into Oklahoma City acquire enough land to build a large manufacturing site to helping start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. Our public investments have a multiplier effect, attracting private investment and having a snowball effect on our economy.

Our city’s allocation of ARPA funds was strategically invested to create the highest and most lasting economic impact possible. The alliance and our partners, the city of Oklahoma City and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, are constantly at work, looking for the right incentives, policies, spaces, collaborations and investments to make it easier to start and operate a successful business in Oklahoma City.

I’m proud of that work and would like to ask you to also support efforts to ensure our small businesses thrive. If you know a small business owner, or frequent a locally owned business, your patronage is the single most important factor in their success: “Shop Local!” And the next time you visit, please tell them about the program and encourage them to apply.

Kenton Tsoodle is the president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.For details, go to www.theallianceokc.org/arpa-programs.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City's small businesses needing repairs can apply for ARPA funds