STEP-BY-STEP

Get help paying for your storefront’s COVID-19 safety measures

This grant is now closed.

Learn more about other resources and services available to help San Francisco businesses, employees, and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19.

All businesses with a storefront in San Francisco can apply. You can get up to $2,000 reimbursed for past, in progress, or future work.

Business in certain neighborhoods can get up to $5,000 reimbursed. Your business does not have to be in these neighborhoods to be eligible. These neighborhoods are: 

  • Bayview
  • Calle 24
  • Central Market/Tenderloin
  • Chinatown
  • Excelsior
  • Lower Fillmore
  • Lower Haight

Other factors for reimbursement amount include:

  • Your personal household income
  • If your business was forced to close during the pandemic
  • If your business has physical constraints that make it difficult to reopen during the pandemic

If you have questions or need help filling out the application, email sfshines@sfgov.org.

1

Check if your business is eligible

Your business must operate from a storefront location in San Francisco that is open to the public.

Your business must be licensed to operate in San Francisco.

Your business must have less than $2.5 million in annual gross receipts. 

Nonprofits can apply.

You should have permission from your property owner.

You need general liability and workers compensation insurance. We recommend coverage of at least $1 million per occurrence.

2

Choose the type of work to be reimbursed for

You can get reimbursed for past, in progress, or future work. 

The grant can reimburse you for items like:

  • Outdoor barriers and furniture (including dividers, barricades, and planters)
  • Fixtures for health and safety (like acrylic barriers at checkout)
  • Interior configurations to help with physical distancing (including counters, furniture, fixtures, and equipment)

You will get reimbursed faster if you choose work that does not need permits.

You will not be reimbursed for any consumables (including personal protective equipment), utility costs, or rent.

Depending on your location, you may be matched with an outside partner to help with the work.

and

Choose design services

Optional

You can get help with:

  • Space planning for physical distancing
  • Architectural services
  • ADA compliance

After you apply, you may be matched with an outside provider.

You can also get reimbursed for design services you received in the past.

 

3

Apply for SF Shines for Reopening grant

You must be a business owner to fill out the application.

On the application, we will ask for:

  • Business information
  • Business owner information, including demographics and household income
  • Date you started your business
  • Number of full-time and part-time employees
  • Type of work to be reimbursed for
  • Amount you plan on contributing to this project, beyond reimbursement

To be reimbursed for past work, you will need:

  • Type of work you did
  • Receipts
  • W9 form for your business
  • Permit number on job card, if the work required permits
4

Application review

Time:2 weeks

If you are selected, we will email you.

If work was already done, we will issue you a check.

If work is not done yet, we will work with you to find a vendor, get the work done, and get reimbursed.

5

Get improvement work done, if future work

If you use a vendor, you’ll need their W9 to be reimbursed.

6

Claim your reimbursement, if future work

If you finish improvements after you apply, you must fill out another form to get reimbursed. 

Try to finish the work within 3 months. You must claim your reimbursement within 1 month of the work being done.

You will need:

  • Type of work you did
  • Receipts
  • Photos of the work done
  • W9 forms of vendors who did the work (or for you if you already paid for the work)

We will mail you a check. You can also pick up your check in the Financial District.