News Summary
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb has announced a $1.9 million investment to revitalize small businesses in the Southeast Side through the Southeast Side Commercial Corridor Program. This funding aims to empower local businesses and foster economic growth in a region rich in culture and resilience. The program, relaunched in 2025, will support various initiatives including storefront enhancements and property stabilization, benefiting diverse small businesses and enhancing the community.
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb has announced a significant investment of $1.9 million aimed at revitalizing small businesses in the city’s Southeast Side through the Southeast Side Commercial Corridor Program. This initiative is a part of the broader Southeast Side Promise, which focuses on fostering investment, stimulating economic growth, and rejuvenating the community.
Mayor Bibb characterized Cleveland’s Southeast Side as “one of our city’s crown jewels facing the challenges of disinvestment, yet rich in potential, resilience, and culture.” The purpose of this funding is to empower small businesses, thereby allowing them to contribute positively to the community by restoring pride, creating opportunities, and ensuring the prosperity of future generations.
The Southeast Side Commercial Corridor Program was relaunched by the Department of Economic Development in September 2025, with a focus on enhancing commercial corridors and community spaces. The improvements expected from this program could include a range of initiatives such as storefront enhancements, “white boxing” (a term used to describe the process of preparing a commercial space for tenants by providing a bare shell), the acquisition and stabilization of vacant properties, and public realm enhancements.
Joevrose Small, the Director of Economic Development, emphasized that this program serves as “a model for equitable economic development.” Approximately $1,909,341.06 has been awarded across 29 projects along significant corridors, including Lee Road, Kinsman Road, Miles Avenue, and Union Avenue. Beneficiaries of these funds are diverse small businesses, including early learning centers, health providers, restaurants, barbershops, and more.
Some notable grant recipients include Mount Pleasant Bar-B-Q, Grandma Ida’s Kitchen, and Mt. Pleasant Barbecue, demonstrating the range of community-focused businesses that will benefit from this investment. Wendy Dennis, the owner of Mount Pleasant Bar-B-Q, expressed her enthusiasm about receiving approximately $93,000 for improvements, noting that such funding facilitates larger enhancements that may have otherwise been unattainable.
The funding for this program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), targeting neighborhoods that have experienced prolonged disinvestment. The initiative is anticipated to cultivate a collaborative environment within the local community, supported by Community Development Corporations and City Council members.
Applications for funding exceeded $5 million, indicating a strong demand for financial assistance among local businesses. The program has an individual maximum grant cap of $99,999, allowing multiple businesses to access support. Although ongoing improvements may require time due to zoning and permitting processes, business owners are optimistic about the opportunities these initiatives will create.
Estimated disbursement of funds to business owners is projected to occur by the end of 2025. As the city progresses with implementing the Southeast Side Commercial Corridor Program, the focus remains on equipping small businesses with essential resources to thrive and bolster the health of the local economy.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Cleveland Grants $93,415.50 to Revitalize Mt. Pleasant Bar-B-Q
Cleveland Mayor Invests $1.9 Million in Southeast Businesses
Cleveland Invests $1.9 Million in Small Businesses
Ohio House Passes Bipartisan Marijuana Reform Bill
Cleveland Announces $1.9 Million Investment in Small Businesses
Cleveland at the Center of Controversy Over THC Ban
Cleveland Approves East Stokes Block Skyscraper Construction
CentroVilla25 Opens as New Latino Market in Cleveland
Clifford Construction Plans Expansion Amid Local Growth
Cleveland Maintains KeyBank’s Local Market Dominance
Additional Resources
- Hoodline: Cleveland Boosts Southeast Side Revival
- Wikipedia: Cleveland
- Spectrum News 1: Southeast Side Promise
- Google Search: Cleveland Southeast Side Promise
- WKYC: Cleveland Invests Nearly $2M
- Google Scholar: Cleveland Small Business Programs
- Crain’s Cleveland: Cleveland Awards $1.9M Grants
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Economic Development
- Cleveland 19: Cleveland Grant Helps Small Businesses
- Google News: Cleveland Small Business Grants
Author: STAFF HERE CLEVELAND WRITER
The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
