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Norfolk awards corridor grants to 32 businesses; city seeks funding to expand program
Summary
Norfolk’s Economic Development Department presented results of a pilot Commercial Corridor Grant Program funded with ARPA dollars: 167 applications, 99 passing technical review, 32 businesses awarded about $1.4 million in grants and staff reporting roughly $7 million in leveraged private investment and additional state funds.
Sean Washington, director of economic development for the city of Norfolk, told the Planning Commission the Commercial Corridor Grant Program used American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to target underperforming commercial corridors and help sustain small businesses.
Washington said the program, launched after a 2022 allocation of ARPA dollars, combined urban design studies, technical assistance for small businesses, and direct grants. “We wanted to make sure that we kind of targeted those funds and targeted our efforts,” Washington said, describing a three‑pronged approach of design consulting, technical assistance for tenants and landlords, and two tiers of grants (up to $50,000 for building owners and up to $25,000 for tenants).
Washington said the pilot covered four corridors — 30th/5th Street, Riverview, East Little Creek and Lafayette Boulevard — and produced four rounds of awards. From 167 applications 99 passed technical…
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