City of Seattle’s Back to Business Program: What U District Businesses Need to Know

August 20, 2026

The City of Seattle is currently offering low-barrier grants through its Back to Business program to help businesses recover from vandalism and make improvements to help prevent future damage. The program includes two funding opportunities: the Storefront Repair Fund and the Storefront Security Fund.

Through the Storefront Repair Fund, businesses can receive up to $5,000 per incident, with up to three incidents eligible for funding. Funds can be used to repair storefront damage caused by vandalism, including scratched or broken windows, broken locks, and other repairs.

The Storefront Security Fund provides up to $10,000 per business for improvements that can help prevent future vandalism and break-ins. Eligible expenses can include updated locks, window film, and other security and crime-prevention infrastructure.

The list of possible uses for these funds is long and will look different for every business. To receive funding through the Storefront Security Fund, businesses must first receive a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) evaluation. During the evaluation, a trained professional will look at the storefront and provide recommendations for ways to improve its security and durability. For U District businesses, these evaluations can be conducted at no charge by Marcus Johnson, UDP’s Director of Clean and Safe Operations, who is trained to conduct CPTED evaluations.

Since this round of funding opened in 2025, 18 U District businesses have received more than $46,000 through the Back to Business program. While this may seem like a relatively small investment, these repairs and security improvements can make a big difference for small businesses that may have a hard time covering an unexpected expense of this size. Vandalism can have a significant impact on a business, and having access to funding for repairs and preventative measures can help businesses address the damage and make their storefronts more secure.

The Back to Business program is currently open through December 2026 or until funds run out, whichever comes first. In response to community feedback, the City of Seattle has also relaxed some of the program requirements. Businesses that were not eligible before may now qualify to receive funds through the program. If a business or nonprofit was previously ineligible, it may be worth taking another look.

Businesses that have experienced vandalism or property damage–or that are looking for ways to make their storefront more secure–are encouraged to explore the Back to Business program. U District businesses with questions about the program or interest in a CPTED evaluation can contact UDP for more information and assistance connecting with available resources.

For questions or support for your business, please contact Hannah Kiburz, Economic Development Manager at hannah@udistrictpartnership.org.