Portland’s small business community has faced repeated challenges from break-ins, vandalism, and related repairs, lost revenue, and business disruption. For many storefront businesses, these incidents create financial hardship beyond the initial damage. The good news is that the City of Portland has reopened funding through the Local Small Business Expanded Repair/Restore Grant Program, managed by Prosper Portland. The program is intended to help eligible small businesses and nonprofits (building owners and/or tenants) recover from physical or economic damage related to break-ins and vandalism, and it is now accepting applications again with additional City funding.
Under the current program, eligible recipients may receive up to $25,000 over the life of the program. In 2025, the program was reopened after Portland City Council approved an additional $1 million in funding, giving more businesses and nonprofits a chance to apply for support.
Who may be eligible?
- Small businesses within the City of Portland
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- Must have current City of Portland Business license and State of Oregon registration
- Must have 50 or fewer employees
- Must maintain regular hours of operation
- Space must be zoned for commercial use
2. Nonprofits in Portland
3. Organizations operating from ground-floor storefronts with “in person” customer facing business
4. Those that experienced physical or economic damage due to break-ins or vandalism
If your business has had to deal with burglary, property damage, or similar disruption, it may be worth reviewing the program details to see whether you qualify.
Because grant programs can include additional requirements, we recommend reviewing the current Prosper Portland application materials to determine potential eligibility.
What types of costs might be covered?
- Replacing broken windows
- Repairing doors, locks, and entrances
- Cleanup related to an incident
- Security upgrades such as cameras, reinforced locks, gates, or similar measures
- Costs related to temporary closures
- Insurance premium increases
To get started:
- Gather documentation now
Start compiling records that show both the incident and the related financial impact. Depending on your situation, that might include:
- Photos of damage
- Repair invoices or estimates
- Receipts for cleanup work
- Insurance correspondence
- Police reports
- Internal records showing lost revenue or other disruption
The more organized your documentation is, the easier it may be to complete an application and support your reimbursement request.
- Review the current program page and application details
Visit the Prosper Portland or City of Portland grants page to review eligibility rules, application steps, and required documents.
- Track-related reimbursements or relief
If you have insurance proceeds or other related funding, keep a clear record of what has been received or applied for.
- Let us know if you will be applying for a grant
Even though this is a relief program, grant proceeds may be taxable income depending on your specific situation. They may also affect how certain repair costs or relief items are recorded in your books, tax planning, and tax filings.
- Apply soon if it appears you may be eligible
Because the program stays open only as long as funds are available, it makes sense to act soon once you have the necessary information together.
See the website below for Prosper Portland for additional information:
https://prosperportland.us/our-work/repair-restore-grant-program/