Above: The revitalization of a decades-old mural at Grant Elementary School makes for a more welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant district in South Perry. Photo courtesy of Josh Cleveland.

By Josh Cleveland, Spokane Neighborhoods Liaison

There are exciting things happening in Spokane! The Washington Trust is midway through a two-year grant project with the City of Spokane to work with four historic neighborhood business districts to implement placemaking, economic recovery, and organizational development initiatives. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the project includes Spokane’s Garland, Hillyard, North Monroe, and South Perry neighborhoods.

In May 2025, stakeholders in the four districts were invited to apply for activation grants to help to jumpstart the work of the grant and show visible impact, while additional, larger priority projects were identified and vetted. By the end of the process, 27 grantees from neighborhood businesses and organizations were offered matching activation grants ranging from $500-$5,000, and the projects were as varied and unique as the districts themselves.

Here are just a few of the many impactful projects completed between May and September 2025, which highlight the excellent work of dedicated neighborhood business district stakeholders and partners!

Above: The new planters and sandwich board outside Spokane Baby Company in the Garland district. Photo courtesy of Josh Cleveland.

Above: A Spokane Baby Company customer’s son inspects the new planters. Photo courtesy of Mica McClung.

The Garland district is known for its historic Garland Theatre, its neon signage, and its walkable footprint. Business owners Danielle Amstrup of Pleasantries and Mica McClung of Spokane Baby Company identified an opportunity to add planters outside their storefronts to beautify their spaces and provide a warm welcome to district visitors. McClung also added a new sandwich board to direct district visitors to her shop. According to Armstrup, the feedback has been incredible positive: “The number of people who have come inside and commented on how beautiful the flowers are has been overwhelming! While we were planting our boxes, a woman stopped by and said, ‘Thank you for making the street beautiful.’”

In the Hillyard district, Brianna and Dave Musser have been dedicated to the restoration of their building, the United Building, which houses five separate businesses within the heart of the district. Given the United Building’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places, they have worked closely with the Spokane Historic Preservation Office to ensure that their restoration projects are consistent with the standards for the property. To beautify their building and add additional lighting to their district, the Mussers added four sconce lights to the building’s façade, also funded by a separate façade grant from the Spokane Historic Preservation Office. As Brianna comments: “The attention that it brings to the building in the evening and night hours is incredible—what a change! It is easier for patrons to find our building in the evening, and people have commented on the lighting drawing their attention to the architectural features of the building.”

Above: New outdoor sconces illuminate the historic United Building in the Hillyard district. Photo courtesy of Josh Cleveland.

As in many neighborhood business districts, a farmers market is not only a space for residents and visitors to purchase goods from local vendors but also a space for community. A recent relocation of the farmers market in the North Monroe district to a nearby but off-the-beaten-path location required the Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market team to think creatively about how to ensure both new and longstanding patrons knew how to find their new location. After an early summer installation, market leaders noted, “There are almost weekly anecdotal examples of how the billboard has helped with awareness raising and wayfinding.”

Right: A wayfinding billboard helped locals find the new location for the Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market in the North Monroe district. Photo courtesy of Josh Cleveland.

Grant Elementary School resides in the heart of the South Perry district. The school and its staff and students, families, and visitors are all key members of the close-knit community. T.E.A.M. Grant, the school’s parent/teacher organization, identified an opportunity to revitalize a 120-foot, decades-old mural to reflect the joy and spirit of the school and the neighborhood. The mural’s characters depict the diverse culture of the school and welcome students and community members to the neighborhood, with characters holding signs that say, “You belong here.”

The next time you make your way to Spokane, keep a lookout for these and other unique investments made by tireless members of these vibrant neighborhood business districts! To learn more about the Spokane Neighborhood Business District Grant, visit preservewa.org/spokane.