About the Grant
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation has been awarded an almost $2.5 million grant from the City of Spokane to support the ongoing revitalization of four of the city’s historic and vibrant neighborhood business districts: Garland, Hillyard, North Monroe, and South Perry.
The Washington Trust, in its mission to help preserve Washington’s historic and cultural places, brings a people-centered approach to its work, emphasizing inclusivity and community empowerment. This work includes partnering with nearly 80 historic neighborhoods and downtown districts around the state through managing the state’s Main Street program.
This two-year grant, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will support:
- Placemaking and Design Improvements: Enhancements to public spaces, streetscapes, district branding, and/or business facades.
- Organizational Development: Building and supporting strong and sustainable district organizations and fostering community engagement.
Spokane-based members of the Washington Trust team will join community members, businesses, and city partners, many of whom have been organizing in their neighborhoods for years, to: identify district priorities and develop action plans, conduct community outreach and engagement activities, coordinate workshops and training sessions, and leverage resources and expertise to support sustainable district success.
ARPA Grant Funding Provided By:
Learn about and register for upcoming workshops providing targeted, hands-on training and essential resources to stakeholders from Garland, Hillyard, North Monroe, and South Perry, recipients of the Spokane Neighborhood Business District Grants.
Nonprofits and businesses in each district are encouraged to apply for Activation Grants to use ARPA funds to support impactful projects with immediate results in spring and summer 2025. The application period is now open and closes on April 7.
Project FAQ
Spokane’s neighborhood business districts are vibrant centers of commerce and community. We’re committed to supporting their ongoing revitalization. Learn more about our initiatives and how you can get involved.
What is ARPA?
The American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, was a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill signed into law in March 2021, aimed to help the U.S. recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation included $3 billion in funding for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to assist American communities in addressing the urgent needs created by the pandemic. Along with all other municipalities in the U.S., the City of Spokane received a share of this recovery funding, commensurate with the city’s population. The City has chosen to commit nearly $2.5M of their overall award to the Neighborhood Business Districts grant.
How were the four neighborhood business districts selected to receive these funds?
During the ARPA outreach and community input sessions, the City of Spokane identified the Garland, Hillyard, North Monroe, and South Perry districts for funding.
What is the timeline for the use of these funds?
Alongside larger projects in each district that will be completed by the end of November 2026, businesses and nonprofits within each district may apply for activation grants to fund early projects between late spring and late summer 2025.
We aim to employ an outreach-heavy approach to honor and work alongside the individuals already investing in these historic neighborhood business districts.
We have been hearing about these funds for quite some time. Will we really see movement now?
Yes! Now is the time. We know that many residents and business owners have known about this funding for quite some time, and there has been a feeling of several stops and starts.
As the nonprofit that was selected by the City of Spokane to manage this grant, the Washington Trust is working diligently with the City and neighborhood partners to ensure these projects are completed by the end of November 2026.
What types of projects might be considered?
Each neighborhood business district has a total of approximately $450,000 to be used within the scope of these projects. Note: This list is not exhaustive but is meant to provide insight into the kinds of projects that are permitted within the grant. Activation Grant projects may not include projects in the public right-of-way.
- Community engagement events and marketing initiatives (especially those benefiting multiple stakeholders or the district as a whole)
- Safety enhancements (e.g., improved lighting, repaired vandalism, improved crime prevention through environmental design)
- Beautification (e.g., murals, facade improvements, and greenspaces)
- Parking lot enhancement or pop-up parklet activation
- Short-term staffing needs for sustainable organizing within districts (especially focused on capacity building)
- Sidewalk cleaning or improvements
- Note: Routine or deferred maintenance is not eligible for funding.
What amount of ARPA grant funding has been allocated to each of these four neighborhood business districts?
Each of the four neighborhood business districts will receive an equal amount of funding from the nearly $2.5 million grant, or approximately $450,000.
Many residents and business owners within the districts have been asked to provide feedback in recent years. How will that info be used in this process?
We are grateful for the numerous ways that stakeholders within these districts have provided feedback in recent years! Collaborating with past consultants, current partners, residents, and business owners, we will use the feedback provided to include in decisions about the opportunities, needs, and desires of each neighborhood business district.
Take a Brief District Survey
Live, work, or own property in Garland, Hillyard, North Monroe, or South Perry? We want to hear from you! Share your experiences and hopes for your neighborhood business district by taking our short survey. Your feedback will be essential to our understanding of district priorities as projects move forward.
Click to complete your survey before the end of April 2025.
Stay Informed
Sign up for occasional email updates about the Spokane Neighborhoods Business District Grant and stay informed about relevant upcoming news, information, and updates about your neighborhood business district and ARPA funds.
Spokane Neighborhood Business Districts Updates
The Main Street Approach®
The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation team leverages The Main Street Approach® to facilitate its work among these four dynamic Spokane neighborhood business districts. The Main Street Approach® is a unique preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets—from historic, cultural, and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride.
Curious to learn more about The Main Street Approach®? Consider these resources:
- Main Street Resource Library
- Main Street 101 Webinar Recording
- Excellence on Main Archive
- Main Street Foundations Series
Meet Our Spokane-based Team
Josh Cleveland
Neighborhoods Liaison
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Breanne Durham
Washington Main Street Director
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
Contact
For more information about the grant and the associated projects, contact Josh Cleveland, Neighborhoods Liaison with the Washington Trust, at .