All Weather Grant

Through the course of this pandemic, City staff and AEDP, in coordination with the Alexandria Health Department and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, worked with restaurants, retail and other storefront-based businesses to help them access and activate outdoor space to serve customers while complying with Forward Virginia guidelines. As the pandemic continues, and residents and customers are advised to continue to use social distance, separation and spend as little time as possible in indoor, confined spaces, businesses must maintain and expand outdoor operations to remain viable.

On Tuesday, October 27th, Alexandria City Council voted to approve $500,000 of federal CARES Act funding for restaurant, retail and fitness businesses who wish to “winterize” outdoor business areas. As part of ongoing discussions, it became evident that there is additional financial need in the business community required to support the acquisition and deployment of this ‘all-weather’ or winterization equipment and materials, and to help safely activate outdoor spaces during the colder weather months.

The ALX B2B – All Weather program grant was available on a rolling (first-come, first-serve) basis. If a business applied for either round of the Alexandria Back to Business grant program, successfully or unsuccessfully, that business is still eligible for the All Weather grant as long as the All Weather grant funds are spent on the eligible uses listed below.

The All Weather grants are now closed. 94 small businesses in the City of Alexandria received a $5,000 grant to support the acquisition and deployment of ‘all-weather’ or winterization equipment and materials, and to help safely activate outdoor spaces during the colder weather months. In the coming weeks, AEDP will release aggregate demographic information about the Round 2 applicant pool and awardees.