The City of Cleveland has awarded $253,000 in the latest round of its Steelyard Tax Increment Financing Small Business and Placemaking Grant programs.
The fourth round of awards includes 24 small businesses and one community development corporation. Recipients are located across six Cleveland neighborhoods: Ohio City, Tremont, Old Brooklyn, Clark-Fulton, Slavic Village and Lorain Station.
The newest awards bring total investment through the relaunched program to $1.38 million. Since the 2025 relaunch, Cleveland says 84 small businesses and six community development corporations have received funding.
Projects supported by the latest grants include business expansions, infrastructure improvements, public art and other neighborhood investments.
Small Business Grants generally range from $5,000 to $10,000. The program can support interior and exterior improvements, equipment, lighting, landscaping, architectural and design costs and other eligible business expenses.
Placemaking Grants can provide up to $15,000 for projects such as public art, landscaping, benches, decorative lighting, streetscape improvements and community events.
The Steelyard TIF program was originally established in 2006. It was created to support neighborhood economies affected by large-scale retail development at Steelyard Commons.
Cleveland updated and relaunched the program in 2025. Eligibility is based on a market impact study that identified the six participating neighborhoods.
Among the latest small-business recipients are Ohio City Burrito, Joy Machines Bike Shop, Tabletop Board Game Café, Grumpy’s Café, Never Say Dive and several other neighborhood businesses. Slavic Village Development received the round’s placemaking grant.
Applications were evaluated by a cross-departmental city committee representing the Department of Development, City Planning Commission and Department of Community Development.
The September awards follow a July application period and continue Cleveland’s neighborhood-focused distribution of Steelyard TIF funds.
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