Several new murals around Santa Rosa are a part of the Small Business Support Program, focused on grants for façade improvement, placemaking, and parklet build-out in qualifying commercial districts within the City. 

The primary goal of the City’s Small Business Support Program is to encourage economic development and destination awareness of historically under-invested areas by enhancing the exterior appearance and commercial viability of storefront businesses in the City’s commercial districts. Public art, like murals, contributes to economic vitality by attracting tourists, revitalizing areas, fostering community engagement, promoting cultural identity, increasing foot traffic, leveraging social media exposure, and creating event opportunities. Business and property owners approved through the program who opted to have public art installed, were paired with a non-profit arts organization who worked with the business to design public art on site and paid for by the City. 

The City partnered with The Mural Project and Artstart, which are local non-profit arts organizations, to manage and implement the placemaking public art projects. A list of confirmed public art locations is listed below.

The Small Business Support Program also includes Facade Improvement Grants for eligible businesses to improve, enhance or restore the physical condition or appearance of a business and/or building. Businesses receiving funds will be announced within the next few weeks.

In accordance with the American Rescue Plan Act funding source, this program was designed to remove barriers and facilitate equitable access to funding for small businesses and property owners that were   negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualifying businesses were located within the Roseland commercial areas, along the Santa Rosa Avenue or Petaluma Hill Road commercial corridors, or in the downtown area; and met the definition of an Impacted Small Business; they had 500 employees or less, demonstrated a decline in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, faced increased costs, had a lack of capacity to weather financial hardship due to the pandemic, and/or were challenged with covering payroll, rent or mortgage, and other operating costs during the pandemic. 

More information can be found at SRCity.org/3772/Small-Business-Support-Program, or by contacting the City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Division at [email protected] or (707) 543-3080.

The Mural Project

• Mike Chavez Painting 
  Street Address: 516 Santa Rosa Avenue
• Barrel Proof Lounge
  Street Address: 501 Mendocino Avenue
• HD Barber Studio
  Street Address: 989 Sebastopol Road
• Shady Oak Barrel House
  Street Address: 420 1st Street
• The Astro Motel
  Street Address: 323 Santa Rosa Avenue
• Museum of Sonoma County 
  Street Address: 511 B Street
• Daredevils & Queens 
  Street Address: 122 4^th Street

 ArtStart

• Café Frida Gallery
  Street Address: 300 South A Street
• The Press Democrat
  Street Address: 416 B Street
• Santa Rosa Seafood
  Street Address: 601 Elsa Drive
• The Hattery 
  Street Address: 1240 Petaluma Hill Road
• Dierk’s Parkside Café
  Street Address: 404 Santa Rosa Avenue