OEWD outlines $52.8M in neighborhood relief and new targeted grants to reach minority‑ and women‑owned firms

Acting OEWD Director Anne Topier told the Budget & Appropriations Committee on May 5 that OEWD pivoted quickly during the pandemic to prioritize direct relief to small businesses, especially those the federal programs under‑served. "Since the beginning of the pandemic... we have accepted and will disperse this year approximately $65,000,000 in new additional funding to over 3,500 small businesses," Topier said.

Diana Ponce de Leon, who leads Invest in Neighborhoods, described how OEWD iterated program designs to improve equity and reach. Early first‑come, first‑served grants were supplemented by targeted neighborhood mini‑grant programs administered through community partners; in later rounds OEWD used lotteries and absorbed previously awarded mini‑grant applicants into larger resiliency rounds to avoid re‑application burdens.

OEWD reported a combined reach across its grant and loan programs that concentrated awards in neighborhoods with demonstrated need (Mission, Bayview/Hunters Point, Tenderloin, Chinatown). Ponce de Leon said city‑administered grants reached a higher share of minority‑ and women‑owned firms than some federal programs: in OEWD’s dataset roughly 72% of awardees identified as minority owned and 52% as women owned. OEWD also announced a Dream Keeper initiative: a $3.7 million RFP to support Black‑owned businesses with technical assistance, community hubs and cultural events.

Supervisors raised consistent concerns about application complexity, language barriers, digital access and speed of payments. Public callers described confusing translated forms and requested clearer communication and simpler eligibility review. The committee agreed to continue the hearing to the call of the chair so the incoming OEWD director can present an early strategic vision; the motion passed 5–0.