ARPA CREATIVE INDUSTRIES RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM

There are a limited number of $5,000 grants remaining. Priority will be given to those who meet all qualifications (listed below) and demonstrate the greatest financial impact. Grants will be awarded to City of Birmingham-based small businesses and nonprofits in the creative industries, including culture and heritage, culinary arts, design, media and film, performing arts, and visual arts and crafts.

The ARPA Creative Industries Recovery Grant Program is made possible by the City of Birmingham’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation, with funds made available by the Birmingham City Council’s Cultural Arts Committee. This grant program is intended to provide direct financial assistance to creative ventures in the municipality of the City of Birmingham that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

All application requirements must be met, and late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Prior to submission, please be sure that all supporting documents are current and correct.

PLEASE NOTE: Previous recipients are not eligible for a second round of funding.

This grant program is administered by Create Birmingham. If you have questions about any of the required documentation, please email communityarts@createbirmingham.org well in advance so that staff may assist you.

GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES

All applicants must be based in the City of Birmingham. A list of the communities and neighborhoods in the City of Birmingham can be found here.

Applicants must provide the following required documentation as part of the application in order to be eligible for funding. Additional documentation may be requested at a later date to comply with State and Federal laws and/or to best assess the status of small businesses and nonprofits. Applicants who meet federal documentation requirements and demonstrate the greatest financial need will be prioritized for funding. 

  • A current City of Birmingham business license or current Avenu receipt showing 2023 renewal;
  • Business address and, if a small business, home address;
  • Current W9;
  • Documentation that the annual revenue of the business or annual operating budget of the nonprofit is less than $1,000,000;
  • If the applicant is a nonprofit, the IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter as proof of nonprofit status;
  • Filed tax returns for the years 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 in the business name if the applicant is a small business;
  • Filed IRS Form-990s for the years 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 if the applicant is a nonprofit (Form 990-N e-Postcards are also accepted);
  • Supporting documents that demonstrate financial hardship during the pandemic such as decreased revenue or gross receipts, financial insecurity, increased costs, decreased capacity to weather financial hardship, or challenges covering payroll, rent or mortgage, or other operating costs.
    If you are unable to submit a 2022 filed tax return or IRS Form-990, please upload a statement documenting the status of your filing and expected completion date.
    As part of the supporting documents that demonstrate financial hardship due to the pandemic, applicants may also include tax returns or Form 990s from additional prior years.

Applicants must provide brief statements as part of the application that outline the following.

  • How the pandemic negatively impacted the small business or nonprofit;
  • How ARPA Creative Industries Grant Program funds will be utilized if awarded;
  • Any other pandemic relief funding that has been received to date.

Please note that the application form cannot be saved and returned to at a later time, so be sure to prepare your answers and organize your materials well in advance prior to submission. While applications may be submitted until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, January 31, please contact staff with any questions regarding your application no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, January 26. Due to the number of applicants, staff will not be able to respond to questions received on the day applications are due.

A copy of the Small Business application form can be found here.
A copy of the Nonprofit application form can be found here.

KEY DATES

May 22, 2023: Grant application portal opens

June 29, 2023: Final day to submit questions regarding application

June 30, 2023: Grant application portal closes at 11:59 CST

September 2023: Notification of application status

December 2023: Grant funds disbursed

December 2024: Final reports & financial documentation submitted by grant recipients


The ARPA Creative Industries Recovery Grant Program is made possible by the City of Birmingham through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Funds are made available by the Birmingham City Council’s Cultural Arts Committee, Councilor Carol Clarke, Chair.
The program is administered by Create Birmingham.