Mid-Market and Tenderloin businesses secure $370,000 in SF Thrives Grants
Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation helps 37 local businesses receive funding
SAN FRANCISCO (February 3, 2026) – The Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation (MMBAF) today announced that 37 Mid-Market and Tenderloin businesses have been awarded SF Thrives grants totaling $370,000. The grants, provided through the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), offer up to $10,000 in reimbursements for operational expenses to small businesses that persevered through the pandemic.
MMBAF staff worked directly with local businesses to navigate the application process, ensuring neighborhood anchors could access the funding. Recipients reflect the diversity of Mid-Market's business community, spanning restaurants, arts organizations, entertainment venues, cafes, and cultural institutions.
"These processes can be complicated and time-consuming for the business owners who already manage so much. We are proud to guide them through every step to make things as seamless as possible," said Fernando Pujals, Executive Director of the Mid-Market Business Association & Foundation. "These businesses are the heartbeat of Mid-Market, and making sure they can access resources is fundamental to everything we're building here.”
"The City did a great job with SF Thrives. OEWD, Office of Small Business, and the Mayor's Office ran a well-organized process for a grant that was targeted and meaningful," says Rob Ready, Director of Business Development at MMBAF. "Working with Mid-Market business owners, you see firsthand how much a grant like this can mean. Small businesses in these neighborhoods were hit especially hard during—and long after—the pandemic. A $10,000 cash infusion helps our local restaurants, venues, and cultural spaces continue serving the thousands of visitors who come to Mid-Market each month. Programs like this give hope to ongoing and successful public/private partnerships.”
Among the Mid-Market businesses receiving grants are Montesacro, Azalina's, Counterpulse, International Art Museum of America, Paris Cafe, Crazy Horse, and Golden Gate Donuts.
"Running a restaurant in Mid-Market takes resilience, and this grant gives us support to invest in what we do best. The MMBAF team made the application process manageable. They answered our questions and followed up until we got it done. Having that kind of support strengthens the whole Mid-Market community," said Susanna Merlo, Outreach and Partnership Engagement, Montesacro.
The SF Thrives grants complement MMBAF's broader Market Street Arts initiative and ongoing efforts to transform the corridor into a premier arts and entertainment district. Beyond connecting businesses to grant opportunities, MMBAF helps launch new businesses in the neighborhood, provides ongoing technical assistance, and coordinates marketing campaigns and special events to drive foot traffic. MMBAF also leads the Mid-Market Business Collaborative working group to foster collaboration among local businesses, and continues to work with city partners and private donors to identify additional funding opportunities and neighborhood improvements.
