San Francisco Announces Grant to Improve Storefront Accessibility and Support for Small Businesses

SAN FRANCISCO - The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) announces the re-launch of the Accessible Barrier Removal Grant, a reimbursement program designed to help small businesses make their storefronts more accessible to the public. The grant is part of a suite of programs aimed at supporting businesses’ compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and expanding access for the disability community, ensuring everyone can experience the unique businesses that make San Francisco a world-class destination. Since San Francisco launched its grant program in 2021, it has provided over $2 million to nearly 350 small businesses.

The Accessible Barrier Removal program is supported by the State of California’s Disability Access and Education Revolving Fund. Four dollars of every business registration goes toward this fund, designed to improve public building accessibility compliance, support the Certified Access Specialist program, and provide educational resources statewide. With 28% of Americans having some type of disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025), improving access makes good business sense and strengthens San Francisco’s neighborhoods and economy. Applications are available at sf.gov/adagrant.

The program builds on the city's work to be a place where small businesses can thrive, and one that continues to be at the forefront of the Disability Rights movement. Funding programs announced earlier this year—including Vacant to Vibrant, the Downtown Vibrancy Loan Fund, and the Storefront Opportunity Grant—have helped more than 600 businesses citywide fill vacant storefronts, expand, and make upgrades. The mayor’s signature reform initiative, PermitSF, continues to eliminate legal barriers for new businesses with the passage of 20 ordinances and common-sense reforms and the launch of a fully digital permitting portal. This summer, San Francisco hosted the National Association of the Deaf, the nation’s oldest disability civil rights organization.

“Under our administration, the city is becoming a true partner to our small businesses. This grant is another way we’re doing that—helping entrepreneurs expand their customer base by improving accessibility while helping them meet federal requirements,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “When our storefronts are full and welcoming to everyone, our neighborhoods are more vibrant. This program helps give our local businesses the support they need to serve our entire community.”

“With the Accessible Barrier Removal Grant, we’re helping business owners—many of whom operate in older buildings—make essential improvements that bring their storefronts into compliance with the ADA,” said Anne Taupier, Executive Director of OEWD. “We know there are countless steps involved in opening and operating a small business, and this grant is part of our broader effort to make that path easier while ensuring that all residents and visitors, including members of the disability community, can fully enjoy the wide range of businesses that define San Francisco.”

The Accessible Barrier Removal Grant provides up to $10,000 in reimbursement for eligible accessibility improvements at commercially zoned storefronts throughout San Francisco. The program aims to remove physical barriers that limit access to goods and services and support small businesses in complying with the ADA. Previous grants have funded the installation of power door operators, accessible bar counters, and restroom remodels. Applications for reimbursement are accepted on a rolling basis pending funding availability.

The grant is one piece of a larger initiative to bring resources and education to businesses, aimed at better serving customers with disabilities. Following a successful, yearslong effort to make thousands of storefront entryways accessible, in 2024 Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman created the “Beyond the Front Door” initiative, bringing together the Office of Small Business, the Department of Disability and Aging Services’ Office on Disability & Accessibility, and the Department of Building Inspection to continue building education tools for business owners to improve the accessibility of their businesses.

“San Francisco has a proud history of leadership in the movement for the equal participation of people with disabilities in our government, culture and commerce," said President Mandelman. "Accessibility is good business, as well as the law, and we know that our small businesses want to be accessible to their customers. Very much in keeping with the spirit and intention of our Beyond the Front Door ordinance, this grant program helps support those small business owners to do right by their disabled customers.”

This spring the city published “Serving customers with disabilities: A guide for small business owners.” The guide contains practical ideas for businesses to create a welcoming place for customers with disabilities. It focuses on low cost or no cost actions and customer service advice. It includes a wide range of disabilities: mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, chronic illness, and others. The free guide is available at sf.gov/business-access-guide

“Helping small businesses remove barriers is not only about compliance—it’s about opening doors to more customers and building stronger neighborhood economies,” said Katy Tang, Director of the Office of Small Business. “The grant, along with new tools like our guidebook, gives owners realistic approaches to create welcoming spaces for everyone. When businesses invest in accessibility, they invest in their own long‑term success and in a more inclusive San Francisco.”

“San Francisco proudly holds a place as part of the birthplace of the disability rights movement, and we continue to embed accessibility into the fabric of our city—from our public spaces to our small businesses,” said Eli Gelardin, director of the Office on Disability and Accessibility, located within the Department of Disability and Aging Services. “Through our partnership with the Office of Small Business and OEWD, the Accessible Barrier Removal Grant helps small businesses enhance accessibility.”

OEWD also partners with Toolworks, Inc. and Special Service for Groups Occupational Therapy Training Program - NorCal to offer culturally congruent workforce services for people with disabilities. Services include outreach, recruitment, job search and placement support, intake, assessment, referrals, and barrier removal services. This portfolio serves more than 200 job seekers per year with employment and placement services. If you or anyone you know has a disability and is interested in job opportunities or if you are an employer looking to fill a position, please contact OEWD Workforce’s Workforce Development team at 628-652-8400 or workforce.development@sfgov.org to get connected.

To learn more about the the Accessible Barrier Removal Grant and other OEWD and OSB programs, visit sf.gov/oewd.

About the Office of Economic & Workforce Development

OEWD‘s mission is to advance equitable and shared prosperity for San Franciscans. We support businesses of all sizes, create great places to live and work, and help everyone achieve economic self-sufficiency.

About the Office of Small Business

The Office of Small Business is the City's central point of information for small businesses located in the City and County of San Francisco. As a division of OEWD, OSB offers free, citywide services to anyone opening or operating a small business in San Francisco, including:

• Business counseling including support with registration and navigating local, state, and federal requirements
• Leasing assistance such as site visits, LOI and lease review, and help navigating mid-lease challenges
• Permitting support to help open, improve, or expand operations

About the Office of Disability & Accessibility

The Office on Disability and Accessibility (ODA), located within the San Francisco Human Services Agency’s Department of Disability and Aging Services, is charged with ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and equity in city services for people with disabilities. Established in 1998, the office is the first in the country to be designated as a municipality’s overall Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator. ODA works to make San Francisco a city where everyone—residents, visitors, and workers—can fully participate in civic life.