Pima County gifts Fourth Avenue a last-minute “Back to Business Grant”


December 23, 2020
By Matt Sterner

When it’s the season of giving, it’s never really too late to give.

Pima County has just gifted the Fourth Avenue Foundation a Christmas miracle, which is in the form of a $455,000 “Back to Business Grant.”

Sun Link on Fourth Avenue
Sun Link on Fourth Avenue (Credit: Jackie Tran)

The year didn’t start out too great for Fourth Avenue, being that the Spring Street Fair was canceled right off the bat, and then the rain continued to pour, so to speak, when the Winter Street Fair got nipped in the bud.

The cancellations led to less foot traffic around the many retail stores, restaurants, and bars — forcing a lot of businesses, on and off of Fourth Avenue, to get creative with marketing and community outreach.

However, this new grant was meant to provide support for the recovery efforts happening in the Historic Fourth Avenue Business District.

“It took a herculean effort to complete all the grant goals and CARES Act requirements in what was a very short six-week time period,” said Daniel Matlick, President of the Fourth Avenue Foundation.

Cafe Passe on Fourth Avenue in Tucson (Photo by Jackie Tran)
Cafe Passe on Fourth Avenue in Tucson (Photo by Jackie Tran)

A good chunk of the small businesses in the area have been hanging on by a thread, so the first step in the planned “recovery process” will help provide rent, electricity, and internet expense reimbursements.

In addition, other programs will be used to “offer updated Coronavirus department of health communications and enhance the outdoor environment to support a safe and healthy return back to business.”

To learn more about all of the local businesses found along Fourth Avenue, visit fourthavenue.org.

Most of our 4th Avenue businesses are owned by people living in our community. When you shop 4th Avenue businesses this…

Posted by Historic Fourth Avenue on Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Upcoming Events

View all events
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.
Double-click this headline to edit the text.
This is a block of text. Double-click this text to edit it.

Article By

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a...

Related Stories