FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2026
Downtown Ithaca Alliance Shares 2025 Ithaca Retail Mini-Grant Success and Opens 2026 Round of Funding
Ithaca, NY – The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA), in partnership with the City of Ithaca, is celebrating the success of the 2025 Ithaca Retail Mini-Grant Program (IRMGP) and has officially opened applications for the 2026 funding cycle. The program supports local small businesses and aligns with the City’s ongoing Retail Study and Strategy to strengthen Ithaca’s retail environment and help businesses thrive.
In 2025, the Ithaca Retail Mini-Grant Program awarded $172,245 through 32 grants to 28 businesses throughout Downtown and the City of Ithaca. Awarded businesses used these funds for physical improvements, marketing assistance, and collaborative multi-business promotions that enhanced the customer experience and elevated Ithaca’s commercial districts.
The 2025 program was funded through the City of Ithaca’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act relief funds and supplemented with implementation funding from the Retail Study and Strategy. Due to the source of funds, eligible applicants were businesses located within the City of Ithaca limits that had been operational prior to March 3, 2021.
One example of a physical improvement grant was awarded to Maru Korea (formerly Maru Ramen), which completed significant façade upgrades, including replacement of side panels, windowsills, doors, and trim, along with repainting the building’s signature pink exterior.
“The Ithaca Retail Mini-Grant made a meaningful difference for our business. After eight years of operating as Maru Ramen, the grant gave us the opportunity to invest in a much-needed storefront upgrade and rebrand as Maru Korea. The refreshed exterior better reflects who we are today and the improved, expanded menu we now offer. We are truly grateful for the City’s support of small businesses like ours, and we’re proud to be part of Ithaca’s vibrant local retail community,” said Chris Kim, owner of Maru Korea.
Additional Physical Improvement projects included the installation of three new changing rooms at Petrune and ADA-compliant automatic door openers at Cinemapolis.
Another standout project was the collaborative marketing effort behind the Ithaca Is Books Festival, organized by Buffalo Street Books in partnership with PM Press, Tompkins County Public Library, Odyssey Bookstore, Story House Ithaca, and Autumn Leaves Books.
“As the Ithaca Is Books Festival hit our fifth year in 2025, support through the cross-promotion grant allowed us to step up to a new level! We drew our largest crowd ever and were able to host our first event at Ithaca's historic State Theatre. The Festival is completely run by volunteers from multiple Ithaca businesses and organizations, and the availability of a grant specifically geared to that kind of collaborative effort is a unique and valuable opportunity,” said Lisa Swayze of Buffalo Street Books / Ithaca Literary.
With the forthcoming publication of the City-commissioned Retail Study and Strategy, the DIA is preparing to address its recommendations, including elevating Downtown Ithaca’s curb appeal through enhanced cleaning and greening efforts, as well as façade and signage improvements. The strong response to the 2025 program demonstrated both the demand and need for funding support among local businesses to make these investments.
The 2026 grant program will focus heavily on physical improvements such as façades, signage, and greening. It will also allow applicants to seek funding for essential operational upgrades, including the replacement or improvement of equipment critical to business operations.
“We are excited to capitalize on the very successful 2025 IRMGP which really helped change the look and feel for many of our businesses.” said DIA CEO Nan Rohrer. “The 2026 program is intended to further that same mission of elevating the look and feel of Downtown while also getting much needed funds quickly and easily into the businesses projects.”
The DIA has now opened the 2026 funding cycle, with $50,000 available for local small businesses and organizations, including retail shops, restaurants, service-based businesses, and nonprofits with physical storefronts in the Downtown Ithaca Business Improvement District. All awarded projects require a 10% cash match, with grant awards ranging from $500 to $10,000.
Applications are now open and are due Friday, March 27, 2026, at 10:00 p.m. Successful applicants will be notified by April 6, 2026.
For more information about the 2025 Ithaca Retail Mini-Grant projects or to apply for the 2026 cycle, visit:
https://www.downtownithaca.com/ithaca-retail-mini-grant/
