The Back to Business Fund provides economic support to small businesses impacted by recent vandalism and break-ins. This fund is designed to help local businesses recover and rebuild, ensuring they can continue serving the community.

Grants will be available to cover costs such as repairs, security enhancements, and other improvements aimed at preventing future incidents. In addition to financial assistance, the fund will provide resources and guidance on securing premises and managing the challenges posed by these unfortunate events.

The “Back to Business” Fund will consider funding requests for the following programs:  

For more information, read the full Back to Business Fund Program Guide and Application packet. 

Grant monies will be awarded to applicants meeting the program criteria. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Applicants can only apply for one grant at a time. 

Recovery Grant 

• A business can apply for the recovery grant twice—once per location, for up to two locations.

Prevention Grant

• A business may apply for a prevention grant only once during the application period, regardless of how many locations it operates.

Applicants will be notified by email and/or phone regarding the status of their grant application once their completed submission has been reviewed.

Please allow up to two weeks for application processing and review. A grant administrator will follow up with any additional questions and next steps. Missing documentation will result in an incomplete application.

For the purpose of this program, a small business is defined as a business: 

• Independently owned and operated
• With less than 50 employees
• With more than $1,000 and less than $8M in revenue
• Not a leading business in its sector

Check if your business is eligible

• Must have a physical storefront* in Kansas City, Missouri
• Maintain consistent hours of operation; and 
• Have sustained physical damage due to break-ins or vandalism OR have taken steps to prevent such damage, on or after July 1, 2024
• Franchise owners are eligible to apply
• Private residences, landlords, or multifamily residential properties are not eligible.

*What is considered a storefront?

For the grant's purposes, a storefront refers to the front section of a business that faces the street, encompassing the door and windows. It includes retail stores or the façade of a commercial building or entryway, usually located on the ground floor or street level, featuring display windows that attract visual interest to a business and its products. This definition also covers restaurants, cafes, and other food-related establishments with physical storefronts. 

Gather information about your business

• A copy of your current KCMO Business License
• A copy of a current KCMO Tax Clearance Letter
• Your 2023 Gross Receipts
• Number of full-time and part-time employees
• Primary Business Owner Information to include primary residency address, race, sex and primary language spoken. 

Gather proof of damage or prevention improvements

The online application will ask you to upload documents and photographs showing proof of damage to the physical storefront or preventative improvements. Missing documentation will result in an incomplete application.

• KCPD Incident Report – Applicants applying for the Vandalism Recovery Grant are required to submit a copy of the Kansas City Police Department report describing the vandalism incident, if filed.
• Photos – Photos of damage to the storefront and all repairs must be uploaded.
• Receipts and Invoices – All copies of receipts or invoices for items purchased and work done to repair damaged property are required to be included. Proof of payments for invoices are also required.
• Proof of insurance – Proof of insurance for your business is required for this grant program (General Liability Insurance, at a minimum). A copy of a current certificate of insurance, an insurance policy, or some other document from your insurance company showing you have insurance coverage.
• Copy of your CPTED Report from KCPD (optional) – if you are applying for preventative funds.
• Insurance Claim and Payments – A copy of the insurance claim and any proof of an insurance claim payment are required to be submitted, if filed. 
• KCMO Business License – A business license is required for this grant. To obtain a copy of your current 2024 license you call 816-513-1120 ext.3 or visit the Business License Office on the 1st floor of City Hall or online.
• KCMO Tax Clearance – No older than 90 days. Can be obtained same-day from the Business License Division at City Hall (1st Floor) or in seven-business days if done online.

Requesting a KCPD Incident Report

You can apply online for a copy of your KCPD Report:

You can also call 816-234-5100 to check report availability, then come in person to any patrol division station with photo identification. 

Or request by mail at: (checks payable to “Board of Police Commissioners”) 
Kansas City Missouri Police Department 
Attn: Criminal Records Section 
1125 Locust 
Kansas City, MO 64106 

KCPD Alarm Permit 

In an effort to reduce the number of police dispatches to false alarms, an alarm ordinance was issued in Kansas City, Missouri. This ordinance requires all alarm users to obtain an alarm permit from KCPD. Police response to alarms will be denied until an alarm permit is obtained. 

View the Alarm Permits application

Learn more about Private Alarms

Eligible Expenses

Expenses associated with cosmetic property enhancements, in-store equipment/furniture, and items for non-business locations (i.e. residential/outside eligible areas), are out of scope and do not qualify as eligible preventative expenses. 

Examples of eligible expenses include (but are not limited to):

Exterior Repairs: 

• Temporary window or door board up
• Window Repair/Replacement
• Door Repair/Replacement
• Graffiti Removal/Paint Over
• Sign Repair/Replacement
• Gate Repair/Replacement
• Security System Repair/Replacement
• Exterior Light Repair/Replacement.

Security & Prevention Improvements:

• Security cameras (equipment only, not monitoring servies) - no less than 30- days for video recovery.
• Alarm Systems
• Scissor Gates
• Overhead Doors
• Security Lighting
• Locks

Ineligible Entities

• Property owners who do not own or operate a small business storefront space of their property in the city of Kansas City, Missouri. 
• Any business located in a storefront space that is not zoned for commercial use. 
• Landlords or property management company working on behalf of a property owner that is not itself an eligible entity (only tenants or owner-occupied businesses are eligible for repair grants). 

Ineligible Expenses

Damage caused by accidents and natural disasters is not covered under this grant program. Expenses associated with theft or damaged inventory, supplies, equipment, and personal belongings are out of scope and do not qualify. 

Examples of loss items that are not eligible for reimbursement: 

• Inventory Replacement
• Non-insurance business operating costs, such as wages or rent
• lost sales and wages
• Any damages that have been submitted to insurance as part of a claim unless that claim has been rejected and closed.

CPTED- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach to crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments. CPTED is pronounced ‘sep-ted’, and it is also known around the world as Designing Out Crime, defensible space, and other similar terms. CPTED strategies aim to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants so they can gain territorial control of areas, reduce crime, and minimize fear of crime.

See CPTED flyer for more information.

Mural Repair Policy 

• Murals damaged by vandalism may be eligible for Grant funding. 
• Only eligible businesses may apply. For example, a mural artist or organization may not apply on behalf of a storefront. 
• The clear coat of a mural is considered an eligible expense, when combined with a repair. For example, a business pays for graffiti removal on their mural, and clear coats it directly afterwards for future damage prevention. 
• Power washing of a damaged mural is an eligible expense.