Hartford, CT Mayor Luke Bronin partnered with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce created the "Hart Lift" Program to support the activation of storefronts left vacant during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the assistance of American Rescue Plan funding, this $6 million program provides funding available for retail spaces both in downtown and on neighborhood commercial corridors. Property owners with vacant storefronts are eligible for grants up to $150,000 with matching landlord/tenant investments. Grants can be used for interior and exterior buildout costs for new businesses opening in new or existing ground floor retail spaces. To date, there have been sixty recipient businesses in neighborhoods across the city.