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Milwaukie staff report strong early demand for new small-business grants; survey and license code updates planned
Summary
City staff told the council Oct. 7 that the Q3 economic development work included the inaugural Milwaukie Fest and launch of a grant program on Oct. 1 that drew early interest; staff also previewed a business engagement survey, a business-license code update and new bike‑rack request form.
Milwaukie city staff updated the City Council at a Oct. 7 work session on third‑quarter economic development activity, saying the city’s pilot placemaking and small‑business grant program launched Oct. 1 and drew immediate interest.
Sierra, an equity and inclusion staffer who led the presentation, said the program had received 11 complete applications within days of launch and about 13 additional parties actively working on applications. “We’ve already had 11 applications since launching on October 1, and we have about 13 interested parties on top of that that are working on applications or looking for properties in order to apply,” Sierra said.
The city reported about $550,000 in requested support across applications and an additional $25,000 requested from a separate CDT fund; staff emphasized the totals reflect requests, not awarded grants. Staff also highlighted the inaugural Milwaukie Fest as a local business engagement opportunity that generated day‑long foot traffic from Historic City Hall through the South Downtown Plaza.
Why it matters: staff said early grant demand will inform allocations and outreach. Economic development staff plan to follow up with a business engagement survey intended to establish a baseline “business friendliness” metric on the council work plan and to help shape a broader business‑license code update.
Staff described the draft survey as asking businesses about measures the council might use to assess business health — for example, whether to measure by employee count or gross receipts — and said they expect to launch the survey after the winter holidays, possibly in January. “We have a draft survey that is ready to go out…maybe January launch, after we see holiday season,” Sierra said.
Councilors and staff also discussed the idea of using business registration or license fees to subsidize membership in local business associations. Staff said that possibility would be included in the business‑license code conversation and that the city had told the chamber such a conversation would be revisited. One councilor said business owners may object to subsidizing regional advocacy if the association’s policy positions differ from the city council’s views.
Staff also announced operational items: a bike‑rack request form is now live on the city’s economic development web pages, and staff continue to update the project and grantee webpages and a new phone FAQ. Staff said they will survey event participants in Q4 about event impacts on business and plan additional outreach with partner organizations and newsletters to reach eligible applicants.
Ending: staff asked the council for continued feedback on the draft survey and said they will bring business‑license code options, grant award recommendations and Q4 survey results back to council in future agenda packets.
