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Staff updates board on Emerging Developer program; 13 projects approved so far
Summary
Staff briefed the Brownfield board on the Emerging Developer program: 13 projects have been approved for about $1.79 million in incentives; the program reimburses predevelopment items (surveys, architecture, ESAs) and staff described outreach, Spanish-language materials and social media outreach.
Staff provided an update on the Emerging Developer program and outreach efforts to connect new developers to predevelopment assistance.
Mackenzie (BRA staff) said the program prioritizes assisting new and emerging developers with predevelopment expenses needed to reach site plan approval, including surveys, architectural and engineering work, and environmental site assessments. The program does not cover legal fees, market studies, application fees, or expenses older than one year. Staff reported 13 approved projects to date, totaling about $1.79 million in allocated incentives.
Mackenzie said the office is doing outreach — lunch-and-learn events with Planning and corridor boards, video and social-media work with a vendor (Well Design), and a one-page program summary available in English and Spanish on the city website. Board members suggested additional outreach channels (Latino community engagement, commercial real estate women's groups and home builders) and offered to help promote the program through their networks. Staff said they will provide a monthly report listing projects, addresses, award amounts and status, and will continue targeted outreach to underrepresented developer groups.
