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Soledad council renews free business-consulting MOU with Baja Community Development Corporation
Summary
The City of Soledad approved a memorandum of understanding with Baja Community Development Corporation to provide bilingual business coaching and services at the Gateway Center beginning May 1, 2025, at no direct cost to the city.
The Soledad City Council on April 16 approved Resolution 62-23 renewing a memorandum of understanding with Baja Community Development Corporation to resume weekly business consulting at the city's Gateway Center beginning May 1, 2025.
City staff said the MOU will restore in-person, bilingual (English/Spanish) one-on-one business assistance that Baja CDC first provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. The services listed in the staff report include loan packaging assistance, marketing strategy support, micro-lending referrals, general business consulting, financial literacy training and specialized support for food-based and childcare entrepreneurs.
Cynthia Vargas, who presented the item for the city, told the council the partnership carries no direct budgetary impact because each agency will cover its own costs. Council members praised Baja CDC's past work with local entrepreneurs and their role connecting small businesses with regional resources such as the Women’s Business Center and the Monterey County Business Council.
Council members asked that the MOU include a reporting element so the city and the public can track outcomes. Richard Perez, speaking for a local service organization during discussion of a related consent item, said many volunteer groups already provide annual activity reports and that a similar written or verbal update from Baja CDC would be feasible.
The council voted unanimously to approve Resolution 62-23. Staff said the renewed MOU will allow Baja CDC to resume weekly Gateway Center hours and continue coordinating with other small-business resource providers.
Looking ahead, staff said they will return to council if substantive changes to the MOU are requested or if council directs additional reporting requirements.
