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San Juan EDC presses outreach after low Smart Start turnout, approves $2,000 small-business award
Summary
EDC staff reported low attendance at a Nov. workshop and urged hiring or contracting grant-writing capacity; the board approved a $2,000 small-business grant application and asked staff to check an existing rent-rider in the city budget.
The San Juan Economic Development Corporation on Nov. 4 heard staff say the first "Smart Start" small-business workshop drew fewer attendees than expected, and the board approved a $2,000 small-business grant application that staff said was complete.
"We held our first, ever Smart Start workshop. We had a total of 17 confirmed RSVPs, 13 online sign-ups, and 4 (noted in transcript) but only 7 attendants showed up," Mr. Garcia (EDC staff) told the board, summarizing turnout and community feedback. Garcia told the board many small-business owners were skeptical because a different community grants workshop in May had not delivered the assistance some attendees expected.
The board discussed next steps for grant strategy and capacity. "We're in critical need of a grant writer to move forward securing funds and opportunities," Mr. Garcia said, asking whether staff should recruit a writer or accept board recommendations. A board member urged staff to research available HUD economic-development grant opportunities before hiring, so any grant writer would know target programs.
On agenda item 1 the board voted by voice to approve a small-business grant application; the applicant was identified in the meeting packet and present at the meeting as "Miss Garcia," and the board said up to $2,000 was available for the award. The president also directed staff to follow up on a rent-rider referenced in this year's budget as a possible funding source.
Board members asked staff to increase outreach (more advertising and use of social channels) and to add commercial-lease availability to the city's GIS map to help recruit clinics and other professional services. An IT representative said the EDC will promote events via the website, Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.
Next steps: staff will confirm the recipient paperwork and funding source and report back at a future meeting; Garcia said staff is pursuing another workshop set for Dec. 4 and will continue business-recruitment outreach.
