City adds $500,000 to legacy-business program, pauses new applications until hire

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission heard on the legacy business program’s new funding from the Board of Supervisors: $500,000 in total, with $400,000 earmarked for direct grants to qualifying legacy businesses and $100,000 to fund a one-time hire to expedite application review and plaque fabrication and distribution. Elizabeth Jean Keer, speaking for the Office of Small Business, said the $400,000 will be administered via a new grant program that requires an RFP and selection of a third-party administrator, and that staff anticipate pausing review of new legacy-business applications while that administrative support is onboarded.

Commissioners asked whether the $400,000 includes promotion funds; Katie Wilborn of the Office of Small Business clarified that the $400,000 is a distinct grant pool aimed at assisting qualifying legacy businesses on fiscal matters and pandemic recovery, separate from promotional campaign funds. Wilborn said the board’s delegation means the OSB must create an RFP and a new grant distribution process and that there is no published prioritization scheme yet for which businesses will receive awards.

A public commenter, Woody Lavonte of San Francisco Heritage, thanked the Commission and the supervisors who advocated for the funding, and urged quick distribution "to get money in the pockets" of legacy business owners. Commissioners noted the policy is intended to help small legacy firms that fell through earlier pandemic relief eligibility rules and said staff should provide clearer guidance to businesses once the RFP is drafted.

Next steps: staff will develop the grant RFP and a hiring process for the temporary position; no firm timeline for awards was provided beyond staff anticipating the hire by the end of 2021.