Livermore Downtown Inc. outlines events, new two‑year grant cycle and board expansion

Barbara Benotto, president of the Livermore Downtown Inc. (LDI) board, and Kara Klotchman, LDI’s new executive director, presented the organization’s annual update and thanked the city for long‑standing partnership. Benotto said LDI ran 11 events in the past year (five community giveback events) that staff described as bringing roughly 300,000 people to downtown and that volunteers logged more than 1,500 hours.

Klotchman said she started as executive director in March and has focused on program restructuring, rehiring a part‑time office assistant and improving operational efficiency. LDI announced a new two‑year grant process for FY25–27 and a joint Tri‑Valley grant application intended to reduce duplication for small nonprofits; staff said a special February meeting drew 29 organizations and 40 grant applications, and that, overall, the commission reviewed 31 grant applications from 24 organizations and recommended funding for 14 applications from nine organizations.

Benotto and Klotchman described partner perks (waived booth and participation fees, promotional support, voting membership for partners), plans to add a Livermore 'maker' partner category and a downtown partner program targeted to increase partner participation by 10%. LDI also described continued coordination with city staff on monthly construction meetings to keep businesses updated during downtown projects. Councilmembers praised downtown vibrancy and asked that LDI clarify partner categories and board‑growth plans; Benotto said in 2026 LDI will expand the board by three seats, including two at‑large members.