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Council approves $300,000 microgrant stabilization program for fire-affected small businesses
Summary
To aid businesses hit by the recent fires and prolonged Pacific Coast Highway closures, the council approved a $300,000 Small Business Microgrant Stabilization Program (grants of $5,000–$20,000) with awards reviewed by the Administration & Finance subcommittee and reporting back to council.
At the April 28 meeting staff proposed a Small Business Microgrant Stabilization Program to help commercial tenants and small proprietors hurt by the Palisades fire, storms and prolonged Pacific Coast Highway disruptions. The program sets an initial pool of $300,000 drawn from the city’s undesignated general-fund reserve, and grant awards in the proposed design would range from $5,000 to $20,000 per eligible business.
Eligibility criteria presented by staff include: operation as an independently owned business within Malibu (proof of local business registration or equivalent), evidence of financial hardship attributable to fires or PCH closures, and being in good standing with the city. The Administration & Finance (A&F) subcommittee will review applications on a rolling basis and make award recommendations to council; the staff also added that each application must include a statement describing the public benefit to justify a grant of public funds. After public comment from small-business owners and the chamber of commerce, council approved the program and initial funding, asked staff to implement an expedited application process, and directed A&F to report awards on council consent calendars to preserve transparency.
Council members urged that applications be simple and fast to complete and suggested adding mediation and landlord-tenant assistance as complementary measures. Staff committed to quick implementation and to posting application details publicly within days.
