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Council supports subcommittee recommendation and declines business diversification grant application
Summary
Council reviewed a $5,000 business diversification grant application and supported the subcommittee’s recommendation to deny it because the subcommittee judged the proposal did not meet the program’s diversification criteria; councilors agreed to keep the program in the budget and consider guideline adjustments for future applicants.
The council on March 31 reviewed an application to the city’s small business economic‑diversification grant program. The subcommittee (two council members) recommended denying the application on the ground that the proposed product or service did not meet the program’s stated diversification criteria.
Mayor Williams summarized the subcommittee’s view that the grant program is intended to seed new products or services that diversify Calistoga’s economy rather than to assist established businesses with operating needs. After discussion, council members agreed to support the subcommittee’s recommendation and deny the application; there was also interest in revisiting the program guidelines and requesting more outreach to attract qualifying applications in the future.
The council did not allocate additional funds at the meeting; the program remains in the budget at its existing level and the council asked staff to continue outreach efforts and consider whether eligibility rules should be refined.
Provenance: The item began with staff introduction of the grant program and application (SEG 1156) and concluded with the council supporting the subcommittee recommendation (SEG 1340).
