Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
La Mesa council approves $45,000 LEAP Forward agreement, appoints alternate to Metro Wastewater JPA and accepts financial report
Summary
The council authorized an agreement with the East County Economic Development Council to administer LEAP Forward using the remaining $45,000 in ARPA funds, appointed a third alternate to the San Diego Metro & Wastewater JPA, and accepted the city’s annual comprehensive financial report during its June 23 meeting.
The La Mesa City Council on June 23 approved several administrative items and staff recommendations, including a resolution authorizing an agreement with the San Diego East County Economic Development Council (East County EDC) to administer a LEAP Forward entrepreneurship program using the remaining $45,000 in city ARPA funds.
Lynn Dedmon, who introduced the item on behalf of staff, said the LEAP program — launched with ARPA Phase 2 funding in March 2022 — completed three cohorts and has a remaining balance of $45,000 to allocate toward new participants. “We have $45,000 left,” Dedmon said, and staff recommended using the funds to support two cohorts targeting 20 businesses total.
Matt Sanford, president and CEO of the East County EDC, and Alex Eberhardt, the EDC’s economic development director, described a proposal for two cohorts of 10 businesses each with Small Business Development Center trainings, case management, and performance metrics tracking. “They were phenomenally successful,” Sanford said of the earlier cohorts and said the EDC would continue to partner with La Mesa to fill storefronts and support local entrepreneurs.
Council moved to approve the resolution authorizing an agreement with the East County EDC; the transcript records the motion as carrying and staff acknowledged the approval. Council members asked whether the $45,000 would target new businesses; staff said the funds are intended for new participants.
Separately, the council accepted the city’s annual comprehensive financial report (item 10.1) and appointed Council member Patricia Dillard as an additional alternate to the San Diego Metro and Wastewater Joint Powers Authority so the city has redundancy at monthly noon meetings in Kearny Mesa; the city manager described the role and schedule for the JPA. Both actions were recorded in the transcript as carried motions.
What’s next: Staff will coordinate with the East County EDC on program details and participant recruitment, and the city’s designated alternate(s) will represent La Mesa at Metro Wastewater JPA meetings as needed.
