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Council discusses business grant program, favors targeted support for downtown restaurant infrastructure and events
Summary
Staff proposed a $150,000-per-year small-business grant program focused on placemaking, events, facade improvements and commercial-kitchen upgrades; council discussion favored consolidating funds toward higher-impact investments (kitchen upgrades/deferred loans) and exploring incentives for mixed-use downtown development and permitting assistance. Staff will return with program guidelines.
Economic development staff presented options for a new business grant program funded at $150,000 per fiscal year and tied to a downtown placemaking analysis. The placemaking survey drew more than 500 responses and highlighted residents’ desires for more dining, retail and entertainment as well as concerns about parking and building conditions.
Staff recommended three grant lines for FY 25–26: special events and pop-up activation grants; storefront/façade and signage grants; and commercial-kitchen upgrades to attract or expand eateries. Council discussion favored consolidating smaller grants into bigger incentives for kitchen upgrades and restaurant conversion (to attract a wider mix of eateries) and exploring deferred-loan structures or permit-fee deferrals for larger mixed-use projects. Several members urged pairing grant guidance with a seismic inventory so facade work does not precede required structural fixes.
Council asked staff to draft program guidelines and return with the grant/loan constructs and a timeline; members also signaled interest in policy work about first-floor retail concentration and possible economic-zone tools to encourage retail over office uses on key downtown corridors.
