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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3.1 - 3505 AC CARES & Small Business Support (2) Page 1 of 4 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: November 23, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Linda Smith, City Manager SUBJECT: Alameda County CARES Matching Grant Program and Other Small Business Financial Support Programs Prepared by: Hazel L. Wetherford, Economic Development Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council will consider adjusting its CARES Spending Plan to re -purpose unused funds towards the Alameda County CARES Matching Grant Program and include an additional $54,000 for a total matching grant of $130,000. The City Council will also consider additional funding to support a small business recovery grant program as a result of the County’s return to Purple Tier. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Take the following actions: 1) Approve an adjustment to the CARES Act Funding Spending Plan; 2) Appropriate $130,000 to the Alameda County CARES Matching Grant Program; 3) Approve the budget change; and 4) Provide feedback on additional appropriations towards establishing a COVID-19 small business recovery grant program. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed allocation for the Alameda County CARES Grant Matching Program would require reallocation of $76,000 from the City’s CARES Act Funding Spending Plan and the additional $54,000 would require using funds from the City’s General Fund undesignated reserves. Funding for the COVID-19 small business recovery grant program would also require using funds from the City’s General Fund undesignated reserves. DESCRIPTION: On November 10, 2020, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors redirected $5 million in County CARES Act funds for a small business grant program in response to the economic, health and safety impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA) was designated as the administrator and coordinator of the program for Alameda County. In addition, the Board of Supervisors also redirected $3 million towards a matching grant program to provide Page 2 of 4 additional support for small businesses in incorporated cities for those cities who would contribute matching funds. Alameda County CARES Grant - $5 Million The Alameda County CARES Grant program prioritizes grants for small, local and emerging businesses within Alameda County to assist with the costs of busin ess interruption caused by COVID-19. Grants are intended to assist small businesses with covering necessary costs due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, incurred between March 17, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Eligible businesses can receive a one-time grant of $5,000. The grant does not require a matching contribution from the applicant and will not require repayment. Funds are limited and not everyone who applies is guaranteed to receive funding. If the number of applications submitted exceeds the available funding, then applicants will be selected by lottery. Businesses in unincorporated areas of the County are not eligible for this grant. Please refer to Attachment 1 for additional information on the grant program as it relates to eligibility and the use of funds. Alameda County CARES Matching Grant - $3 Million As noted, the Board of Supervisors also reallocated $3 million into a matching program for those incorporated cities who are interested in contributing additional financial resources to further help businesses in their respective communities. The matching grant program is intended to match a city’s contribution dollar-for-dollar, increasing the odds that more businesses would be selected for a $5,000 grant in their respective communities. Full details of the Matching Grant option were still being developed at the time of this report. Dublin Small Business Emergency Microloan Program On May 5, 2020, the City Council approved the Dublin Small Business Emergency Microloan Program to help mitigate the severe impacts of COVID-19 on small businesses. The City Council appropriated $519,461 towards the first round of funding, and then as part of the City’s CARES Act Funding Plan, appropriated $467,343 towards the second round of funding. The program received 141 applications and was able to assist 100 small businesses (64 restaurants, 26 personal service/other and 10 retailers) with forgivable loans. Due to some factors, some businesses were not eligible for the program and approximately $76,000 from round two (CARES Act funding) is available for reallocation. With the County’s new Matching Grant program, City staff recommends reallocating the unspent balance of $76,000 towards a match with the County. Also, Staff recommends the City Council consider increasing the matching contribution to be more proportionate to what the City’s share may have looked like had the County based it on each cities population size as opposed to receiving individual requests from the cities. In looking at the $3 million allocation made by the Board of Supervisors and the City’s population compared to the rest of the County, the City makes up 4.3% of that total County population. Therefore, the City’s allocation of the $3 million may have been Page 3 of 4 approximately $130,000 when using this methodology. To contribute $130,000 in matching funds, the City Council would need to appropriate $54,000 from the City’s General Fund undesignated reserves. The County’s Matching Grant program would match the City’s funds dollar-for-dollar, for a total of $260,000 available for Dublin businesses. With grant awards of $5,000, the Alameda County Matching Grant program could assist approximately 50 businesses. It is also worth noting that applicants from Dublin who are not selected as part of the County’s Matching Grant program, will still be included in the $5 million grant program. The Matching Grant does not preclude them from the other grant program but does increase their odds of being selected for a grant. Other Small Business Financial Support Programs As the City Council is aware, the City has worked extensively with individual business owners, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and other regional organizations to help businesses adapt to new health orders issued by the State of California and A lameda County. With winter and the rainy season upon us and the recent move to a more restrictive tier on the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, City staff believe it is critical to augment existing efforts to assist Dublin businesses, many of whom ha ve shifted operations outside, reduced capacity indoors, while others remain closed such as family entertainment centers. The most effective approach to assist with varying recovery efforts is through a reimbursable grant program that allows for flexibilit y in addressing current needs. This will allow the City to meet the needs of various business sectors. The reimbursable grant could provide a menu of eligible expenses that business owners can seek reimbursement for up to a maximum grant of $10,000 per business. Staff envisions eligible expenses for reimbursement would include the following items; however, it is worth noting that it is anticipated that businesses may apply for options that are relevant to their specific needs. · Weather Protection and Visibility (i.e. outdoor tents, canopies, heaters, etc.) · Interior Alterations (i.e. plexiglass partitions, HEPA air purifiers, dividers, etc.) · Marketing and Business Promotion (i.e. signage, print, social media, etc.) · Digital Technology Equipment and/or Services (i.e. online or contactless payment systems, website creation, etc.) · Personal Protective Equipment, Sanitation or Health and Safety Equipment for Employees · Physical Improvements to Install a Take-Out/Pick-Up Window The proposed grant program would operate as follows: · Proposed program funding allocation of $1,000,000; · The maximum grant amount per business will be up to $10,000; · Applicants must possess a current and active City business license and be in good standing with the City; · Applicants would need to adhere to grant program guidelines (currently being developed); · Grant eligibility includes expenses incurred to purchase/rent commercial tents or Page 4 of 4 approved heaters within the 30 days before approval of the grant program; · Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis and grant applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted; · The grant program is available for independently owned brick and mortar businesses, not corporately held businesses, non-profit entities, home-based businesses, hotels, financial institutions, or chain stores. · Eligible businesses include uses in the retail, restaurant, personal service, fitness, and family entertainment use categories. It should be noted that given the current pandemic and the uncertainty o f the business climate, some small businesses may permanently close even after receiving financial support. If the City Council is supportive of this approach, Staff is prepared to bring this back to the December 1, 2020 meeting for adoption. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Alameda County CARES Grant Program Overview 2. Budget Change Form Alameda County CARES Grant Program Overview OVERVIEW The Alameda County CARES grant program was authorized by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on November 10, 2020 when the Board redirected $5 million in CARES Act funds for a small business grant program in response to the economic, health and safety impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants are intended to assist small businesses with covering necessary costs due to the COVID-19 public health emergency incurred between March 17, 2020 and December 30, 2020. Eligible businesses can receive a one-time grant of up to $5,000. The program prioritizes grants for small, local and emerging businesses within Alameda County to assist with the costs of business interruption caused by COVID-19. The grant does not require a matching contribution from the applicant and will not require repayment. Funds are limited and not everyone who applies is guaranteed to receive funding. ELIGIBILITY  Businesses physically located in Alameda County (excluding the unincorporated areas) that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19  Must agree to follow State of California & Alameda County Public Health Department COVID-19 guidelines to maintain a safe workplace  Employ between 1 and 25 employees (self-employed individuals are also eligible)  Valid business license for the location  Must upload a business IRS Form W-9  Business has been negatively impacted by one of these measures 1. Closure of any length due to COVID-19; 2. Layoff of one or more staff due to COVID-19 Exclusions: Alameda County CARES grants excludes all chain businesses not headquartered in Alameda County, financial institutions, banks, lenders, landlords of residential or commercial businesses, publicly traded companies, and non-profit entities. USE OF FUNDS Funds from Alameda County CARES grants may only be used for unreimbursed costs incurred from March 17, 2020 to December 30, 2020 for the following items:  Rent/lease/mortgage and utility payments for business facilities  Payroll  Operating Expenses such as supplies, materials, insurance, etc.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), sanitation or health & safety equipment  Reimbursement for digital technology equipment and/or platforms  Interior & exterior physical adaptations (e.g., partitions, signage, outdoor seating, etc.) For details, FAQ, and online application, please visit: https://eastbayeda.org/grants Deadline to Apply: Monday, 11/30 at 11:30 PM Budget Change Reference #: From Un-Appropriated Reserves X Budget Transfer Between Funds From Designated Reserves Other Account Amount Account Amount 250103.7000.7002 (1001.2501.81998) $54,000.00 11/23/2020 Posted By: Date: As Presented at the City Council Meeting **********Finance Use Only********** CITY OF DUBLIN City's local match to Alameda County CARES Matching Grant program REASON FOR BUDGET CHANGE FISCAL YEAR 2020-21 BUDGET CHANGE FORM EXP: General Fund - Disaster Preparedness - Grant Match City Council's Approval Required ATTACHMENT 3 Alameda County CARES Matching Grant & Other Small Business Financial Support Programs November 23, 2020 Alameda County CARES Grant •Alameda County CARES Act Funds –$5 million •East Bay Economic Development Alliance •Eligible businesses can receive a one-time grant of $5,000 •Funds are limited •Applicants will be selected by lotter y Alameda County CARES Matching Grant •Alameda County CARES Act Funds –$3 million matching opportunity –Incorporated cities –Dollar-for-dollar match –Nov. 30 th deadline •Small Business Emergency Microloan Program –100 businesses (64 restaurants, 26 personal service/other, and 10 retailers) –$76,000 (City CARES Act) unspent balance Alameda County Matching Grant, cont. •Reallocate $76,000 •Request increase of additional $54,000 •Total matching request of $130,000 –Assist approx.50 Dublin businesses Other Small Business Financial Support Programs •Reimbursable Grant Program •Address current business needs •Menu of eligible expenses: –Weather protection and visibility –Interior alterations –Marketing and business promotion –Digital technology equipment and/or services –Personal protective equipment,sanitation or health –Physical improvements Other Small Business Financial Support Programs, cont. •Proposed Reimbursable Grant Program: –Proposed funding of $1 million –Maximum grant amount up to $10,000 –Current Dublin business license –Expenses incurred to purchase/rent tents and heaters –Applications reviewed on a first-come,first-serve –Independently owned brick and mortar businesses, not corporately held businesses,non-profit entities, home-based businesses,hotels,financial institutions, or chain stores Recommendation •Receive the report and take the following actions: 1.Approve an adjustment to the CARES Act Funding Spending Plan; 2.Appropriate $130,000 to the Alameda County CARES Matching Grant Program; 3.Approve the budget change;and 4.Provide feedback on additional appropriations towards establishing a COVID-19 small business recovery grant program.