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12 <br /> THE CITY OF <br /> p. <br /> hi <br /> ana -•• <br /> r-•-'! ' "' CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT <br /> pLEASANTON <br /> February 1, 2022 <br /> Economic Development <br /> TITLE: APPROVE A DOWNTOWN PARKLET GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST <br /> BUSINESSES APPROVED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DOWNTOWN <br /> PARKLET PROGRAM <br /> SUMMARY <br /> To assist businesses that are experiencing financial loss of income due to the COVID- <br /> 19 pandemic, on April 15, 2020, the City Council approved implementation of a <br /> Business Assistance Program designed to share information and resources and provide <br /> relief to local businesses to bridge the gap until allowed to re-open and fully operate. As <br /> part of this assistance, the Business Support Fund loan program has provided more <br /> than $1.3 million in zero-interest, unsecured, short-term loans to eligible independently <br /> or locally owned businesses. <br /> As a concurrent business support measure, beginning in 2020 the City allowed <br /> businesses to temporarily expand dining and other business activities outdoors into <br /> temporary pop-ups. In July 2021, the Council directed staff to develop a more formal <br /> parklet program to replace the temporary pop-ups; this program was approved by the <br /> Council on December 21, 2021. The Council's consideration of the parklet program <br /> included a request that staff prepare a grant program to assist with a business's cost of <br /> establishing a permanent parklet within the new program guidelines. <br /> STAFF RECOMMENDATION <br /> Staff recommends the City Council approve a Downtown Parklet Grant Program as part <br /> of the Business Assistance Program to assist businesses approved to participate in the <br /> Downtown Parklet Program. As drafted this support program will provide grants up to 50 <br /> percent of the total cost, not to exceed $10,000, for eligible expenses approved under <br /> the Downtown Parklet Program. Staff also recommends allocating up to $250,000 from <br /> the Business Assistance Program Fund for the Downtown Parklet Grant Program. <br /> FINANCIAL STATEMENT <br /> The City Council approved a $3 million special fund as part of the Business Assistance <br /> Program, to provide loans to eligible businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. <br /> To date, the Business Support Loan Fund Program has provided $1,336,500 to assist <br /> 115 Pleasanton businesses. Staff recommends allocating up to $250,000 of the <br /> remaining $1 .6 million to fund the Downtown Parklet Grant Program. <br />