[00:00:10]
>> ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. THANK YOU.
TO APPROVE, PLEASE. >> MAKE A MOTION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION.
>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> AYE. >> THAT WAS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU.
ALEX, YOU'RE ON. >> WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO ITEMS ON CONSENT THAT DO REQUIRE ACTION. SORRY. WE DO HAVE TWO ITEMS ON CONSENT THAT WE DO REQUIRE ACTION ON, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A
MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> SECOND.
>> ALTHOUGH IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THAT WAS UNANIMOUS.
>> ITEM FOUR IS A BRIEFING ON ALL OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS ASSOCIATED WITH ARPA. SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GUESTS IN THE AUDIENCE.
ANNA IS GOING TO DO THE BRIEFING. THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT STORIES AND A LOT OF WORK THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WITH THIS. WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FILL YOU IN ON SOME OF THOSE DETAILS. ANNA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. REALLY EXCITED TO PROVIDE THIS COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE ON ALL OF THE SMALL BUSINESS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATES AND IN THE AMAZING THINGS WE'RE STARTING TO SEE FROM THE EFFORTS OF THE TEAM AND OUR PARTNERS.
AS A MATTER OF BACKGROUND, IT WAS ADOPTED IN JUNE OF 2022. OUR WORK GOES BACK TO THE FALL OF 2021 GUIDED BY THE ECOSYSTEM, ACCESS AND NETWORKS AND ECOSYSTEM COORDINATION AND ALSO DEVELOPED WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE NEWLY CREATED SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COMMISSION. THE PLAN WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE ORIGINAL BUDGET OF 30.95 MILLION AND HAS BEEN INCREASED TO ALMOST $34 MILLION. AS WE ROLLED IT OUT, WE WE HAD A TWO-PHASE IMPLEMENTATION.
FIRST EMPHASIZED THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS THROUGH THE COVID IMPACT GRANTS AND THE COVID CONSTRUCTION GRANTED. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE FOCUSED ON TRANSFORMATIONAL PROGRAMMING AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESSES AND THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM. SO AS YOU'LL SEE ON THIS CHART, THIS IS THE MAKE-UP, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT WAS IN ACCESS TO CAPITAL THROUGH OUR GRANT PROGRAMS. AS OF JULY OF THIS YEAR, 21.3 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN AWARDED IN CASH GRANT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE COVID -- IMPACT GRANTS, CONSTRUCTION GRANTS, BOTH ROUNDS, AS WELL AS OUTDOOR SPACES PROGRAM AND FACADE IMPROVEMENT.
AT THIS TIME, THERE'S ABOUT 4.2 MILLION DOLLARS REMAINING PLANNED FOR FY '25 AND '26. AND WHEN YOU LOOK IN TOTALITY, BOTH THESE ARPA FUNDING COUPLED WITH OTHER FEDERAL PROGRAMS THROUGH THE CARES ACT, WE HAVE ACTUALLY INVESTED ALMOST $84 MILLION IN FEDERAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THEM. SO IN THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'M GOING TO BE GOING INTO DETAIL ON PHRASE TWO PROGRAMMING.
WE'RE EXCITED WITH THE PROGRESS. THE IN OUR ACCESS TO CAPITAL, WE HAVE OUR GROWTH FUND CATEGORY. THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO BRING IN THE PROGRAMMING TO INVEST IN OUR SECOND STAGE COMPANIES.
THE TEENAGE COMPANIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE PROBLEMS BE ASSOCIATED WITH BEING A NEW START-UP BUT ARE IN THAT GROWTH PHASE AND NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THERE ARE FOUR COHORTS.
WE'RE ABOUT TO KICK OFF THE THIRD COHORT. THUS FAR, 21 MEMBERS HAVE GRADUATED. IN THIS PILLAR, WE ALSO HAVE OUR SMALL BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM. THAT IS ONGOING. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH LIFTFUND FOR THIS GRAND PROGRAM. APPLICATIONS CLOSE CANNED IN JULY. AWARDS ARE GOING OUT AS WE SPEAK, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO WRAP THIS UP BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
AND YOU'LL SEE THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION TESTIMONIALS. WE CAN DESCRIBE THE WORK DONE.
IT'S REALLY IN THE WORDS OF THE PARTICIPANTS THAT SHOW THE IMPACT THESE PROGRAMS ARE HAVING ON THEIR BUSINESS AND LIVES. YOU'LL SEE HERE MS. RAMIREZ WITH C NF TECHNOLOGIES FROM DISTRICT FOUR IS IN THE
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SECOND STAGE COHORT PROGRAM AND REALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW IT BROUGHT THE BUSINESSES TOGETHER AND HOW THEY CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER EVEN THOUGH THEIR INDUSTRIES MAY BE DIFFERENTMENT THEIR BUSINESS SIZES MAY BE DIFFERENT. THEY WERE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THEIR COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCES AND LEARN A LOT FROM ONE ANOTHER. ALSO, WITHIN ACCESS CAPITAL IN OUR GROWTH FUND PERHAPS, WE HAVE OUR 0% INTEREST LOAN HE PROGRAM OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LIFTFUND. THIS HAS BEEN A SIGNATURE PROGRAM FOR A WHILE, ONE WE WERE ABLE TO AUGMENT WITH ARPA RESOURCES. ORIGINALLY OUR BUDGET WAS $250,000, BUT IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER RESOURCES FROM LIFTFUND, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE T INCREASE THAT. WE ARE WRAPPING UP OUR FIRST YEAR. WE'VE EXHAUSTED OUR FUNDS $2.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL HAS BEEN DISBURSED TO NEARLY 7 BUSINESSES AT 0% INTEREST. THESE DAYS, THAT'S UNHEARD UP. WE'RE PROUD OF THIS WORK. RENE ROBERTS HAIR SOL ON IN DISTRICT ONE, HE'S ONE RECIPIENT AND WAS ABLE TO USE THESE FUNDS TO HELP GROW HIS BUSINESS.ONE PROGRAM WE'RE LOOKING TO ROLL OUT IN PARTNERSHIP IS BRINGING. KIVA TO SAN ANTONIO. IT PROVIDES CROWD SOURCED BUSINESSES WITH 0% INTEREST. THIS IS A SECOND OFFERING. THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH LOCAL BD.
0 TO SERVE AS THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS ORGANIZATION AND WE LOOK TO ROLL THAT OUT THIS FALL. AS WE MOVE INTO OUR CAPACITY BUILDING, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS HERE AS WELL.
FIRST BEING SAGE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM.
THIS IS REAL EYE A TWO PRONG PROGRAM THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO ROLL OUT, UP WITH THROUGH SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH ASSESSMENTS.
THEY ARE SITTING DOWN INDIVIDUALLY WITH BUSINESSES UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEEDS AND BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP THAT PLAN GOING FORWARD.
BUT THEN ALSO, THEY JUST KICKED OFF THEIR FIRST COHORT OF INTENSIVE SUPPORT. SO LEVERAGING THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE ASSESSMENT AND TAKING A SMALL SUBSET OF THEM TO PROVIDE REALLY INTENSIVE SERVICES IN TERMS OF BUSINESS PLANNING, ACCESSING FINANCIAL CAPITAL, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT BUSINESSES CAN PROVIDE THAT NEED HELP ON. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, LISC IS WORKING ON DEVELOPING A BACK OFFICE SUPPORT NETWORK BRINGING TOGETHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO DEVELOP THAT LIST OF PROFESSIONALS THAT BUSINESSES CAN BE REFERRED TO AND SO WE ARE LOOKING TO ROLL THAT OUT THIS FALL. AND THE THIRD PROGRAM IN THIS CATEGORY IS BEING OFFERED WITH A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS. WE VALUE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE THEY BROUGHT TO A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER BUT DIGITAL EXPERTS. WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A SURVEY WHERE SMALL BUSINESSES COULD TAKE A DIGITAL ASSESSMENT AND GET SORT OF A PLAN OF ACTION OF HERE'S WHERE YOUR NEEDS ARE, YOUR OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE. THEN A SUBSET OF THOSE BUSINESSES WERE ABLE TO HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION WITH A PROVIDER TO SAY HERE'S HOBBING ACTUALLY DO IT AND THEN A SUBSET OF THAT GROUP WAS ABLE TO HAVE FREE WORK ACTUALLY DONE. SO 60 BUSINESSES HAVE RECEIVED THE FREE DIGITAL WORK, WHETHER IT'S THE CREATION OF A WEB SPLASH PAGE, A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, AND THEN ADDITIONAL 55 ARE IN PROGRESS. AND SO GOING BACK TO THE SAGE SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM, WANTED TO PROFILE MS. KEYS HERE FROM DISTRICT TWO.
SHE WAS ABLE TO GET HELP IN TRANSITIONING FROM DESKTOP QUICK BOOKS TO ONLINE QUICK BOOKS. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THOSE PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT SHE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO BETTER TAKE CARE OF THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF HER BUSINESS. SO WE APPRECIATE HER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY AND GETTING THE NEEDEDSERVICES FROM SAGE.
IN OUR DIGITAL PRESENCE PROGRAM, WANTED TO PROFILE CHRISTINA HERE.
SHE, LIKE MANY BUSINESS OWNERS -- LIKE MANY INDIVIDUALS TOOK TO BAKING DURING THE PANDEMIC. LIKE LOTS OF FOLKS, TOOK HER PASSION AND TURNED IT INTO A BUSINESS WHERE SHE LAUNCHED MUCH THIS BUSINESS. SHE REACHED OUT TO THE DIGITAL PRESENCE PROGRAM AND WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP THIS SPLASH PAGE. WE HAVE QR CODES TO ALL OF THEIR WEB PAGES HERE THROUGHOUT. SO WE ACTUALLY PROVIDED HER DELICIOUS TREATS TODAY SO THAT YOU COULD SAMPLE HER WORK AND SEE THAT IT TASTES JUST AS GREAT AS IT LOOKS. THIS IS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO EXPAND HER REACH FROM DISTRICT THREE AND SHOW THE CITY AND THE WORLD HOW AMAZING HER WARES ARE.
AS WE ROLLED OUT THE DIGITAL PRESENCE PROGRAM, WE WERE ALSO REALLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESSES IMPACTED
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BY CONSTRUCTION AND REALLY SOUGHT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE THE DIGITAL PRESENCE PROGRAM AS ONE OTHER WAY THAT BUSINESSES COULD COMMUNICATE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS THAT THEY WERE STILL OPEN, WHAT THEY -- AND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD ADDITIONAL GENERAL FUND RESOURCES AND HELP BUSINESSES, LIKE RICHARD'S BARBERSHOP IN DISTRICT 8, DEVELOP THEIR FIRST EVER WEB PAGE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THE REALLY EXCITING THING ABOUT THIS IS WE'RE ABLE TO HELP MR. GARCIA PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION KICKING OFF. HE HAD THIS TOOL IN PLACE BEFORE HIS BUSINESS WAS IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION. SO AS WE WRAP UP THE ARPA FUNDED PORTION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM WITH THIS PROGRAM. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE THIS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH TEAM IS OUT THERE SHARING ON THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.MOVING ON TO ECOSYSTEM INVESTMENTS. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH LI ISC TO HELP THOSE AS THAT SAFETY NET. SO THIS ALLOWS FOR THOSE BDOS AND THERE ARE A TOTAL OF SIX INVOLVED TO DEVELOP -- TO HAVE A NEEDS ASSESSMENT COMPLETED, TO DEVELOP THEIR PRIORITIZED PLAN, AND THEN START TO IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN AND PROVIDING THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PLAN AS WELL AS THEIR ONGOING OPERATING EXPENSES. THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO $260,000 OF REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, AND THEY CONTINUE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE MARGARET FROM LISC HERE TODAY. SHE SERVED AS THE PROGRAM OFFICER AND HAS REALLY BEEN WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THE BUSINESSES, MEETING WITH THEM WEEKLY, IF NOT DAILY, TO PROVIDE THAT ONGOING SUPPORT. I WANT TO THANK THE BDOS FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM. AS WE GO THROUGH, YOU'LL SEE THE NUMBER OF THINGS THEY CAN COMPLETE HERE, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY ENGAGED IN THIS PROGRAM AS WELL AS THEIR BOARDS.
SO YOU'LL SEE THE FUNDING THAT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THROUGHOUT THE PRACT PROCESS AND THE TIME LINE FOR IT, BEING ABLE TO ACCESS UP TO $260 THROUGH T -- $260,000 THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE PROGRAM.
THERE WAS A TRAINING SESSION FOR THE BOARD. A HUGE PIECE OF THIS IS BOARD ENGAGEMENT. YOU'LL SEE SOME TESTIMONIALS HERE FROM BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SESSION IN MAY.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND IT AND CAN TELL YOU THAT THE IDEAS GOING, THE NETWORKING HAPPENING WAS REALLY FANTASTIC. I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE BDOS ARE WORKING TOGETHER BUT ALSO THE BOARDS ARE IN COMMUNICATION. WE HEARD A LOT OF SIMILAR CHALLENGES BUT ALSO OPPORTUNITIES AND PEOPLE ARE EXCITED. SO IT'S FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING THE ROLLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARDS AND STAFF, STAGES OF BOARD DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING YOUR ORGANIZATION'S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. REALLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WHO IN MANY CASES ARE SUPPORTING THE SMALL BUSINESSES ALONG WITH THE WORK THAT WE ARE HERE DOING IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
ALSO, IN THE ECOSYSTEM PILLAR, WANT TO HIRE THE COMPANEROS PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM REALLY SOUGHT TO LEVERAGE THE MODEL THAT'S USED IN HEALTH, HAVING INDIVIDUALS -- TRUSTED INDIVIDUALS IN THE DISTRICT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT AND PROVIDE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
SO THEY GO DOOR TO DOOR OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, CONNECTION TO OTHER RESOURCES, AS WELL AS CONNECTING THEM TO FINANCIAL CAPITAL, AND THE GOAL IS TO OUTREACH 250 BUSINESSES A YEAR.
ONE BENEFIT WE DISCOVERED FROM THIS PROGRAM WAS HOW WE WERE ABLE TO SEAMLESSLY HAND-OFF. MARIACHI CONNECTION IN DISTRICT 5, WE WERE INTRODUCED TO THEM BY PROSPER WEST AS WE WERE ROLLING OUT THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AND THEN JOSI WAS ABLE TO LEVERAGE TO GET ASSISTANCE. HAVING THAT MULTIPLE VOICES HAS BEEN THE INTERCEPT -- INTENT OF THAT PROGRAM. THEN IN OUR LOCALISM PILLAR, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT BOOSTING THE BRAND RECOGNITION OF OUR BUY LOCAL PROGRAMMING. CERTAINLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT BRAND RECOGNITION AND THEN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT A BUY LOCAL SAVINGS PASS TO CONNECT BUSINESS OWNERS DIRECTLY TO THEIR CUSTOMERS THROUGH DISCOUNTS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LEVERAGED FOR BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION.
IF YOU USE THIS QR CODE HERE, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD YOUR SAVINGS PASS, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, AND THE AMAZING BUSINESSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING TO ADD MORE BUSINESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION CORRIDORS TO THIS PROGRAM IN HOPE TO HAVE
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A GREAT ARRAY OF BUSINESSES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE BUY LOCAL SAVINGS PASS. AND FINALLY MOVING INTO GEOGRAPHIC PLACE MAKING BUCKET, FRONT AND CENTER IN THAT IS OUR REVITALIZE SA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. THIS IS A PROGRAM WE'VE OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAIN STREET AMERICA. MAIN STREET AMERICA HAS OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN CORRIDOR REVITALIZATION. REALLY, WHAT THIS HITS AT IS INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LEAD TRANSFORMATION IN NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS. YOU'LL SEE THAT THROUGH A COHORT-BASED PROGRAM. WE'LL HAVE TWO COHORTS OF 20 INDIVIDUALS WHO'LL RECEIVE SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING COMPRISED OF A LEADERSHIP RETREAT, LEADERSHIP DAYS AS WELL AS STRATEGY DAYS. THEY ARE GROWING AS INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS, BUT ALSO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL STRATEGIES AND, AGAIN, LEVERAGING THAT COHORT TO GET IDEAS TO CULTIVATE IDEAS AND THE EXPERIENCE FROM MAIN STREET. ALL OF THIS WILL CULMINATE IN THEIR COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR CHANGE PROJECT WHERE THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE UP TO $10,000 FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT PROJECT.AND AS YOU'LL SEE, WE KICKED OF 0 OUR FIRST COHORT IN NOT GENTLEMAN. THEY COMPLETED THE -- JANUARY.
THEY COMPLETED AND ARE WORKING ON THE CHANGE PROJECTS NOW.
WE'RE EXCITED TO SHOWCASE THOSE ON NOVEMBER 7TH.
THEN WE ARE STARTING TO RECRUIT FOR THE NEXT COHORT.
HOPEFULLY USING THESE FIRST PARTICIPANTS AS PART OF OUR MARKETING AND OUTREACH FOR THEM, BUT CERTAINLY IF YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO ENCOURAGE TO INVITE TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE SHARE THOSE WITH US, AND WE WILL DO THE OUTREACH AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY. JUST A FEW TESTIMONIALS FROM IT, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEIR WORDS ARE SO MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL THAN OURS.
THEY I AM F EMPHASIZE IT BEING NEIGHBORHOOD-LED.
IT'S ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE COMMUNITY HAS EMPHASIZED OUR PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO ABOUT DEVELOPING THAT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT -- THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO AND REALLY BEING PRACTICAL SKILLS WHETHER IT'S DATA ANALYSIS, FOCUS GROUPS. REALLY, THIS PROGRAM OFFERING THAT PLETHORA OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BECOME NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR LEADERS THAT ARE NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGE.
SO REVITALIZE SA IS INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE.
THESE ARE INVESTING IN THOSE PLACES. AS YOU'LL SEE HERE, WITH OUTDOOR SPACES, WE'VE AWARDED 32 GRANTS IN PROGRESS NOW WITH AVERAGE OF $8500. THIS WAS TARGETED TOWARDS FOODS AND DRINKING ESTABLISHMENTS BECAUSE AT SOME THE ', IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE BACK TO OUTSIDE AND ENJOYING THAT. WE WANTED TO HELP THEM INVEST IN THOSE OUTDOOR SPACES. AND THEN WITHIN OUR FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT, REALLY PROVIDING FOR THAT OVERALL FACE-LIFT OF THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS WITH LARGER GRANTS UP TO $50,000. SO WE HAVE NOTIFIED 92 BUSINESSES AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONTRACTING THEM WITH AN AVERAGE A AWARD OF $38,000. YOU'LL SEE HERE MR. MIKE BROWN FROM TANKS PIZZA WAS AWARDED A GRANT AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW HE'S MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO HIS PATIO AND LOOKING TO ADD ADDITIONAL JOBS.
SO YOU SEE TWO BUSINESSES HERE WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, GIBSON'S TAVERN AND TEQUILARIA WHO APPLIED AND WERE AWARDED OUTDOOR SPACES. THEY WILL BE ADDING SEATING, LIGHTING, PLANTS, AND ENHANCING THEIR EXTERIOR WALL. FIRST CHOICE BODY AND PAINT WILL BE IMPROVING THEIR DOOR PAINTING AND REPLACING AN OLD SIGN.
SO WE'RE EXIT ZOOD TO SEE -- EXCITED TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS AND EP HOFUL -- HOPEFULLY WE CAN SHOW YOU AFTER PICTURES.
SO PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THE IMPACT OF THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE TRACKED ALONG THE WAY.
WE PROVIDE THE INFORMATION PRESENTED ON THE ARPA DASHBOARD BUT YOU'LL SEE A FEW OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE TRACKING FROM NUMBER OF BUSINESSES ENGAGED, HOURS OF TRAINING, AMOUNT OF CAPITAL ACCESS, DOLLARS LEVERAGED, AND THEN DOING THAT IN A DATA-DRIVEN EQUITY-BASED STRATEGY COLLECTING DIGG DISAGGREGATED DATA TO TWEAK IN REAL TIME AND THEN BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT FEEDBACK TO HOW WE'VE MADE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS. SO NEXT STEPS, WHILE WE HAVE A LOT BEHIND US, WE'RE NOT DONE YET. YOU'LL SEE HERE THE PLAN GOING FORWARD THROUGH FISCAL YEAR '26 WITH MOST -- AGAIN, THE NEXT
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ITEM TO BE COMPLETE IS YOU ARE 0 CONSTRUCTION -- OUR CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT PLANS AS WELL AS DIGITAL SUPPORT.BEYOND THAT, OUTDOOR SPACES AND FACADE IMPROVEMENT.
LASTING INTO 2026 ARE THE BUY LOCAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS AS WELL AS THE LISC PROGRAM THROUGH K IGA. HOPE TO PROVIDE CONTINUED UPDATES AND MORE SUCCESS STORIES FROM ALL OF THIS.
ALSO WANTED TO TAKE TIME TO RECOGNIZE STAFF. WHILE WE HAVE WONDERFUL PARTNERS, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE EFFORTS OF STAFF. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE CAITLIN, ILI ANA AS WELL AS MARIA HELPING US TRACK ALL THE DOLLARS. THEM ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE HERE, AND SARAH FROM SBAC.
IT'S BEEN A TEAM EFFORT AND WANT TO THANK THEM ALL FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THIS BECAUSE WE'RE IMPACTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND LIVES.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU.
BEFORE WE START WITH COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS, I THINK IT'S WORTH MENTIONING THAT THE DIGITAL CAMPAIGN, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC FACING STUFF, THE SITE WEBSITE, THE DASHBOARD IS FANTASTIC.
I UNDERSTAND THAT HERO DID YOUR WORK. I'M VERY, VERY
IMPRESSED. >> YES, THEY ARE HERE. I WANT TO THANK THEM AS
WELL FOR THEIR WORK. >> IT'S EXCELLENT WORK. IF A LOT OF OUR OTHER DASHBOARDS AND OTHER PUBLIC FACING INITIATIVES COULDING LOO LIKE THIS, I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
LET'S GO AROUND THE TABLE. COUNCILMEMBER PHILLIS
VIAGRAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE REVITALIZE SA AND THE WORK WE'RE DOING THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE GRANTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD ALIGN WITH WHAT WA WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HERE AT E P WDC. SO FOR THE SECOND COHORT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ASK IF THEY HAVE BEEN WATCHING THESE MEETINGS OR ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE MEETINGS AT ALL BECAUSE I'M GETTING MIXED REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS REALLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HAVE A AN IDEA, AND SOME OF THEM DO NOT.
SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD IN THIS COMMITTEE AND THE IDEA THAT SOMEONE WENT FORWARD AND DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHO THIS COMMITTEE IS OR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT WE DO IS A LITTLE DISCOURAGING TO ME.
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN QUESTIONS.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH EWDC COMMITTEE? HAVE YOU WATCHED ANY OF IT? THEY DON'T HAVE TO WATCH IT ALL.
THEY CAN FAST FORWARD. IT'S ALL STREAMING ONLINE.
I DO THINK THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THESE CORRIDORS THAT WE WANT TO SEE IMPROVED ON.
YES, DIGITAL. YES, INTERNET PRESENCE, MAKING IT GO FURTHER THAN WHERE YOU ARE. WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES. THE NEXT THING WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THIS COMMITTEE AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IMPACT CHAMPION GAPPING THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO DEVICES, ARE ABLE TO CHECK OUT THE SPECIALS, THE SOCIAL MEDIA, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT BECAUSE AS WE MOVE MORE ONLINE AND AS WE HAVE OUR FACEBOOK PAGES AND USE THAT AS OUR PRIMARY PROMOTION, WE ALL NEED TO BE SAYING, ARE YOU CONNECTED? SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM SURE THERE'S STILL MONEY OUT THERE COMMITTED.
CORRECT? >> YES. >> VIAGRAN: AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO STRESS, BUT -- STRESS OUR PRIORITIES BUT ALSO BE FLEXIBLE IN WHAT I WE'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF THE CHANGES AS WE'RE MOVING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
SO THANK YOU, ANNA FOR ALL YOUR WORK. THANK YOU FOR THOSE PARTICIPATING. THIS ISN'T THE MOST EXCITING COMMITTEE TO WATCH, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED -- SORRY, MANNY -- PLEASE
WATCH THESE MEETINGS. THANK YOU. >> .
>> PELAEZ: THOSE ARE FIGHTING WORDS. IT WILL BE THE PINK LADIES VERSUS THE SHARKS. REMEMBER THAT.
PINK LADY NUMBER ONE, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
>> ROCHA-GARCIA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, ANNA. I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU BECAUSE THEY SENT OUT THE SLIDES IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY'S MEETING.
I GUESS IT WAS LIKE MONDAY MORNING-ISH. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COMMITTEE THAT I OPENED IT RIGHT AWAY. I GEEKED OUT.
THEN THAT NIGHT, THERE WAS A SMALL BUSINESS PRESENTATION AT THE MAESTRO CENTER. I FORGOT THAT WE -- SO ACTUALLY, TO MY
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COLLEAGUES, I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I KIND OF SPILLED THE BEANS ON SOME OF THAT. I REALIZED IT AFTERWARDS.I TEXTED ALEX AND I APOLOGIZED TO HER. I WAS SO EMBARRASSED.
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT YOUR COMMITTEE IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
AND ABOUT THE WORK GOING ON. SO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO WAS THERE. I'M SO SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER.
WITH THAT SAID, I STILL HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS. I'M SO EXCITED BY THE BUY LOCAL. I LOVE CONCHERIA. THAT WAS A NICE AFTERNOON SNACK. ON THE INCENTIVE FUND, WHAT'S THE ALLOCATION FOR 2025? BY HE THE WAY, I LOVE THIS CHART.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHARTS EVER NOW. WE SHOULD USE IT
ALL OVER. >> SO THIS UPDATE IS ALL ARPA.
IT'S NO FUNDS FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE FUND.
WHAT WAS FUNDED THROUGH -- IT'S THE SECOND STAGE PROGRAM IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. THOSE ARE GRANTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH EDIF
FUNDS. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: GOT A. I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT SPECIFICALLY. BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO SEE LIKE WHO COULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT. RIGHT? AT THAT TYPE OF LEVEL.
SO WHERE CAN MAYBE THEY BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN ORDER TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT EMPLOYEES, ET CETERA? SO I'LL GET WITH YOU.
SINCE IT'S NOT RELEVANT, THAT WAS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
THEN THE OTHER ONE, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE BUSINESSES RECOMMENDED FOR THE SECOND STAGE GRANT AWARDS. SO KNIGHT AEROSPACE IS ONE OF THE D4 ONES THAT WE HAVE ON THERE. THE REASON THAT I'M KIND OF RELATING TO THIS IS, DO WE ASK SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HOW THEY GAINED INITIALLY ACCESS TO CAPITAL? DO WE LEARN FROM THE
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL? >> YEAH.
SO AS WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM, AS THEY APPLY, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ON THE APPLICATION ABOUT OTHER RESOURCES, BUT THEN WE DO ALSO, AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS, UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE RESOURCES ARE, WHAT MAYBE OTHER NEEDS THEY HAVE.
SO IF WE NEED TO CONNECT THEM TO SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS OR SOME OF OUR OTHER RELATIONSHIPS, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO DO THAT. THEN WITH THIS PROGRAM, TOO, WE ALSO HAVE A DESIGN FOR, I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP, SIX MONTH, MONTH, 36 IS THE MORE FORMAL. WE ALSO ROLL THESE BUSINESSES INTO OUR BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR ONGOING REGULAR
CONVERSATIONS. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: I LIKE THAT.
AND THEN HAVE WE EXPLORED OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE FUNDING? I MENTIONED ONE FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES. YOU LOOKED INTO IT AND THEY'RE NOT DOING IT IN ANYMORE THIS YEAR. BUT SPECIFICALLY, I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE HOW ELSE ARE WE MAKING SURE SOME IS OF THESE REALLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS
CONTINUE AFTER ARPA GOES AWAY? >> SURE.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT VARIOUS RESOURCES. SO A NUMBER OF US ARE ON THE NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITIES AND WHATNOT.
SOME OF US MET WITH THE GRANTS WRITER THAT WAS BROUGHT ON FROM IT OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS OFFICE. SO REALLY TRYING TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF GRANTS THAT NEEDED, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, SO WE HAVE CERTAINLY REACHED OUT TO SEE IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO PURSUE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND EXPLORE
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: GOT IT. OF THE 68 BUSINESSES THAT RECEIVED THAT 0%S INTEREST, CAN WE SEE A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIES REPRESENTED AND MAYBE -- I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE THIS, BUT LIKE AVERAGE SALARY, ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE FOR EACH BUSINESS, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SEE THAT, OR IS THAT ONLY YOU GET TO SEE THAT.
>> WE DON'T GET TO SEE ALL THAT NECESSARILY. SO -- BECAUSE THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THERE ARE VARIOUS FEDERAL LAWS THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW IN THEIR LENDING. BURR WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU -- WE'LL PULL
WHAT POSITION WE CAN. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: MAYBE AVERAGES TO LOOK AT IT.
SPECIFICALLY IN REGARD TO THE BDO NEEDS ASSESSMENT, CAN WE GET A
COPY OF THOSE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS? >> I'LL DEFER THAT TO MARGARET OR MAYBE SOME GENERAL TRENDS FROM WHAT WAS SEEN FROM THOSE
ANALYSES. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: YEAH. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. IF YOU ARE OTHER OKAY WITH IT, MARGARET.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW. >> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING US BE HERE. LEL, A, OUR LEADER IS NOT HERE BECAUSE SHE HAS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING, WHICH IS COVID.
SO I GET TO HAVE THE WONDERFUL LUCKY STAR. SO YES, THAT INFORMATION WE CAN WORK -- ALL OF THE BDOS HAVE JUST COMPLETED THEIR PLANS, GOTTEN THEM APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING DODO WITH THE CONSULTANT WE HIRED IS DO A CONDENSED REPORT TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS -- WE'RE ALL ABOUT LEVERAGING THE DOLLARS.
[00:30:05]
WE CAN LOOK AT THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND -- BECAUSE OUR ALLIANCE --COLLECTIVELY AND SEE HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THINGS. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE, IS THERE A REPORT WE CAN SEE THAT IDENTIFIES THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES WITHIN THE DESIGNATED BDOS?
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON THAT. I AM WORKING -- THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS THAT I WANT, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BD OS, WHO THEY SERVE, HOW THEY SERVE.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO CALL THEM MY BOOTS ON THE GROUND PEOPLE, AND IT'S JUST THAT BOOTS ON THE GROUND CONNECTION. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING THAT INFORMATION, REALLY CREATING A DASHBOARD THAT'S REFLECTIVE OF THE BDO ALLIANCE. BASICALLY, THE ALLIANCE COVERS ALL OF SAN ANTONIO. WE DO HAVE SOME SPECIALTY BDOS LIKE SAGE, EAST SIDE, AND PART OF SOUTH SIDE, PROSPER WEST, CULTURAL LINGA PRIMARILY THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. MAESTRO CAN GO ALL OVER SOUTH SIDE FIRST.
AIT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE AS WELL. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BDO ALLIANCE, AGAIN, THEY ARE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND CONNECTION FOR THE COMMUNITY. THESE ARE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED AND DEVELOPED ALL OVER THE YEARS. IF YOU ALL REMEMBER COVID AND PPP MONEY, GETTING THAT DISTRIBUTED, ALONG WITH THE VARIOUS GRANTS THAT THE CITY HAD AND OTHER PROGRAMS, THE BIGGEST OUTCRY WAS SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT GETTING THEM ESPECIALLY FROM WHAT I CALL UNDERSERVED AREAS. YOU KNOW WHO HELPED LIFT THOSE NUMBERS? THAT WAS BDOS. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT WORK AND RELATIONSHIP, I CAN PUT MY SMALL BUSINESS HAT ON AND WHAT YOU HEARD FROM A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, WE DON'T TRUST QUOTE-UNQUOTE THE GOVERNMENT. WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT.
BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY, THAT'S NOT THAT TRUST FACTOR.
WHAT THE BDOS DO, THEY BRING THAT TRUST FACTOR IN.
>> COUNCILMEMBER, WE CAN GET YOU A LIST THROUGH OUR RESEARCH -- THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES. SO WE'LL JUST MAKE SURE I KNOW SAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, JUST ADJUSTED THEIR SERVICE AREA. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET THOSE UPDATED MAPS. WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN ETCH A OF THOSE SERVE -- EACH OF THOSE SERVICE TERRITORYS.
YOU'LL HEAR OF ADDITIONAL TOOLS THAT CAN PROVIDE A DEEPER DIVE AND MORE INFORMATION. WE CAN GET YOU THAT INITIAL LIST.
>> ROCHA-GARCIA: GOT IT. AND THEN JUST TWO FINAL COMMENTS. I LOVE THE APP, THE BUY LOCAL APP OR -- THERE'S
AN OFFICIAL NAME FOR THE APP. >> BUY LOCAL SAVINGS
PACK. >> ROCHA-GARCIA: THAT'S WHATTING ITS.
I WISH WE HAD MORE SMALL BUSINESSES ON IT THOUGH.
SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE A LOT OF THE 27 ITEMS ON THERE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THOSE AREAS. BUT IF WE INCREASE AND MAYBE BY AREA, IF YOU'RE IN THE SOUTH PART, WEST PART OF TOWN, ET CETERA. THEN THE REVITALIZE SA LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, I LOVE IT. THAT'S THE ONE I HAD STARTED TALKING ABOUT ACCIDENTALLY THE OTHER DAY. BUT YES, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE OF THAT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, ANNA FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M EXCITED TO SEE THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO HAVE A LOT OF PARTICIPATION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO DISTRICT 5 BECAUSE AS I SHARED, IT'S NOT JUST OUR RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS AT RISK OF CODE VIOLATIONS AND-OR DISPLACEMENT AND IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES TO IMPROVE THEIR FACADE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR AREA THAT'S IN A CHANGING PROCESS. SO IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LIST OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE GRANT ACROSS THE CITY. I'M JUST INTERESTED ON WHERE THEY FALL.
I KNOW I HAVE A MEETING WITH GALLERIA FOODS TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. THEY ARE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE, I BELIEVE, THEIR 25TH OR 30TH ANNIVERSARY.
BEST BURGER AND UNION RINGS IN SAN ANTONIO. IF YOU FOLLOW THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT'S AMAZING. IT'S SUPER RETRO AND -- IT'S JUST AMAZING. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THE FACADE GRANT. IT'S TWO HOUSES THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO A RESTAURANT AND A STORE. IT'S LIKE A BODEGA. IT'S BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOREVER, A STAPLE, AND JUST EXCITED TO CONNECT WITH THEM ON WAYS THAT CITY PROGRAMMING CAN HELP SUPPORT THEM AND IMPROVE THEIR FACADE WITH THE ECOSYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE RYAN AND PROSPER WEST FOR BEING HERE AT THE BOARD MEETING YET YESTERDAY. THEY RECEIVED A PRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTANT ON THEIR PLAN.
SO JUST EXCITED TO SEE A LOT OF THESE PIECES COMING INTO FRUITION AND
[00:35:04]
THE PLANS BEING PRESENTED AT THE BOARD MEETINGS.WITH THE ZERO INTEREST LOANS, WANT TO RECOGNIZE LISC FOR HOW GREAT THEY ARE FOR ISSUING THOSE LOANS. I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE INTERESTED, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY DON'T HAVE THE COLLATERAL NECESSARY HE. I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH STAFF ON WHAT KIND OF ALTERNATIVES WE CAN PROVIDE IN TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR WHATEVER REASON.
>> EGG SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS -- SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE EXCITED TO AT KIVA BECAUSE IT'S A TYPE OF PROGRAM THAT'S INTERNATIONAL. THEY WORK WITH BUSINESS OWNERS WHO DON'T HAVE THAT COLLATERAL. THE YOU ACTUALLY GET SPONSORED BY A TRUSTEE.
IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE CULTURE LINGA. THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD UP THEIR END OF THE DEAL. AS THOSE ARE CROWD FUNDED, THERE'S NO COLLATERAL. UNFORTUNATELY, IF THEY DEFAULT, THEY DON'T GET REPORTED TO CREDIT AGENCIES MANY IT'S A REALLY COOL PLATFORM THAT PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY. EVENTUALLY, MAYBE GRADUATE TO A LIFTFUND WHERE THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL BACKING AND THEN POTENTIALLY TO A TRADITIONAL BANK.
WE ARE EXCITED TO ADD TO THAT OUR LIST OF OFFERINGS.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WORKING TOWARDS CLOSING THAT GAP.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH JOANNE AND LET ME KNOW WHO I SHOULD CONNECT HER WITH BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S EXCITED AND LOOKING TO IMPROVE HER BUSINESS. SHE'S GRATEFUL THAT SHE'S RECEIVED A FACADE GRANT, THE OUTDOOR GRANT, AND SHE HAS A VISION AND NEEDS SUPPORT. THANK YOU FOR WORKING TOWARDS CLOSING THAT GAP. IN REGARDS TO THE C COMPANEROS PROGRAM, WHAT IS GOING TO BE TRACKED? HOW MANY CONTACT ARE MADE? HOW MANY CONTACTS TO SERVICES AND SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVING
SERVICES? >> YES. WE TRACK THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES THEY ENGAGE WITH, THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THEY RECEIVE, ACCESS TO CAPITAL CONNECTIONS, AND THEN THEIR NEXT CRITICAL MEASURE IS CONNECTING BUSINESS OWNERS TO PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES RECOGNIZING THAT'S ONE
OF THE AVENUES THEY CAN GROW THEIR BUSINESS. >> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. AND THEN IN TERMS OF BUY LOCAL, OVER AT THE SMALL BUSINESS TOWN HALL THAT WE ATTENDED, I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO ONE OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS OF HERNAN HOUSED IN A WAREHOUSE, AND SHE HAD QUESTIONS AROUND MARKETING AND BILLBOARDS AND SHE SUGGESTED -- WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WITH THE CITY AND VIA AND WHAT CAME TO MIND WAS A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION, MAYBE A PARTNERSHIP WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY CITY INITIATED CONSTRUCTION HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR LOCAL ON A VIA BUS AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A MOVING BILLBOARD FOR THOSE IMPACTED WAS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA, BUT, OF COURSE, IT WAS AN IDEA GIVEN BY HER. BUT ULTIMATELY, THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS.
REALLY EXCITED -- OR POINTS, RATHER. EXCITED ABOUT THE MAIN STREET AMERICA INITIATIVE. ERIK HAS BEEN COMING TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD BE ASSOCIATION TO GIVE FOLKS A MONTHLY UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE MOVING AND ENTERING THAT COMMUNITY'S PLUGGED IN.
I'VE HAD PARTICIPANTS OUTSIDE OF DISTRICT 5 COME TO OPEN OFFICE HOURS TO SHARE THEIR VISION AND ASK FOR MY THOUGHTS AND IF I COULD WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT, WHICH I'M SURE YOU HAVE RECEIVED.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THE DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT FOLKS HAVE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK TO COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN'S POINT, HOW WE'RE MANAGING EXPECTATIONS ON WHAT THEIR PLAN AND VISION IS, SOME IS OF THEM THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO ME SOUND LIKE BOND SCALE MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS, AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO ASSUME THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO POP TO THE TOP OF THE PRIORITIES WHEN IT'S NOT SOMETHING MY
CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING FOR. >> CAN SO WITH WITH ANY PILOT PROGRAM, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE LESSONS LEARNED.
WE'VE HAD A LOT IN THIS FIRST YEAR. THE 18 APPLICATIONS, TWO WERE KIND OF IMMEDIATELY READY FOR FUNDING. THEN OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE REST OF THEM. I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THEM WHERE WE HAD SOME IS OVERLAP OR THINGS THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY EVEN IMPACT THE BUSINESS CORER DO. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE HAVE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK WITH MAIN STREET AMERICA AS WE TALK ABOUT THE SECOND COHORT OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO CHANGE THE APPLICATION, REALLY FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THOSE PROJECTS AT THE BEGINNING. SO LOVE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC THOUGHTS. APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION YOU'VE PROVIDED. WE LOVE PILOT PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND EXCITED TO IMPLEMENT THAT.
>> THANK YOU, BRENDA. THEN IN TERMS OF THE SECOND STAGE COHORT PROGRAM, AS SOON AS THAT NEW COHORT IS SELECTED AND THEN THE SYLLABUS IS PUT OUT, CAN IT BE SHARED WITH US? I WOULD LIKE TO DROP IN AND TUNE IN AND LEARN FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND JUST HEAR
THEIR THOUGHTS. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER WHITE.
>> THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST A FEW COMMENTS AND
[00:40:03]
QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, REGARDING 33 MILLION AND 22 OF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DIRECT DOLLARS TO THESE BUSINESSES FOR CAPITAL.RIGHT? AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY?
>> YES, COUNCILMAN. OF THE 29.7 MILLION DOLLARS, THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN SPENT, 21.3 HAS GONE TO SMALL BUSINESSES.
>> OUT OF THE 34 THAT'S THERE, 23 IS EARMARKED FOR ACCESS TO CAPITAL.
>> RIGHT. >> WHICH I THINK IS GOOD.
AND THE MORE MONEY -- WE CONSTANTLY HEAR FROM BUSINESSES.
MANNY, YOU AND I WENT TO THAT BUSINESS FORUM 6, 8 MONTHS AGO AND THE ONE THING WE WERE TOLD HE IS THE BEST THING YOU GUYS CAN DO FOR US IS GIVE US -- GET US ACCESS TO CAPITAL. SO I'M HAPPY THAT THERE IS A GREAT PORTION OF THE MONEY GOING THERE. PERHAPS, WE EVEN NEED TO DO BETTER THAN THAT. REGARDING THE TRAININGS AND THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS -- I THINK IT'S SLIDE -- I DON'T KNOW -- CAPACITY BUILDING, BACK END SUPPORT, WHO'S PROVIDING THESE TRAININGS TO THESE
BUSINESSES? IS IT. >> SO IN THE CASE OF THE SAGE PROGRAM, THEY'VE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF -- WHETHER IT'S BANKS OR MARKETING EXPERTS OR INSURANCE EXPERTS TO PROVIDE THAT TRAINING.
SO IT'S -- THEY'RE LOCAL INDIVIDUALS PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT TO THE
BUSINESSES. >> OKAY. SO LOCAL PEOPLE WITH
EXPERTISE, I GUESS. >> YES. >> THAT THEY CONTRACT WITH? OKAY. REGARDING PROSPER WEST, THE SLIDE IN HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT 250 BUSINESSES THAT THEY'VE DONE OUTREACH TO, WHAT'S BEEN THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON THAT?
LIKE WHAT IS THAT RESULTING PH? >> IN?
IS. >> WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN AN IMMEDIATE RETURN ON HELPING THEM ACCESS CAPITAL. ONE OF THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS WAS CONNECTING THEM TO $100,000 IN CAPITAL. WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THAT.
SO IT IS PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN. AGAIN, CONNECTING --
THEIR EX IN GOAL IS PUBLIC OPPORTUNITIES. >> SO IS THIS SOMETHING WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A LIST OF WHO THESE 250 BUSINESSES ARE THAT THEY'VE TOUCHED AND THEN WHAT THE -- WHAT'S COME OF THAT?
>> YES. >> I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT -- SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE TALKED ABOUT IN HERE THAT WE WERE USING THIS MONEY ON, IS THERE OVERLAP BETWEEN SOME IS OF THE CORRIDORS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THE ARPA MONEY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO AND THEN, FOR INSTANCE, THE NORTHEAST HE CORRIDOR PLAN IN MY DISTRICT HAS ALREADY BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE SUBJECT OF -- IT'S BEEN DESIGNATED AS A CORRIDOR THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS BEEN
TRYING TO HELP. IS THERE OVERLAP THERE? >> THERE IS.
SO IN SOME CASES LIKE THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THE FACADE GRANT, THEY WERE ONE OF THE TARGET CORRIDORS THAT WAS ELIGIBLE. SO BUSINESSES ALONG THAT CORRIDOR WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FACADE GRANT. OUTDOOR SPACES WAS CITYWIDE.
WE DID, AS PART OF THE REVITALIZE SA PROGRAM, HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL IN THAT WHO IDENTIFIED A PORTION OF THE NORTHEAST HE CORRIDOR AS PART OF THEIR PROJECT LOCATION. SO WE'RE ACTUALLY STILL WORKING WITH THAT COHORT PARTICIPANT TO HONE IN A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT PROPOSAL.
SO THERE IS SOME OVERLAP. WE DEFINITELY -- WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE WHERE WE WORKED WITH A NUMBER MUCH OUR COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT RESOURCES, WHAT PRIORITIES WERE IN ADDITION TO OUR SMALL
BUSINESS NETWORK. >> OKAY. LAST QUESTION, MAYBE MORE GENERALLY, I HAVE THE -- THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKSHEET HERE ABOUT GENERAL FUND YOU AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE HERE, IF I CAN ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, STAFF HOURS DEDICATED TO BUSINESS BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M REFERRING TO?
>> YES, SIR. WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR OUR BUDGET PRESENTATION ON TUESDAY, AND SO WE'LL BE ACTUALLY DIVING INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> MAYBE THIS IS BETTER LEFT FOR THEN. >> I WOULD LOVE TO TALK
ABOUT IT THEN, SIR. >> WE'LL DO IT THEN. >> PERFECT.
[00:45:04]
>> THANKS, CHAIR. >> PELAEZ: TWO THINGS BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS OUT. ONE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHO IS BENEFITING FROM THIS BUT ALSO WHO APPLIED AND DIDN'T GET IT. RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE HEAR THE SUCCESS STORIES, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE AT THE CITY ARE PART OF HELPING THEM IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY TO BE ACCESS.
AND SO LATER, MAYBE WE CAN TALK OFF-LINE ABOUT HOW TO SYNTHESIZE THAT DATA AND BRING THAT BACKFLOWING TO THIS COMMITTEE SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WERE TURNED DOWN. RIGHT? AND THE SECOND THING IS, EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE -- ACTUALLY, LET ME TELL IT THIS WAY. WHEN TOYOTA CAME TO SAN ANTONIO AND STARTED HIRING PEOPLE IN 2004, 2005, THEY RECEIVED 200,000 APPLICATIONS.
THE CHALLENGE WASN'T IDENTIFYING THE TOP 1% OF THOSE FOLKS.
THE CHALLENGE WAS LEAVING 100,000-PLUS PEOPLE WITH A NO, BUT STILL WANTING TO BUY A TOYOTA. RIGHT? AND SO WE NEED TO LEAVE PEOPLE -- IF WE HAVE TO SAY NO TO THEM, WE HAVE TO SAY NO BUT STILL LEAVE THEM BETTER OFF. RIGHT? JUST FOR HAVING CONTACTED US AND HAVING GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS. RIGHT? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALSO, IF WE SAY NO, WELL, WHAT ELSE DO THEY GET OUT OF JUST HAVING COME INTO CONTACT WITH US? IS THAT FAIR?
>> YES. ONE EXAMPLE COMES TO MIND OF ACTUALLY THROUGH THE OUTDOOR SPACES GRANT ARE NOT. THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM, THEY WEREN'T ELIGIBLE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH PROSPER WEST WHO WAS ABLE TO ACCESS THE CAPITAL TO MAKE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS. SO WHILE WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BUSINESSES TO MAYBE MEET US FOR THE FIRST TIME, FOR US, IT'S NOT THE LAST ENGAGEMENT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE. IT'S REALLY THE FIRST ONE, WHETHER IT'S GETTING THEM SIGNED UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER OR HAVING A BUSINESS OUTREACH SPECIALISTS GOING OUT TO VISIT THEM.
WE SEE THIS AS MORE THAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE A ONE TIME SERVICE BUT CULTIVATING THAT RELATIONSHIP INTO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO LAST LONGER. >> THAT'S WHAT I GUESS I'M ASKING FOR IS SHOW US HOW. THAT'S -- NUMBER TWO, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS TOPIC, I WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, THIS IS YOUR COMMITTEE, TOO. IF THERE'S SOMETHING ON THIS THAT YOU WANT TO PEEL BACK AND KIND OF RIGHT CLICK ON IT SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND MORE, ALEX WOULD NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU AND MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS, BUT TWO, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER TOPIC THAT YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE EXPLORING ENOUGH, LET US KNOW. I'M COUNTING ON Y'ALL TO COME UP WITH HOMEWORK THAT WE NEED TO DO. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. THAT CONCLUDES THIS
MEETING. RIGHT, ALEX. >> THERE WAS ONE ITEM IN LINE WITH YOUR FIRST THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW OR WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T BEING SERVED, PERHAPS, THROUGH SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS. WE ACTUALLY REACHED A POINT AND ANNA MENTIONED THAT THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT PROGRAM, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF ROLLING OUT THOSE FUNDS RIGHT NOW. LIFTFUND IS. WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED THE FACT THAT THAT PROGRAM WAS OVERSUBSCRIBED.
WE HAVE MORE ELIGIBLE APPLICATIONS THAN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUNDING FOR. SO AS PROGRAMS HAVE CONCLUDED, WE'VE PROVIDED UPDATE MEMOS ON THE OUTDOOR SPACES FUNDING AND THE FACADE IMPROVEMENT FUNDING. WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME DOLLARS AVAILABLE FROM THOSE PROGRAMS THAT DID NOT GET AWARDED TO SOME BUSINESSES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CARRYING OVER INTO THE CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE HE BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY APPLIED AND THAT ARE ELIGIBLE AND LIFTFUND HOLD IT US THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH DOLLARS. WINDOW WANT TO FUND AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS COMMITTEE KNEW THAT. FUNDING AS MANY OF THOSE AS WE CAN AND THEN AS SOON AS WORE DONE, WE'LL SEND A MEMO OUT SHOWING
THE BUSINESSES T THAT RECEIVED THE SUPPORT. >> PATIENT: THAT BRINGS
. >> PELAEZ: THAT BRINGS US TO THE END.
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.