Business News from the Island January 2023

City of Alameda sent this bulletin at 01/18/2023 11:37 AM PST

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Business News from the Island January 2023

Alameda Welcomes New City Manager
Holiday Shop Local Campaign Success for Local Retailers
Economic Development Year in Review 2022
Alameda In the News
Upcoming Events

Alameda Welcomes New City Manager

On January 3, 2023, Jennifer (Jen) Ott began her work as City Manager with the City of Alameda. Ms. Ott was appointed by City Council at its December 6, 2022 meeting following an extensive recruitment process. Since 2018, Ms. Ott has worked for the City of Hayward where she served as Assistant City Manager and Development Services Director. From 2005 to 2018, Ms. Ott worked for the City of Alameda as Redevelopment Manager, Acting Assistant City Manager, Chief Operating Officer of Alameda Point, and Base Reuse and Transportation Planning Director.

Ms. Ott shares that her previous 13 years of experience with the City of Alameda will allow her “to hit the ground running and immediately begin implementing Council and community priorities.”

Recruitment has begun for the Assistant City Manager position.

Holiday Shop Local Campaign Success for Local Retailers

From November 17 to December 26, 2022, 76 businesses and restaurants participated in the Shop Local Campaign. Participating businesses received posters, customizable “Thank you” cards, and assistance with marketing. Eight businesses also received a free photo shoot from local photographer Maurice Ramirez. In addition to posters and printed advertisements on AC Transit busses, a robust digital marketing effort via Google, Patch, and social media outlets garnered over half a million impressions and generated 599 posts using the campaign hashtag #shoplocalalameda, driving 8,400+ people to the City’s Shop Local webpage over the duration of the campaign. Giveaway prizes, including a keychain and tokens, will be distributed by City staff in January to show appreciation to residents and visitors who shopped local and signed up to participate. In response to the campaign, staff received many comments of appreciation for the work that the City does to support Alameda’s businesses and community.

Economic Development Year in Review 2022

Business Pulse Survey

Last summer, the City of Alameda conducted its second annual Business Pulse Survey to better understand the state of the local business community. What we heard from 182 respondents—mostly small, long-running Alameda businesses—is that most business are holding steady or growing. Nearly two-thirds report revenues have remained stable or increased over the previous year. However, the impacts of pandemic are still being felt, particularly by restaurants, bars, and retail businesses as two-thirds of restaurants, bars, and retailers report that they have not returned to pre-pandemic performance.

While the survey also demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major factor for many businesses, the greatest current concern relates to supply chain issues – the availability, dependability, and cost of goods. Looking forward, businesses cited the national economic outlook, including inflation and the potential for recession as their top concern.

State Controller’s Small Business Webinar

The City of Alameda participated in a regional small business webinar, sponsored by former California State Controller Betty Yee. The webinar, held on November 30, featured several state and regional agencies that provide help for small businesses. The webinar provided practical resources and information on small business grants, loans, contracting opportunities, and tax programs. Participating governmental agencies included:

State Franchise Tax Board
California Dept. of General Services
California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation
California Office of the Small Business Advocate
California Secretary of State
Employment Development Department (EDD)
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration

The City of Alameda also presented an overview of its services for small businesses.

Progress Towards Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Launch 2023

Following direction from City Council last year to explore guaranteed income (GI) as an anti-poverty policy mechanism, City staff developed a proposal to design and implement a pilot program that provides payments of $1,000 per month for 24 months to 150 low-income Alameda households. In May 2022, City Council approved the allocation of $4.6M in American Rescue Plan Act funds in order to proceed with the GI pilot program and in November 2022 approved moving forward with contract agreements for three program partners for implementation, research and program evaluation, and financial payment distribution.

Over the past year, staff has met with other local jurisdictions, regional and national experts, and community-based organizations to gain a better understanding of best practices for program design and community engagement. In November, staff convened a kick-off meeting with the three program partners to identify initial milestones to be worked on during the next three months of developing the GI program and anticipates that the program will be launched in late summer/early fall 2023. For more information, visit the City’s website here.

Dignity Village Construction Underway

The City of Alameda (City), in partnership with service provider Five Keys Schools and Programs and developer DignityMoves, was awarded a $12.3 million grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) through HCD’s Homekey program. Homekey provides grants to public entities to rapidly aquire, rehabilitate, and/or build housing for persons experiencing homelessness. The City’s accepted proposal, Dignity Village, will create three program buildings and 47 private, interim supportive housing units, each with its own en suite bathroom, through new construction modular build-out. The 47 units will have the ability to house up to 61 individuals, and will open in the Spring of 2023. Of the 47 units, five are designated for use by Transitional Age Youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Alameda’s Homekey grant will support construction costs, and onsite resident services for the first five years of the project. The conceptualization, funding, and construction cost of Dignity Village reflects the community’s collective commitment to serve the most vulnerable.

Façade Grant Program Improves Storefronts

Since October 2021, the City has awarded grants totaling nearly $310,000 in the local commercial districts through Alameda’s Façade Grant Program. The City awarded 36 grants, which are expected to leverage over $850,000 in private investment spread across the Park Street Business District, Webster Street Business District and the Historic Station Areas. The total value of the anticipated improvements (public and private contributions) is approximately $1.16 million.

Through 50/50 matching grants up to a maximum of $15,000, the Façade Grant Program seeks to help local business and property owners spruce up their storefronts and improve the appearance of the City’s retail districts. Major project awardees for the 2021/2022 Façade Grant Program included a new delicatessen on Lincoln Avenue called Island Savoy, a new wine bar concept on Park Street called Mo’s Wine Bar, as well as established Alameda businesses such as the Neptune Palace Hotel, Café Jolie, Ceron Kitchen, the Preacher’s Daughter, Wescafe, and the majority of the businesses at the Morton Street Station neighborhood district.

Public Art Master Plan Nears Completion

In May of 2022, the Community Development Department began developing a Public Art Master Plan to help refine short- and long-term priorities for the Public Art Program, bring greater equity in approaching public art in Alameda, and improve administrative and site selection processes. To assist with the development of the Public Art Master Plan, the City has contracted with Forecast Public Art, who has extensive experience working with both public and private partners across the country on issues surrounding public art.

As a part of the initial community outreach efforts, Forecast has conducted a series of one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and community pop-up meetings. In addition, Forecast facilitated three discussions with the Public Art Commission to explore such topics as: defining public art, how public art should be dispersed throughout the City, the prioritization of temporary versus permanent art, the benefits of focusing resources on local artists versus soliciting interest from national or international artists, what peer cities are doing with their public art resources, grant solicitation processes, among others. Completion of the Public Art Master Plan is anticipated for mid 2023.

City to Launch Public Art Website

At the end of 2020, the Public Art Commission identified “improved marketing of the Public Art Program” as a top priority. One element of a broader marketing effort included the development of a website that would clearly identify existing public artworks in Alameda and provide an accessible means through which the public can locate and engage the Alameda’s diverse and growing public art collection.

Staff engaged local web designer, Jose Fernandez, and local photographer, Maurice Ramirez, to develop a website dedicated to public art in Alameda. The website is image-forward and includes an interactive map that allow a user to easily locate and learn about the many public murals, sculptures, photographs, and mosaics that comprise Alameda’s public art collection. The website is expected to go live in early 2023.