On February 18, City of Cupertino attended the State of the Valley Conference that took place at Stanford University. The annual event hosted by Joint Venture Silicon Valley brings many citizens, stakeholders, leaders, and various groups of people together to discuss the Valley's challenges and rising opportunities. These discussions were supported by the Silicon Valley Index, a tool that measures the strength of our economy and the health of our community, highlighting challenges and providing insight for decision making. 

Download the Silicon Valley Index to access the data and charts to explore the region's trends, and get comprehensive information about Silicon Valley’s economic and community health.

The County of Santa Clara and the Enterprise Foundation are engaging with eligible businesses and community partners to assist microbusinesses with grant applications. The program is expected to provide grant relief to at least 875 microbusinesses in two phases. This first phase will award 500 grants to qualified businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. The second phase, which will follow, will remain open for at least 45 days and all remaining grants will be awarded on a lottery system.

Small Businesses can now apply for Microbusiness Grants on an online portal. Local eligible businesses can apply for grants of $2,500 each. Online application is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. For more information, please see the Santa Clara County Press Release and grant application portal.

The  California Office of the Small Business Advocate  (CalOSBA) announced grant awards for assistance and grantmaking partners of the California Dream Fund Program. The California Dream Fund Program is a one-time $35 Million grant program that will provide microgrants to aid entrepreneurship and small business creation in California. 

To qualify for the Dream Fund program, small startup businesses must complete a training and consulting program with one of seventeen technical assistance centers selected from CalOSBA’s Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP) network. Businesses that complete the program and qualify for the grant will be eligible to receive a microgrant of up to $10,000.

To learn more, click here. 

Anjali Kausar, President and CEO of the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, retired from the Chamber on April 15 after almost a decade leading the organization through a period of significant transition and growth. Rick Kitson has been unanimously named as the interim CEO by the Chamber Board. We wish Anjali luck as she embarks on the next chapter of her career! 

Can your business live without single-use disposable plastics? The City of Cupertino has drafted an ordinance that will reduce the use of single-use disposable plastic food service ware (such as cold drink cups, utensils, and containers) by restaurants and other food facilities. If you have thoughts, there is still time to have your opinion heard! Cupertino City Council will be hearing this item on May 3 and the public is welcome to attend.

For more information about the draft ordinance and to see other ways to share your opinions, visit engagecupertino.org/single-use-plastics.

Do the light fixtures at your business need an upgrade? Improving the light fixtures for your business will not only help protect the environment and eliminate energy waste, but can also help significantly reduce your energy bills through higher-quality, better designed lighting. On April 6, 2021, Cupertino City Council adopted an ordinance with new rules to regulate design and construction in all zoning districts to enhance bird-safety and reduce light pollution. While all businesses must comply with the ordinance requirements if replacing light fixtures, the City strongly encourages all businesses to consider replacing existing light fixtures. More information about the ordinance can be found here.  Examples of dark sky compliant lighting are listed here. For more information and resources please visit the International Dark Sky Association or contact the Planning Department for guidance at planning@cupertino.org.

Want to know more about the development activity happening in Cupertino? You can get details on projects by accessing the Development Activity Reports updated every month.