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Welcome to the January 2025 Edition of Biz Buzz Newsletter!
Happy New Year! This month’s newsletter highlights a community workshop, as well as local and state opportunities for financial assistance. In this edition:
- Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance Workshop
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Local Funding Opportunities (Limited Period Grant Funding):
- Facade Improvement Grant - Application Period Extended!
- Outdoor Furnishings Grant Program
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State Funding Opportunities:
- California Competes Tax Credit
- CAEATFA Sales Tax Exemption Program
- Resource Spotlight: NorCal SBDC Free Trainings for Small Businesses
Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance Workshop on January 21, 2025
The City of Mountain View is making strides in developing a new ordinance that aims to reduce reliance on drive alone car trips while increasing multimodal transportation options.
City staff will be hosting a community workshop on Tuesday, January 21st, at City Hall, 5:30 – 7:30PM to gather key insights on travel behavior. The goal of the workshop is to engage Mountain View employees and residents to identify common barriers for utilizing sustainable transportation options, as well as assess what mobility strategies would be most helpful for increasing multimodal access.
To help shape this new ordinance, we also invite you to complete this brief travel survey here: www.mountainview.gov/tdmsurvey. We hope to see you at the workshop!
If you have any questions, please contact Ben Pacho (ben.pacho@mountainview.gov). You can also visit the main project website here: Transportation Demand Management (TDM) | Mountain View, CA
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Facade Improvement Grant - Application Period Extended!
The City is extending the application period for the Facade Improvement Grant Program! Businesses or property owners can apply for one of three tiers of matching grant funds ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, as well as an additional opportunity for $2,500 for design services.
The Facade Improvement Grant is reimbursable at 50% of the total project cost, up to the maximum grant amounts:
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Tier 1 - Nonarchitectural improvements ($5,000 maximum grant): Awnings, parapets, new signs, sign removal, and storefront window displays.
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Tier 2 - Painting ($10,000 maximum grant): Exterior painting, murals / art.
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Tier 3 - Architectural improvements ($15,000 maximum grant): Window or door refurbishment / replacement, historic features.
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Additional Opportunity - Architectural / Design Services ($2,500 - no match requirement): Apply to work directly with one of two city-retained architects, or request a reimbursable grant to work with an architect of your choice.
Learn more about the Facade Improvement Grant Program.
Questions? Reach out to us at econ.dev@mountainview.gov to set up a meeting.
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Outdoor Furnishings Grant Program
The Small Business Outdoor Furnishings Grant was created in 2023 to support local businesses impacted by COVID-19. The City allocated $200,000 to the grant program, providing 40 eligible businesses with onetime grants of $5,000 for the purchase of outdoor furnishings.
Eligible purchases can include tables, chairs, heaters, umbrellas, and planters. If you're interested in applying, please email econ.dev@mountainview.gov for an application.
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CAEATFA's Sales and Use Tax Exemption Program
Save on Equipment Costs with CAEATFA's Sales and Use Tax Exemption
The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA) offers a Sales and Use Tax Exclusion (STE) Program for businesses in advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, and recycling. This program provides tax savings on qualified equipment purchases, supporting clean energy goals while reducing upfront costs.
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Who’s Eligible: Manufacturers of advanced transportation, renewable energy, or recycling technologies.
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What Qualifies: Machinery, equipment, and IT used in manufacturing processes.
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Key Details: $100M available annually; individual awards capped at $10M.
The first-round application deadline is January 30. Learn more and apply at CAEATFA’s website.
California Competes Tax Credit
Apply by January 27, 2025
The California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) is an income tax credit available to businesses aiming to locate, stay, or expand in California. For the fiscal year 2024-2025, over $644 million is allocated for this program.
Key Details:
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Application Period: January 6, 2025 – January 27, 2025.
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Eligibility: Businesses of any industry, size, or location within California.
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Evaluation Criteria: Factors include the number of jobs created or retained, compensation levels, amount of investment, and the strategic importance of the project to the state or region.
To apply or learn more, visit the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) website.
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