CommunityDevelopment Highlights 2012 0417

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The Industrial Competitiveness Program is designed to stimulate investment in energy efficiency projects in order to increase the economic viability of industrial activity in the City by achieving energy cost reductions. The program also serves to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result from industrial processes and facility operations, furthering an adopted City goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the City to 25% below 2005 levels by 2020. The program provides incentives to improve energy efficiency by providing access to capital through a one -year forgivable loan of up to $50,000. The following businesses were assisted by these programs since 2008: 433 Estudillo Bal Theater Bayfab Metals Best Building Bob Jones building DC Dance Englander Ghirardelli Glesby Wholesale Los Pericos Luke's Grill Mi Rancho Mike's Pet & Feed Ridge Foundry Prime Source Scandic Springs Scribner Center Senna Properties Sergio's Stepping Stones Tapioca Express Tsciro Sushi Whitehouse Catering The amount spent on these programs follows: An additional incentive program staff is exploring as part of the Commercial Broadband Strategy is a Broadband Connection Program. The goal of the program would be to assist businesses with the one -time costs to connect to a service provider's network. Although the service providers sometimes share in these costs, the expense can still reach the tens of thousands for a business. A City subsidy for qualifying broadband connections would provide a significant benefit for businesses that might not otherwise be able to access industrial grade service. Additionally, over time, facilitating system expansions will strengthen the City's digital infrastructure and increase the share of our building stock that has access to quality broadband. An incentive for broadband connections would need to be carrier- neutral, supporting connections to any viable commercial carrier or the Lit San Leandro fiber network. Funding provisions could be similar to existing incentive programs (a matching reimbursable contribution of up to $50,000) although a lower funding cap might also be viable. Based on the results of the Commercial Broadband Strategy and direction from the Community Development Committee, staff will bring Broadband Connection Program parameters to the Committee for consideration in the upcoming months. Fagade Industrial Improvement Competitiveness 2008 $67,000 2009 228,000 2010 54,000 4,000 2011 212,000 22,000 4 -year Total 561,000 $26,000 Annual Average $140,000 n/a An additional incentive program staff is exploring as part of the Commercial Broadband Strategy is a Broadband Connection Program. The goal of the program would be to assist businesses with the one -time costs to connect to a service provider's network. Although the service providers sometimes share in these costs, the expense can still reach the tens of thousands for a business. A City subsidy for qualifying broadband connections would provide a significant benefit for businesses that might not otherwise be able to access industrial grade service. Additionally, over time, facilitating system expansions will strengthen the City's digital infrastructure and increase the share of our building stock that has access to quality broadband. An incentive for broadband connections would need to be carrier- neutral, supporting connections to any viable commercial carrier or the Lit San Leandro fiber network. Funding provisions could be similar to existing incentive programs (a matching reimbursable contribution of up to $50,000) although a lower funding cap might also be viable. Based on the results of the Commercial Broadband Strategy and direction from the Community Development Committee, staff will bring Broadband Connection Program parameters to the Committee for consideration in the upcoming months.