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City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: December 14, 2020 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:20-568 CONSENT CALENDAR <br />Agenda Number:8.O. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Jeff Kay <br />City Manager <br />BY:Tom Liao <br />Community Development Director <br />FINANCE REVIEW:Susan Hsieh <br />Finance Director <br />TITLE:Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution Authorizing the <br />Transfer to Alameda County of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) <br />of Budgeted Business Incentive Funds to be Administered as Small Business <br />Grants to San Leandro Businesses as Part of the County of Alameda CARES <br />Act Grant Program During the COVID-19 Pandemic <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Staff recommends that the City of San Leandro City Council adopt a Resolution authorizing transfer to <br />Alameda County of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) of budgeted business incentive funds <br />to be administered as small business grants to San Leandro businesses as part of the County of <br />Alameda CARES Act Grant Program. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Following the initiation of the Alameda County Shelter-in-Place Order (Order) on March 17, 2020, many <br />San Leandro businesses, including specialty retail, restaurants, personal services (hair, nails, etc.), and <br />health and fitness businesses were required to close, or limited to pick up service only, in order to <br />protect employees and customers and limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Orders’ restrictions <br />have devastated local businesses, particularly small service, food, and other direct customer serving <br />businesses. Even as certain businesses have been permitted to reopen, small businesses continue to <br />suffer from reduced customer traffic due to work from home arrangements and customers’ reluctance <br />for person-to-person contact. With reduced sales, increased costs of operations due to required <br />personal protective equipment and physical protective measures, and the cost of ongoing and past due <br />rent, businesses continue to have significant financial challenges operating during the pandemic. <br />In recognition of the continued financial stress on small businesses, the Alameda County Board of <br />Supervisors authorized the implementation of the Alameda County CARES Grant Program on <br />November 10, 2020. The Alameda County CARES Grant Program is funded by the federal Coronavirus <br />Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act funds. The program will provide grants of up to <br />$5,000 to small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. <br />Alameda County has allocated $5,000,000 to businesses in incorporated cities in Alameda County, and <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 12/9/2020 <br />210