Dublin Council Approves $1M Small Business Grant Program

DUBLIN, CA — The Dublin City Council voted last week to expand its repertoire of resources for struggling small businesses.

The newly established $1 million COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Grant Program seeks to reimburse businesses for up to $10,000 in pandemic-related expenses. That could cover 100 $10,000 loans, but City Manager Linda Smith said in a report to the council that the city anticipates more businesses will apply for assistance.

Here's what businesses may request:

• $10,000 for weather protection/visibility (e.g. tents, heaters, canopies)
• $10,000 for interior alterations (e.g. acrylic partitions, air purifiers)
• $10,000 for improvements for a take-out window
• $5,000 for digital technology equipment or services (e.g. online or contactless payment, website creation)
• $5,000 for personal protective equipment, or sanitation and health and safety equipment benefitting staff
• $5,000 for marketing (e.g. signs, printed materials, social media)

Expenses from March 16 and onward may be reimbursed. Receipts are necessary.

Eligible businesses will be independent, brick-and-mortar businesses in the retail, restaurant, personal service, fitness and family entertainment industries — not chains, corporately held businesses, nonprofits, home-based businesses, hotels or financial institutions. Businesses should hold a city business license, be in good standing with the city and adhere to health orders, among other requirements.

The program has been funded with $1 million from the city's general fund reserves, Smith said.

The council approved the program at its meeting last Tuesday, a day after the council decided during a special meeting to put $200,000 toward Alameda County's new matching grant program for small businesses. That means Dublin's small businesses could receive up to $400,000 to help them address impacts of the coronavirus pandemic through the county's program.

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors used $5 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to create a small business grant program, and another $3 million in CARES Act funding was put toward a matching grant program to serve incorporated cities, according to a report from City Manager Linda Smith.

Previously, the council had appropriated some $987,000 toward the Dublin Small Business Emergency Microloan Program, including $467,000 in funding from the CARES Act. About $76,000 of the allocated funds were not used and will be reallocated toward the county's matching grant program.