AB 1669

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law establishes the California Business Investment Service Program within the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) for the purpose of serving employers, corporate executives, business owners, investors, and site location consultants who are considering California for business investment and expansion. Existing law provides that the program is under the authority of the director, who is required, among other things, to work cooperatively with local, regional, federal, and other state public and private marketing institutions, economic developers, workforce training partners, and trade organizations in attracting, retaining, and helping businesses and investments grow and be successful in California. This bill, upon appropriation by the Legislature, would establish the California Historically Significant District Program for the purpose of revitalizing and maintaining historically and culturally significant commercial corridors throughout the state by funding technical assistance, training, and other activities that increase the capacity of revitalization entities to provide business assistance programs and services that meet the unique needs of small businesses that operate within historic commercial districts. The bill would provide that the program be administered by the California Business Investment Service Unit within GO-Biz, in consultation with the Community and Placed-Based Solutions Unit. The bill would require the program to award grants to eligible grantees, as defined, who submit an application meeting certain requirements, including, among other things, documentation that the applicant has the experience and capacity to provide technical assistance, training, and other services that increase the capacity of revitalization entities to use place-based tools to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem to meet the needs of small businesses that operate within historic districts. The bill would require training and education topics and uses of the grant by the grantee to include, but not be limited to, among other things, onsite assessment and training of revitalization entities to develop capacity for implementation of commercial district revitalization plans. The bill would require that grant funds be used by the grantee consistent with certain requirements, including that at least 40% of the total amount of the grant be used by the grantee to provide capacity-building programs and services to eligible historic commercial corridor revitalization entities throughout the state, as specified. The bill would require a grantee, as a condition of receiving the grant, to report on the performance annually. The bill would require that this reporting include, among other things, outcomes from the training and technical assistance provided, including, among other things, the number of training events. The bill would also require a subgrantee to report on program performance quarterly and annually. The bill would require this reporting to include, but not be limited to, quarterly outcomes from the subgrants provided, including, among other things, the number of businesses reached in person. This bill would require a grantee, 6 months following the completion of the grant, to submit a final outcomes report which includes, among other things, a detailed narrative description of how the funds awarded were used to expand the capacity of the statewide network of historic commercial corridor revitalization entities and to help underserved business owners and entrepreneurs within those districts to adapt new, place-based business strategies. This bill would require a grantee and any subgrantee to provide matching funds of at least one dollar for each dollar of state funds received. The bill would authorize up to 50% of the match to be in the form of in-kind services or resources. The bill would require that grant funding be available to the grantee for a 3-year period. The bill would authorize up to 5% of any program appropriation to be used by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development for administrative costs, including reporting. The bill would authorize up to 5% of a grant to be used by the grantee for administrative costs related to the organization of the training, technical assistance, and program delivery, including travel and technology. The bill would authorize the Director of GO-Biz to assign one or more of the duties or authorities provided by this bill to another unit within the office or another state agency. This bill would also make related findings and declarations.