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Report regarding a resolution accepting a $10,000 grant from Genentech towards the 2025 South San Francisco Lunar New Year Night Market, and approving Budget Amendment Number 25.034 appropriating the funds. (Ernesto Lucero, Economic Development Manager)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution accepting a $10,000 grant from Genentech, approving Budget Amendment Number 25.034 appropriating the funds.
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BACKGROUND
Downtown revitalization efforts continue to be a high priority focus for Economic and Community Development Department (ECD) staff. In early 2024, significant community engagement was underway with local downtown stakeholders to understand how additional foot traffic could be impactful to local merchants. The Leadership Council of San Mateo County Emerging Leaders Cohort (Leadership Council) allocated a team of county-wide emerging leaders to help staff with outreach to downtown on ways to support increased downtown revitalization opportunities. The group conducted one-on-one business outreach walks along Grand, Baden, and Linden Avenues to hear directly from local merchants. The major themes they heard were related to capitalizing on new residents that recently moved downtown and ways to partner with local restaurants in need of an additional customer base. Through this engagement, the team focused on ways to activate the City-owned Breezeway property, which sits adjacent to the Miller Parking Garage and the Economic Advancement Center at 366 Grand Avenue. Ultimately, the team focused on the development of a pilot early evening event in the Breezeway with the goal of bringing biotech workers downtown after hours, supporting local restaurants, and activating the underutilized Breezeway space.
The project concept was received by staff with the goal of implementing it when funds became available. Staff applied to the Genentech South San Francisco Civic Fund and has since been awarded $10,000 to implement a new South San Francisco Lunar New Year Night Market which will take place on February 7, 2025, in the Breezeway. More information about this event can be found at www.ssf.net <http://www.ssf.net> as details develop.
DISCUSSION
The Genentech South San Francisco Civic Fund annually issues a call for applications to projects and programs that have an impact within the South San Francisco community. As part of the commitment of Genentech to the local community, the fund is an annual grant opportunity intended to invest in local organizations and programs that serve South San Francisco, and events that enhance pride and community from its residents. Grant awards range between $5,000 and $25,000 per request.
Qualified grant awardees must meet the following criterion:
• The project or program must demonstrate that it serves South San Francisco residents;
• The project, program, or event must take place in South San Francisco, or reasonably accessible to South San Francisco residents such as other communities within North San Mateo County;
• The request is within $5,000 to $25,0000; and
• The organization must be recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt, public charity under sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code and be located in the United States; or be a US governmental organization (such as public schools, public colleges and universities, public hospitals and federally recognized Indian tribal governments), or local government.
The South San Francisco Lunar New Year Night Market will feature cultural and food vendors that celebrate the Lunar New Year which include representation from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, and Japanese vendors. Staff are engaged with OMG Entertainment as the event planner. OMG Entertainment held a success inaugural Pride Celebration in June of 2024 in South San Francisco, and puts on the annual Lunar New Year Festival in Millbrae which will take place again on Saturday and Sunday, January 25 and 26 later this month.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund by accepting the grant funds.
CONCLUSION
This item supports one additional item staff is implementing to bring revitalization efforts downtown. Going forward if successful, this type of event could potentially be funded through a business improvement district.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution accepting and appropriating a grant in the amount of $10,000 from Genentech towards the 2025 South San Francisco Lunar New Year Night Market, and approving Budget Amendment Number 25.034, appropriating the funds.