City staff brief commission on grants, SB bills and shared‑spaces deadlines

Ben Van Houten of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development briefed the commission on federal, state and local measures intended to support nightlife and hospitality businesses.

Van Houten said the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) remains undersupported nationally and that recent survey data shows many small independent restaurants that did not receive RRF grants remain at high risk. He noted shuttered‑venues and music‑venue relief programs have had different distribution outcomes and that granular local data could help understand which businesses accessed federal support.

On state legislation, Van Houten identified several bills under consideration: SB 980 (liquor license application modernization), SB 846 (to expand delivery and to‑go alcohol sales) and SB 793 (music venue liquor license and entertainment zone legislation). He also noted a new requirement that managers and servers at on‑sale establishments complete RBS (responsible beverage service) training by Aug. 31.

Locally, Van Houten highlighted SF Shines technical assistance (design services grant) and an upcoming SF Shines construction fund; he encouraged businesses to apply for Shared Spaces Equity Grants (up to $2,500) and said the application deadline is April 30. He said the Board of Supervisors unanimously extended the pandemic shared‑spaces program and waived permit fees through March 2023; he reminded operators the permanent shared‑spaces application deadline is Nov. 1, 2022.

Van Houten told commissioners he could pull data on federal grant distributions to understand local relief outcomes and offered to present findings at the commission retreat.