Committee forwards $2 million SoMA stabilization fund awards to nonprofits with accountability measures

The Budget & Finance Committee voted to forward a resolution authorizing the Mayors Office of Housing and Community Development to expend $2,000,000 from the SoMA Community Stabilization Fund for capital projects, including acquisition and renovations intended to stabilize community‑based organizations in the South of Market neighborhood.

Claudine Rosario, grant coordinator at MOHCD, said the funds come from development fees and a mayoral enhancement and were distributed via two RFPs. The committee record shows awards and recommendations to Cultivate Labs ($200,000 for electrical and operational upgrades), United Players (roughly $1,115,470 from the SoMA fund plus a $2,000,000 mayoral enhancement toward acquisition at 1044 Howard), and Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (safety and accessibility upgrades), plus a $500,000 business incubator design award.

The BLA recommended approval with additional accountability steps: provide a current appraisal, an updated renovation budget (estimated renovation cost cited at $10,000,000 for the acquisition at 1044 Howard), and record a declaration of restrictions on any city funds to ensure community‑serving uses. Supervisors asked MOHCD to confirm that awardees are in good standing as nonprofits; staff agreed to provide confirmation before the full Board vote.

One remote caller criticized the nonprofit selection process and asked for greater transparency; MOHCD said it would email confirmations about nonprofit standing prior to the Board vote. The committee forwarded the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation and agreed to the BLAs reporting conditions.