City accepts $3.5 million state grant to promote live music and support API neighborhood recovery

The Budget & Finance Committee on May 11 voted to forward a retroactive $3.5 million state grant to the full Board to support two economic recovery initiatives: SF Live, a campaign to promote San Francisco’s live music and entertainment sector, and an API Neighborhood Commercial Recovery Strategy to support API-owned small businesses and commercial corridors.

Ben Van Houten of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) described SF Live as a coordinated series of live performances, stipends for participating venues, brand development and a proposed music week. The API strategy includes culturally centered, in-language technical assistance, ADA small business compliance help, and funding for cultural events to attract customers back to neighborhood corridors. Van Houten said partners will be selected through RFPs; the API RFP was open at the time of the committee meeting and the SF Live procurement had closed.

Supervisor Ashita Safaie asked whether OEWD planned to prioritize existing local producers or require RFP respondents to coordinate with neighborhood vendors and small businesses. Van Houten said the RFPs included experience producing events in San Francisco and that the program design will emphasize community integration; he acknowledged feedback to prioritize neighborhood vendors.

The committee voted unanimously to forward the item with a positive recommendation. OEWD said no grant funds had been spent and awards were expected to be in place to begin programming in July.