Committee moves $400,000 re‑appropriation to create new Legacy Business Grant program

The Budget & Finance Committee on Oct. 6 voted to forward an ordinance to the full Board to reappropriate $400,000 originally placed in the Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund into a new account administered by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) and the Office of Small Business so the city can operate a redesigned Legacy Business Grant program.

OEWD staff explained that the current grant under the historic preservation fund bases award amounts on full‑time equivalents (FTEs), which produces inequitable small awards to micro and small businesses that lost staff during the pandemic. The proposed Legacy Business Grant would be administered outside the charter fund and distribute awards by category (nonprofit vs. for‑profit, owner vs. renter) using a simple formula so that smaller businesses receive meaningful grants. Staff provided examples showing the new structure would raise awards for struggling small renters.

City Attorney guidance, noted staff, prevents creating a new program inside the charter‑protected Legacy Business Historic Preservation Fund, so the ordinance de‑appropriates the $400,000 and re‑appropriates it to OEWD to fund the new program. The Small Business Commission recommended approval and the BLA recommended the committee approve the transfer.

Supervisors praised the approach and asked for program follow‑up; the committee voted to move the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation.