County accepts 2025 ARPA report; highlights incubator for entrepreneurs and START anti‑retail‑theft program

San Joaquin County accepted its 2025 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) state and local fiscal recovery funds report, which inventory expenditures and performance outcomes tied to pandemic recovery. County staff reported the county received $148 million in SLFRF funds and has spent about $88 million as of June 30, 2025; remaining funds must be obligated according to federal rules and timelines.

Assistant County Administrator Brandy Hopkins outlined priorities and reported two highlighted programs. The incubator program, funded at $600,000 and run in partnership with the San Joaquin Small Business Development Center, provides workshops, prototyping support and technical assistance to entrepreneurs. "We're currently 25% through our two‑year program with a current dedicated core group of 56 entrepreneurs...we should have no problem reaching our goal of 200 businesses by the end of this ARPA program," incubator lead Les Fong told the board.

County staff also described the START program (Standing Together Against Retail Theft), a $1.5 million initiative that provides a secure app and camera grant support to merchants to report incidents and aid law enforcement investigations. START coordinators said the app generated over 500 incident reports, supported nearly 200 merchant accounts and delivered training and community outreach; District Attorney Ron Freitas noted the program has helped prosecute repeat offenders.

The board voted to accept the ARPA report and continue monitoring program outcomes and compliance. Staff noted remaining ARPA funds must be obligated by 2026 and said they will continue community outreach and provide regular reporting on outcomes.