City of Fort Bragg Business Resources
West Business Development Center Resources. Since 1988, the team at West Center has served our business community – educating and advocating for small businesses so that local entrepreneurs receive the information they need to launch and expand their business. No cost advising is confidential and includes loan/grant assistance, HR, and marketing. Workshops and Webinars are offered on a wide range of topics.
Contact West Center: www.westcenter.org or 707-964-7571 Business Loan Programs. The City administers low interest and forgivable loans through the State Community Development Block Grant Program. Business must be located in Fort Bragg city limits.
Contact Lacy Peterson: 707-961-2825 x108 or [email protected] Limited Term Permit for Special Events. A Limited Term Permit allows shortterm activities for events like arts & crafts exhibits, fairs, festivals, parades.
Team up with a local organization! Fees waived for non-profits.
Contact Community Development: 707-961-2823 x115 or [email protected] City Facility Use. Town Hall, located at 363 N Main Street, is available to rent when not in use by the City. The gymnasium adjacent to City Hall in the old Rec Center is also available to rent (fee reduced for non-profits – one free rental per month for community meeting).
Contact Amber Weaver: 707-961-2827 x109 or [email protected] Flowerpots. Property owners and businesses are allowed to place flowerpots on downtown sidewalks or hang flower baskets, with City approval (Main Street requires Caltrans encroachment permit). No associated fees.
Contact Community Development Dept: 707-961-2827 x111
Outdoor Sidewalk Display. Businesses are permitted to display merchandise on downtown sidewalks, with City approval (Main Street requires Caltrans encroachment permit). No associated fees.
Contact Community Development Dept: 707-961-2827 x111
Street Furniture. Property owners and businesses are allowed to installstreet furniture on sidewalks, with City approval (Main Street requires Caltrans encroachment permit). Insurance required.
Contact Community Development Dept: 707-961-2827 x111
COVID-19 Temporary Waivers. The City is authorizing temporary waivers of certain regulations to facilitate business operations affected by the pandemic. Examples include: outdoor seating, additional flags/signage, or drive-thru events.
Contact Sarah McCormick: 707-961-2827 x113 or [email protected] Please Join Us!
September 11th
9am – 11am
Come Meet Fellow
Merchants, Businesses
and Property Owners!
Learn About
Works in Progress!
Directional Signage &
Wayfinding Concepts;
Walking Tours;
Murals & Public Art!
Share Your Ideas!
Join a Committee!
& Meet the
West Center Team!
Town Hall
363 N Main Street
Coffee & Pastries Provided
Central Business District Revitalization Toolkit
Code Enforcement
Outreach materials will be delivered to all property owners and businesses to: 1) Bring awareness about City Council’s renewed focus and investment of resources to support the Central Business District; 2) Share City regulations pertaining to use of downtown properties and expectations for maintenance; 3) Provide individual property assessments with details pertaining to compliance with City regulations; 4) Require abatement of nuisances and/or a detailed action plan, including timeline, to achieve compliance.
Allowable Land Uses Reconsider allowed land uses in the Central Business District. Traditional retail is shifting to a more “experiential” model.
Public Gathering Space The City is currently applying for State Park Recreational Funds to rehabilitate the old Recreation Center, located adjacent to City Hall.
Public Restrooms
at Town Hall City has funds set aside and is currently identifying staff to oversee the project.
Walking Tours
Sub-committee has been formed to develop a series of walking tours to encourage pedestrian activity downtown. Many fantastic themes are in development, to be offered in many formats - both self-guided and guided tours, as well as both print and digital.
Public Art Development of a program to encourage installation of public art (empty storefronts?). A subcommittee for this effort has yet to be identified.
Business Directory &
Directional Signage
A sub-committee has been formed to strategize wayfinding signage in the Central Business District to encourage pedestrian activity. Discussions involve branding and place making.
Street Landscaping
Hanging flower baskets, potted plants and tree lined streets add color, vibrancy and a sense of community pride. Collaborate with Bee City to create a pollinator friendly planting list and to develop a public program for tree dedications.
Bollards to Block
Vehicular Traffic for
Special Events
Bollards such as those on the 400 block of Franklin Street are currently budgeted and included as part of a larger street striping project for FY21/22. Bollard locations are focused on downtown area to facilitate closing streets to vehicular traffic for special events.
Facilitate Downtown
Merchant & Property
Owner Conversation
With the support of the West Business Development Center Team, the City will host ongoing Town Hall open houses as a business outreach strategy. Kick-off meeting with coffee and pastries scheduled Saturday, September 11, 2021.
Flags Flags without commercial messages, that are 12 square feet or less, and do not interfere with pedestrian access or vehicular traffic, are exempt from a sign permit.
Off-Street Parking
Waiver Since 2012 City Council has waived off-street parking requirements and in-lieu fees.
Resources to be Considered by City Council
Water Capacity Fee Waiver Program. In April 2021, the Finance & Administration Committee considered waiving water capacity fees for new and expanding businesses in the Central Business District for three years in order to encourage more restaurants and eateries. This recommendation is scheduled for Council consideration in September 2021.
Façade Improvement Program. Council discussed establishing a Façade Improvement Fund to contribute, up to $5,000 for façade improvement projects. Details of the program have yet to be established. This item is anticipated to be brought before Council for consideration in September.
CBD Tree Well Adoption Program. More trees! Trees are good for the environment, improving air quality, supporting wildlife, and capturing sediment and pollutants that could flow into creeks, rivers and ocean. Trees have also been shown to reduce driving speeds, which increases safety, and... well, they are beautiful! This item is not scheduled for Council consideration at this time.
□ Paul Bunyan Days
□ Holiday Lights Parade
□ Weekly Farmers’ Market
□ Chalk Festival
□ Day of the Dead
□ Vintage Car Show
□ Fourth of July Fireworks
□ First Friday Art Walk
□ Restaurant Week
□ Music
□ Movies
□ Rain Festival
Business Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Name: ___________________ Phone: ____________________ Email: _____________________________ Preferred method of contact: □ Phone □ Text □ Email
• Are you interested in being interviewed for a feature story or newsletter highlight? • Do you have an active: Website? □Yes □No Instagram? □Yes □No Facebook? □Yes □No • Do you offer: Online sales? □Yes □No Do you offer: Gift Certificates? □Yes □No • Are you interested in participating in an online Holiday Gift Guide this year? □Yes □No □Possibly Organizing events downtown is an effective way to build community, increase visitation and foot traffic, and create an identity unique to Fort Bragg. Events can be combined, and are strengthened when collaborative; if scheduled regularly, events help create a dedicated downtown following.
Check the events you support as a regular downtown event (and add more!) Additional Ideas: ____________________________________________________________________________ Are you interested in participating and/or learning more about any of the following subcommittees and action groups?
Prime Central Business District shopping hours are often weekends.
Does your business offer both Saturday and Sunday hours? ____ Yes _____ No If yes, what are your weekend hours? Saturday Hours: ___________ Sunday Hours: ____________ If not, would you be willing to participate in a trial to determine if offering weekend hours strengthens the downtown market? ____ Yes ____ No ____ Possibly
Comments: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Visit Fort Bragg Subcommittees:
□ Walking Tours
□ Murals and Public Art
□ Special Events
□ Adopt-A-Street Downtown Clean-Up
□ West Business Development Center Resources
□ Chamber of Commerce Activities
□ Bee City, USA Committee
Perhaps you’re interested in initiating a new commimttee or have ideas to support a vibrant downtown… Please share! What does CBD revitalization look like to you? How can your business be supported? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ ___ ______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____ _______ ___________________________________________________________________