THIRD REVISION OF
EXHIBIT A
SCOPE OF WORK, BUDGET AND METRICS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno Small Business Facade Improvement Grant Program for District 1 and District 4 (District 1/District 4 Program) provides $1,000,000 for facade improvements of buildings and eligible commercial businesses and/or non-profits located in the City of Fresno within Districts 1 and 4. An additional $400,000 is also allocated for façade improvements for eligible businesses and non-profits in the areas of Chinatown and Downtown (Chinatown/Downtown Program). These programs are designed to fund physical improvements to commercial buildings or business facades visible from public rights-of-way. The intent is to strengthen the economic vitality of Fresno by improving the exterior physical appearances of qualified entities. The appearance of these storefronts is believed to have a significant influence on economic success. By improving their physical appearance, businesses and/or non-profits will have a much greater potential for attracting and retaining customers. Both programs shall be funded by the General Fund.
DISTRICT 1/DISTRICT 4 PROGRAM:
Funding of individual façade improvement projects will be provided for project costs that meet specific criteria. The District 1/District 4 Program provides for funding to an approved applicant of 100% of the costs actually paid for certain façade improvements identified in the program with a maximum reimbursement of up to $25,000 for single storefront properties and up to $50,000 for properties with multiple storefronts in District 1 and a maximum reimbursement of up to $40,000 for single storefront properties and up to $75,000 for properties with multiple storefronts in District 4. Only exterior renovations of existing businesses and non-profits qualify. The funding will be split equally between Districts 1 and 4; of the $450,000 allocated to District 4; up to $100,000 shall be prioritized for non-profits.
CHINATOWN/DOWNTOWN PROGRAM:
The Chinatown/Downtown Program offers approved applicants in the Chinatown and Downtown areas funding of up to $20,000 for specific façade improvements. Approved applicants must provide a 25% match of the total approved grant amount. Only exterior renovations of existing businesses and non-profits may qualify.
New construction is NOT eligible under either program.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
It is anticipated that the District 1/District 4 Program will provide 25 - 50 façade grants and the Chinatown/Downtown Program will provide 18 façade grants. Both programs are dependent on the number and type of qualified applications that are received and selected for funding. Eligible applicants shall be selected on a first come first serve basis.
BUDGET:
Façade Improvement Grants to Qualified
Businesses
District 1/District 4 Program: $900,000
to be split equally between Districts 1 and 4.
Chinatown/Downtown Program: $360,000
to be granted to businesses located in
Chinatown and Downtown.
Grant Management and Administration
• Marketing
• Overhead
• Staffing
• Other grant management costs
• Application assistance
District 1/District 4 Program: $100,000
Chinatown/Downtown Program: $40,000
TOTAL $1,400,000
PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS AND CRITERIA:
Existing Properties with Single
Storefront
District 1/District 4 Program Maximum
Reimbursement: District 1 $25,000/District 4
$40,000
Chinatown/Downtown Program: up to
$20,000 per business with a required 25%
match.
Existing Properties with Multiple District 1/District 4 Program Maximum Reimbursement: District 1 $50,000/District 4
$75,000
Chinatown/Downtown Program: N/A
Other Criteria
1. Applicant must be physically located and
operating in the City of Fresno in an area
designated on the maps attached (Maps -
Exhibit B).
2. Only EXTERIOR facade renovations of
EXISTING businesses and non-profits
are eligible.
3. All historic properties must comply with
the Secretary of the Interior Standards for
the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures
and receive approval from the City of
Fresno Historic Preservation
Commission.
4. All work must be performed by a verified
licensed contractor with a valid City of
Fresno Business Tax Certificate.
5. Preference will be given to locally owned
and operated applicants.
6. Workforce – eligible applicants will have
fewer than 75 employees.
7. Eligible applicants must have a valid City
of Fresno Business Tax Certificate and
non-profits must provide applicable entity
documents.
8. The following types of businesses are not
eligible to receive grant funds: smoke
shops, cannabis related businesses, liquor
stores, banks, law firms and government
offices.
District 1/District 4 Program Additional
Criteria:
1. Businesses with the boundary of the
Tower District Design Guidelines shall first
obtain approval from the Tower District
Design Review Committee prior to
commencing any façade improvements.
Chinatown/Downtown Program
Additional Criteria:
1. Businesses must be currently in operation
at the qualified location.
2. A 25% match is required. This
requirement can be retroactively fulfilled in
the six (6) months prior to application.
Proper documentation must be provided.
3. Priority to be given to businesses in the
Infill Infrastructure Grant – Catalytics
Qualifying Area (IIGC Project Boundary)
(see map)
Other Eligibility Requirements 1. If a tenant business owner is applying, a signed letter from the building owner
approving the project must be submitted.
2. Proof of appropriate insurance for the
contractor must be provided.
3. Must receive quotes from at least 2-3
potential contractors. Not applicable to the
Chinatown/Downtown Program.
4. Application must be completed and
approved with all proper documentation and
required attachments before work can begin.
5. Businesses that are owned (in whole or
part) by City of Fresno Staff,
Councilmembers, Fresno Area Hispanic
Foundation Staff, or their spouses or
domestic partners are NOT eligible.
TIMELINE
The program timeline will be implemented as follows:
Months 1 - 2
1. FAHF will design the application and all marketing material for the District 1/District 4 Program. They will work with community partners to develop material in the necessary languages including English, Spanish, Hmong and Punjabi. All material will be approved by City of Fresno Staff, in collaboration with District 1 and 4 Staff (for the District 1/District 4 Program), before it is distributed publicly.
2. FAHF will develop a database for the enrollment and tracking of applicants /businesses that participate in the program using a Google sheet in a secure Google Drive
3. A landing page within the FAHF website will be developed to provide additional information and allow potential participants to apply directly online.
4. Once finalized/approved by the City, in collaboration with Districts 1 and 4; FAHF shall begin marketing the District 1/District 4 Program via multiple media outlets including social media and direct door-to-door outreach, which will begin and will continue until December 31, 2024, or all funding is allocated, whichever comes first.
5. FAHF shall schedule workshops and information sessions at various locations through identified corridors in Districts 1 and 4 for the District 1/District 4 Program, as approved by these council districts, to promote the program and answer questions. Not applicable to the Chinatown/Downtown Program.
Month 3 - program end
1. FAHF will design the application and marketing material for the Chinatown/ Downtown Program. FAHF will collaborate with the City of Fresno Economic Development Department to develop and vet materials for approval and distribution.
2. Once all materials for the Chinatown/Downtown Program are finalized and approved by the City, FAHF will launch the marketing plan and begin direct outreach to targeted businesses via door-to-door visits, social media, and phone calls.
3. Applications and documentation will be received and assessed based on the eligibility qualifications above. FAHF must ensure that applications deemed qualified comply with these guidelines before proceeding with a grant.
4. FAHF Staff will track all applicants/applications.
5. Once approved, a portion of the grant amount (up to $12,500 for District 1 and up to $20,000 District 4 for singular storefronts; and $25,000 for District 1 and $37,500 for District 4 for multiple storefronts) will be provided up front to the qualified business and/or non-profits.
6. Recipients located in Chinatown or Downtown, after approval, will receive 50% of the approved grant amount of up to a maximum of $10,000 to begin façade projects.
7. Once the project is completed, and proof of all work and costs is submitted, the remainder of the grant funds will be provided to the applicant.
8. Marketing and technical assistance for the District 1/District 4 Program may be subcontracted to partner organizations as needed in an effort to effectively market to and assist qualified businesses in Fresno, only upon prior written approval of City. Not applicable to the Chinatown/Downtown Program.
PROJECT REPORTING AND METRICS
District 1/District 4 Program
FAHF will keep track of the following program metrics and will provide the City of Fresno and Districts 1 and 4 with reports as needed showing, at a minimum, the following:
a. Number of small businesses reached.
b. Number of applications received and status of each.
c. Names and relevant information (address, ownership info, Council District and demographic information) for each business that submits an application (funded AND not funded).
d. Detailed information on businesses that have been awarded including reimbursements received/due, work done or planned, before and after photos, demographic information, address, ownership info, Council District... etc. e. Number of applicants/businesses that accessed loan funds from FAHF to cover additional costs of facade improvements.
f. Number of one-on-one consultation hours provided.
g. Number of businesses that received technical assistance. h. Information on outreach methods used.
i. Industries of businesses awarded.
j. Number of applicants/businesses that have received reimbursements from the City of Fresno and corresponding dollar amounts/amounts due. k. Status of applicants'/businesses' facade improvement projects. l. Any other information deemed necessary by the City of Fresno.
FAHF will track the processes within their management system and provide monthly updates to staff.
Chinatown/Downtown Program
FAHF will keep track of the following program metrics and will provide the City of Fresno for the Chinatown and Downtown Program:
a. Number of small businesses reached.
b. Number of applications received and status of each.
c. Names and relevant information (address, ownership info, Council District, and demographic information) for each business that applies (funded AND not funded).
d. Number of applicants/businesses that accessed loan funds from FAHF to cover additional costs of facade improvements or 25% match. e. Number of businesses that received technical assistance. f. Information on outreach methods used.
g. Industries of businesses awarded.
h. Number of applicants/businesses that have received reimbursements from the City of Fresno and corresponding dollar amounts/amounts due. i. Status of applicants'/businesses' facade improvement projects.
Proof of 25% grant match fulfillment.
FAHF will track the processes within their management system and provide monthly updates to staff.
PROGRAM REPORTING
All program reporting will be separate and specific to either the District 1/District 4 or the Chinatown /Downtown portion of the funding. FAHF will provide Quarterly and Final reports for each specific areas of influence.
Quarterly Reports - will be required on the dates listed below and will include required narrative, program metrics and expenses to date. A quarterly reporting template will be provided. Quarterly reporting will be required if project is operational during the performance period.
Final Annual Reports - will be required on the dates below and are not dependent on when your project started. A final/annual reporting template will be provided. Annual reporting will be required if project is operational during the performance period. If the project is operational for more than one year, an annual report and final annual report will be required. Same reporting template will be used.
District 1/District 4 Program
Performance Period Quarterly Report Due
Grant Execution - 10/31/2023 11/16/2023
11/1/2023 - 1/31/2024 2/15/2024
2/1/2024 - 4/30/2024 5/15/2024
5/1/2024-7 /31/2024 8/15/2024
8/1/2024 – 10/31/2024 11/15/2024
Performance Period Final/Annual Report Due
Grant Execution – Program Completion 1/15/2025
Chinatown/Downtown Program
Performance Period Quarterly Report Due
Grant Execution – 12/31/2024 1/15/2025
1/1/2025 – 3/31/2025 4/15/2025
4/1/2025 – 6/30/2025 7/15/2025
7/1/2025 – 9/30/2025 10/15/2025
Performance Period Final/Annual Report Due
Program Execution – Program
Completion
12/15/2025
In order to disburse additional funding, an audit will be done to show the progress of the programs.
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IIGC Priority Area
Qualified Area
City Limits
±
Chinatown/Downtown Façade Grant
Program Qualified Area Map
Updated: 8/26/2024File Path: ISD-GIS/GIS Projects/Econ Dev/QualifiedCensusTracts_OpportunityZones/QualifiedCensusTracts_OpportunityZones