ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
July 14, 2026
3:30-5:00 PM
City Hall – Conference Room 1
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, California
Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín
Councilmember James Kyriaco
Robert Nisbet, City Manager
Jaime Valdez, Assistant City Manager
Shannon Kirn, Assistant to the City Manager
Blake Markum, Management Analyst
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AGENDA
I. Public Comment (5 Minutes)
II. Old Town Pride of Place Grant Program End-of-Year Reports (15 Minutes) III. Economic Development Strategic Plan Progress Report (20 Minutes) IV. FY 2026/27 Economic Development Strategic Plan Initiatives (40 Minutes) V. Next Committee Meeting – October 13, 2026 at 3:30pm (5 Minutes)
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 14, 2026
TO: Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee FROM: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
CONTACT: Shannon Kirn, Assistant to the City Manager
Blake Markum, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: July 14, 2026, Economic Development & Revitalization Standing Committee Meeting
ITEM I. Public Comment (5 Minutes)
ITEM II. Old Town Pride of Place Grant Program End-of-Year Reports (15 Minutes)
RECOMMENDATION
Receive the Old Town Pride of Place Grant Program End-of-Year Reports.
BACKGROUND
On May 6, 2025, the City Council awarded the grant funds to the Old Town Pride of Place Grant recipients, which supported community-driven placemaking, beautification, and business activation projects to attract more customers to Old Town. Staff distributed grant funds to 21 of the grant recipients. One of the recipients, The Starfish Connection, declined the grant funding due to a change in its organization and operations.
DISCUSSION
As of July 7, 2026, 15 of the 21 active grant recipients have submitted their required End-ofYear Reports (Reports) in accordance with the Grant Agreement. A high-level summary of the Reports received to date is provided below, and the submitted Reports are included in Attachment 1.
• Avellana Dance Studio LLC ($5,000): Provided free flamenco classes and cultural education to ten youth through the Boys & Girls Club. Students performed at the Goleta Lemon Festival and five additional community events. Grant funding purchased
reusable items, including flamenco shoes, skirts, and castanets, that will continue to support future classes.
• Blue Blossoms ($5,000): Improved its outdoor space to accommodate workshops and private events by adding an outdoor sink, work area, lighting, and privacy fencing. The space has since been used for an open house, two workshops, and a private event. • Buscaron Biometrics ($5,00): Used grant funding to expand marketing efforts and increase awareness of its biometric services. The goal was to attract more customers to Old Town for services such as fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing. • CopyRight SB ($7,500): Launched the "Dine With Us" campaign to encourage residents to visit Old Town restaurants. The campaign included mailing 12,500 postcards, digital promotions, and gift certificate incentives designed to encourage repeat visits to participating businesses.
• CrossFit Santa Barbara (Foster Functional Fitness) ($5,000): Purchased low-impact fitness equipment to expand teen and senior programming, with both classes growing to 8–10 regular participants. CrossFit SB also hosted the Old Town Throwdown competition and a gymnastics seminar that brought visitors from across California to Goleta.
• E Salon ($1,500): Installed new lighting throughout the salon to improve visibility, safety, and the overall customer experience while enhancing the appearance of the storefront. • Goleta Barbers ($20,000): Partnered with neighboring businesses to improve the Hollister and Magnolia storefronts. The project included coordinated signage, exterior painting and repairs, and new lighting to improve visibility and safety. • Liz G Photography ($1,500): Created Google Business View virtual tours for five Old Town businesses: The Edge, Goleta Barbers, Jonesy's Fried Chicken, Los Altos Restaurant, and Mary's Beauty Center. These virtual tours help customers explore businesses online before visiting.
• Old Town Coffee ($5,000): Hosted entrepreneurship discussions for Dos Pueblos High School students, donated coffee to eight local elementary school PTAs throughout the school year, provided space for the Art Walk, and supported the Boys & Girls Club through donations and community partnerships.
• Paperback Alley (Make Books Pop) ($3,250): Installed a new outdoor sign and upgraded its point-of-sale system and credit card equipment to improve operations and increase visibility.
• Paperback Alley (Community Walks) ($4,250): Organized four bilingual community walks that averaged about 80 participants each. The events highlighted local businesses and were estimated to generate an additional $100–$500 in sales per participating merchant during each event.
• Powell Peralta (Skate One) ($5,750): Created Goleta-themed artwork for shirts and stickers, sponsored a local skate competition, provided giveaways and discounts to support community events, and encouraged visitors to explore other Old Town businesses.
• Santa Barbara Aquatics ($3,750): Installed a large mural depicting the Goleta coastline on the wall of its building facing the 7-Eleven parking lot at Hollister Avenue and Nectarine Avenue, and Goleta Valley Paint donated the paint. • Santa Barbara Electronics Supply ($7,500): Cleaned and reopened a previously neglected alley by removing old appliances, fencing, and other obstacles. The project also included resurfacing and restriping the rear parking lot and removing sidewalk trip hazards to improve access for customers.
• The Edge - Salon & Barbershop ($4,500): Expanded its storefront to include a new dance studio, Sas Dance Studio. Grant funding helped pay for flooring, equipment, and marketing to support the new space and bring additional visitors to Old Town.
Two businesses, Carpeteria Carpet One ($15,000) and Elvira’s Photography and Video ($9,500), have requested extensions to complete their projects and submit their Reports.
Carpeteria Carpet One has requested an extension until August 31, 2026, to complete the mural design and installation. The design was reviewed by the Design Review Board on June 9, 2026, which provided comments and feedback on the design and materials. Carpeteria Carpet One is working with local artists to finalize the design and determine the installation approach.
Staff is also working with Elvira’s Photography and Video to establish an updated project timeline; however, a new schedule has not yet been confirmed. The grantee’s encroachment permit for sidewalk use expired on June 30, 2026, and staff administratively extended the permit through January 1, 2027, to allow the project to move forward. Staff has requested additional updates regarding the project schedule and has offered assistant to help facilitate.
The remaining four businesses: CZ Furniture Solutions ($3,500), Island Seed & Feed ($2,750), Latinos Insurance Agency ($1,500), and NQ Nails and Spa Services Inc. ($2,000) have not yet submitted their Reports. Staff have contacted each business to request submission of the required report or, if needed, a request for an extension. The Grant Agreement, each Grantee committed to submitting the Report, and also provides the City with available remedies in the event of noncompliance. Staff will provide a compliance update to the Committee at its next meeting, including any recommended action for grants that remain out of compliance.
Staff also plans to highlight participating businesses and the outcomes of the POP Grant Program in an upcoming Monarch Press article.
ITEM III. Economic Development Strategic Plan Progress Report (20 Minutes)
RECOMMENDATION
Receive a progress report on the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-
26. BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the City Council adopted the five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan (Plan) to serve as a roadmap for implementing the City’s economic development initiatives through 2028. At the heart of the Plan are six Imperatives—broad focus areas that are essential to the Plan’s success. Each Imperative is supported by a set of Strategies, which outline specific initiatives or actions designed to advance the broad focus areas, and Objectives, which provide metrics to track progress and measure success. These Strategies are not intended to function as a rigid to-do list, but rather as a flexible guide to be reviewed annually to prioritize workload and ensure alignment with the Objectives tied to each Imperative.
To support strategic implementation, the Core Planning Team developed the Sequencing Spreadsheet that organizes all the Strategies into phases by fiscal year. The tool serves as a general timeline to guide the City’s efforts and ensure progress over the life of the Plan. Staff updated the Sequencing Spreadsheet to accurately represent the work already started or completed during years one through three of the Plan as well as current and future work to be performed (Attachment 2). Staff also updated the Sequencing Spreadsheet to include work efforts/tasks associated with each Objective identified in the Plan. The Plan is currently in Year Four. This report provides a summary of progress to date.
DISCUSSION
The City has made substantial progress toward implementing the 28 Strategies outlined in the Plan. In Fiscal Year 2025-26, the City focused on the following four Imperatives:
1. Amplify the reputation of Goleta as a world-class center of innovation and technology.
2. Improve access to economic opportunity by increasing the availability of livable-wage jobs and enhancing support for local BIPOC and women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs.
3. Enhance the experience of Goleta for both residents and visitors by leveraging Old Town’s unique historical and cultural identity and investing in district placemaking.
4. Improve City Government support of local businesses and relationships with economic development stakeholders.
In addition to these Imperatives, the City procured software and refined quantitative methods to assist in measuring the outcomes of the Economic Development Strategic Plan.
The City undertook several initiatives to further the Objectives of these Imperatives. Key highlights from the last year include:
• Continued to enhance the vibrancy of Old Town Goleta through placemaking initiatives, including the Meet Me in Old Town summer event series, the Goleta Holiday Parade, and the Old Town Pride of Place (POP) Grant Program. The Meet Me in Old Town series attracted an estimated 300-400 attendees per event, with approximately 250 people visiting the City's booth during each event.
• Invested in critical community infrastructure projects, including Project Connect, the Goleta Train Depot, and San Jose Creek Multi-purpose Path. • Elevated Goleta’s profile as a hub for technology and innovation through the TechTopia Marketing Campaign, and the development of a new Goleta Entrepreneurial Magnet (GEM) post-discovery pilot grant program.
• Provided ongoing support to local businesses through social media marketing campaigns, including Old Town Open for Business and GoodLandGoodShopping; created a step-by-step City of Goleta Business Guide to aid prospective businesses in navigating the process of starting a business; and refreshed the City’s Economic Development website pages, adding new demographic data and customer leakage reports from Buxton for current and prospective businesses to use. • Supported community and business activations related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup including:
o A lunch and learn event held in collaboration with Visit Santa Barbara focused on helping businesses capitalize on the World Cup.
o Outreach to businesses regarding World Cup activations through the Monarch Press, GovDelivery, and social media.
o Community watch party events at the Goleta Community Center. o Watch party integration with the Meet Me in Old Town events to further boost interest and attendance.
o A summer soccer-themed community scavenger hunt designed to encourage residents to take part in the local economy.
• Deepened strategic relationship building with local and regional organizations including Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), Visit Santa Barbara, REACH, and Business Empowerment and Mentorship (BEAM), through joint collaborative efforts and participation in meetings, conferences, and expos.
• Promoted workforce development for local students by sponsoring and co-hosting the Chamber’s Workforce Connections Dinner networking event. • Completed the one-year Old Town Business License Fee Waiver Program (March 2025 – February 2026), with 184 qualifying businesses.
• Completed a feasibility and fiscal risk assessment of a publicly backed equity investment fund, with Committee guidance to support continued evaluation efforts in FY 2026-27. • In collaboration with the Chamber, facilitated “tech tours” of six local technology industry firms: Blue Laser Fusion, BioSB, LaunchPoint, Renesas Electronics, Teledyne FLIR, and CMC Rescue.
• Recognized two businesses in FY 2025-26 at City Council meetings through the City’s Business Recognition Program: Goleta School of Ballet (November 2025) and Fitness with Rachel (February 2026).
A snapshot of the status of each Strategy is provided in the updated Sequencing Spreadsheet (Attachment 2).
Implementation of the Plan requires balancing initiatives against available resources (such as staff capacity and other existing efforts), and not every effort identified at the start of the fiscal year advanced as planned. In FY 2025-26, staff capacity was prioritized towards the initiatives described above, which deferred a few initiatives to a later date. The small business workshop series in partnership with the Economic Development Collaborative and Women’s Economic Ventures was funded at $26,250 and did not advance in FY 2025-26. The pilot workforce development program, budgeted at $25,000, advanced in a limited capacity, with $5,000 expended for the City’s sponsorship of the Chamber’s Workforce Connections Dinner, leaving the remaining $20,000 unexpended. Finally, the $10,000 budgeted towards researching the publicly backed equity investment fund was not expended, though this work is proposed to continue in FY 2026-27, as described in Agenda Item IV.
Staff do not recommend continuing the small business workshop series or the pilot workforce development program initiatives in FY 2026-27, as both require more staff time than is available given the work efforts described in Item IV. Should the Committee wish to pursue either initiative, staff recommend that the Committee identify which of the proposed FY 2026-27 work efforts (see Agenda Item IV – Table 1) should be deprioritized, or direct staff to return with options for reprioritizing the FY 2026-27 work efforts accordingly.
The FY 2025-26 budget included $151,250 for economic development initiatives, inclusive of prior-year carryover, of which approximately $95,000 was expended. The remaining balance of approximately $56,250 was unexpended and will lapse to the General Fund’s fund balance at the close of the fiscal year.
ITEM IV. FY 2026-27 Economic Development Strategic Plan Initiatives (40 Minutes)
RECOMMENDATION
Provide feedback on the proposed focus areas for economic development initiatives for Fiscal Year 2026-27.
BACKGROUND
In June 2023, the City Council adopted the five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan (Plan) to serve as a roadmap for implementing the City’s economic development initiatives through 2028. Since adoption of the Plan, the City has continued to advance a variety of initiatives including Meet Me in Old Town Goleta, the Pride of Place Grant Program, childcare initiatives, the TechTopia marketing campaign, development of business resources, implementation of economic analytics software, and other efforts identified in the Plan.
As discussed during previous Committee meetings, implementation of the Plan is intended to remain flexible. While some initiatives require dedicated funding, many are advanced through staff time and/or coordination with partner organizations or are dependent upon opportunities that arise throughout the year. As a result, not every Strategy is expected to begin or conclude within a single fiscal year.
The purpose of this discussion is to review the work staff anticipates continuing during FY 2026- 27, identify several new efforts that have emerged through Committee discussions and partner conversations, and receive feedback on priorities as implementation of the Strategic Plan continues.
DISCUSSION
Several of the initiatives identified during FY 2025-26 remain active and will continue into the coming fiscal year. Based on previous Committee feedback, available staff capacity, existing partnerships, and opportunities identified over the past year, staff anticipate focusing on the following work efforts in FY 2026-27 summarized in Table 1.
Table 1. FY 2026-27 Summary of Focus Areas
Imperative and Initiative $ Estimate Potential Partner(s) Old Town and Community Activation:
Meet Me in Old Town $45,000 Chamber, Old Town Businesses Technology and Innovation:
TechTopia $15,000 Chamber
Technology and Innovation:
Equity investment fund - needs assessment
and research
$10,000 Finance
Supporting Local Businesses:
User fee/permitting process review $20,000 Finance, PW, NS, PER Depts
Partnerships and Entrepreneur Support:
Coordination with local partners to improve
support to new firms and entrepreneurs
Staff Time Chamber, UCSB
Quantitative measures and software $40,000 BluDot, Buxton Strategic Opportunities Staff Time
Chamber, Visit Santa
Barbara, UCSB, BEAM,
REACH
Contingency:
GEM, Workforce Connections Dinner,
emerging opportunities, other software, etc.
$20,000 GEM, Chamber, others
Total $150,000
Old Town and Community Activation
Following another successful season of Meet Me in Old Town, staff will continue coordinating placemaking efforts intended to increase visitation and support local businesses. Staff will continue coordination with Chamber for the 2027 block-party event series next summer, Staff will evaluate opportunities to further enhance the series, including potential adjustments to event timing, sequencing, and format based on feedback. Potential updates could include:
including expanded outreach to UCSB students enrolled in summer session classes, and inviting public safety personnel for an opportunity for the public to meet and engage with our local police and fire.
Staff also anticipates continuing implementation of remaining Pride of Place Grant projects as recipients complete their work.
Staff will continue looking for opportunities to activate Old Town through partnerships, community events, and other initiatives that complement ongoing public infrastructure investments.
During FY 2025-26, staff began discussions with UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) regarding opportunities to expand community programming at the Goleta Community Center, including future ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! performances and Thematic Learning Initiative events.
Staff will continue these conversations and coordinate with A&L to bring cultural programming to Old Town and the broader Goleta community.
Technology and Innovation
Staff will continue partnering with Chamber on the TechTopia campaign and related outreach efforts intended to strengthen Goleta's reputation as a center for innovation and technology.
Recent discussions have focused on expanding awareness of local career opportunities and strengthening connections between local employers, educational institutions, and the future workforce.
At previous meetings, the Committee also expressed continued interest in learning more about opportunities to increase access to capital for startup companies, including the potential for a publicly backed equity investment fund. The Plan and its underlying situation assessment were developed in 2022-2023, when pandemic-era conditions had significantly constrained private
capital availability. Since that time, private investment activity in the region appears to have recovered considerably. In addition, staff recently learned that Chamber has established a nonprofit economic development foundation that may serve a similar capital-access function.
Given these evolving regional dynamics, staff recommend retaining consultant assistance to focus first on conducting a needs assessment for a publicly backed equity investment fund in the local startup environment and validating if a market gap exists. If the assessment confirms an unmet need, staff would return to the Committee with options for further policy, investment models, governance, and legal considerations. If it does not, staff would recommend closing out this work effort and redirecting attention to other capital access strategies. Staff anticipates returning to the Committee later this FY with additional information before any policy or investment model direction is requested.
Supporting Local Businesses
Staff continues to identify opportunities to improve the City's business services.
As part of the upcoming User Fee Study, opportunities were identified to also review the City's permitting process and evaluate whether internal procedures can be streamlined to improve customer experience for businesses. Staff propose working collaboratively with the Finance, Public Works, Neighborhood Services, and Planning & Environmental Review Departments to better understand existing workflows, identify process improvements, and determine whether outside consultant assistance would be beneficial.
Staff will also continue updating business resources as needed and assisting businesses navigating City permitting and licensing processes.
Partnerships and Entrepreneur Support
Over the past year, staff held preliminary conversations with representatives from OASIS, UCSB’s startup incubator, and other regional partners regarding ways to strengthen support for startup companies as they transition beyond the incubator stage.
One opportunity identified is improving coordination between organizations that assist entrepreneurs at different stages of business development. Staff plans to continue these discussions to better understand barriers businesses face as they grow in Goleta, including access to appropriately zoned space, operating costs, and awareness of available City resources.
Staff also intends to continue conversations with regional organizations, including Ventech and local educational partners, regarding opportunities to showcase Goleta's innovation community through public events and educational programming.
Quantitative Measures and Software
Staff continues to develop metrics for assessing the impact of implementing the Plan’s imperatives.
In addition, staff intends to renew the City’s subscriptions to software which supports the City’s online business directory (BluDot) and software which provides mobile location data and market leakage analysis (Buxton). These tools support implementation of the Plan by providing
business, visitor, and consumer spending data. Staff is preparing a report on economic indicators to present at the next Committee meeting.
Strategic Opportunities
As implementation of the Strategic Plan continues, staff will also monitor several emerging opportunities discussed by the Committee, including:
• Continued coordination on the Goleta Train Station improvements; • Opportunities to leverage regional visitation associated with the 2028 Olympic Games; • Long-term opportunities for gateway or Highway 101 signage serving Old Town Goleta; • Potential revenue enhancement agreements associated with future development projects, where appropriate; and
• The potential need for temporary contract support as implementation efforts continue to expand.
Many of these efforts remain in the exploratory stages and will advance as funding, partnerships, and staff capacity allow.
Contingency
Staff recommends reserving a portion of the FY 2026-27 funding for emerging opportunities and implementation needs that may arise throughout the fiscal year. These funds could be used to support initiatives such as flexibility for future GEM pilot grant opportunities should demand arise, workforce development events, software or data needs, consultant assistance, or other opportunities identified by the Committee that advance implementation of the Economic Development Strategic Plan. Reserving contingency funding provides flexibility to respond to opportunities that cannot be anticipated during the annual planning process.
Looking Ahead
The current Plan extends through 2028. As implementation continues over the next two fiscal years, staff anticipates beginning discussions regarding the future of the Plan.
The Plan was developed during the pandemic, and many economic conditions have changed since that time. As the originally projected timeline of the current Plan nears completion, staff recommend beginning to identify topics that may warrant additional study as part of a future update, including changing economic conditions, emerging industries, placemaking opportunities such as public art, and other priorities identified by the Committee and City Council.
NEXT STEPS
Staff welcomes the Committee's feedback on the proposed FY 2026-27 work efforts. Staff will use this feedback to guide implementation of the Plan during the upcoming fiscal year and continue to provide periodic updates as implementation progresses.
ITEM V. Next Committee Meeting – October 13, 2026 at 3:30pm (5 Minutes) ATTACHMENTS:
1. Old Town Pride of Place Program Grant End-of-Year Reports
2. Economic Development Strategic Plan Sequencing Spreadsheet
ATTACHMENT 1
Old Town Pride of Place Grant Program End-of-Year Reports
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name: Avellana Dance Studio LLC
Contract Amount: $5,000
Activity or Program Name: Flamenco for All: Cultivating Confidence and Culture in Old Town Goleta
Activity Location: Goleta Community Center, with community performances throughout Goleta and the greater Santa Barbara area
Agency Contact Name: Ashley Almada
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
The “Flamenco for All: Cultivating Confidence and Culture in Old Town Goleta” program provided flamenco dance instruction and cultural education to youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Goleta Valley. Classes took place at the Goleta Community Center and focused on introducing students to flamenco technique, rhythm, choreography, and cultural traditions connected to Spain, Santa Barbara’s Fiesta history, and the broader influence of Spanish dance in our local community.
Through the grant funding, students were able to participate in classes and use traditional flamenco materials, including flamenco shoes, skirts, fans, castanets, scarves, shawls, and red roses for their hair. These materials helped the students fully engage in the art form and feel prepared for both class and performance opportunities.
The program served a core group of 10 girls from the Boys & Girls Club near the Goleta Community Center. Over a condensed program timeline, students learned flamenco technique, practiced rhythm and musicality, learned multiple choreographed sections, and gained experience using traditional accessories such as fans, castanets, scarves, and skirts.
Students also had the opportunity to perform at many different community events. Most notably, the students performed at the Goleta Lemon Festival, allowing them to share their work directly with the Goleta community. They also performed at additional community events, including De la Guerra Plaza, Paseo Nuevo Mall, the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the Fiesta Children’s Parade, and other local Fiesta and community performances. Photos from the classes and performances are included with this report to help show the students’ progress, participation, and community impact.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? The main goal of the program was to make flamenco dance and cultural education more accessible to youth in Old Town Goleta by reducing financial barriers related to dance classes, supplies, and performance materials.
The program’s objectives were to introduce students to flamenco technique, Spanish cultural traditions, and the role of dance within the Santa Barbara and Goleta community. Another important objective was to help students build confidence, coordination, rhythm, musicality, and stage presence through both class participation and live performance opportunities.
This program also directly supported the goals of the City of Goleta’s Pride of Place Grant by helping enhance the sense of place in Old Town Goleta through youth arts, culture, and community engagement. By offering flamenco classes at the Goleta Community Center in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Goleta Valley, the program created a meaningful arts experience for local youth within their own community.
The program supported the grant’s focus on positive community impact, creativity and innovation, feasibility, community engagement, and business collaboration. Through the partnership between Avellana Dance Studio, the Goleta Community Center, and the Boys & Girls Club of Goleta Valley, students were able to participate in a creative cultural program, use professional dance materials, and share their progress through public performances.
Because this grant was awarded through the City of Goleta, a particularly meaningful objective was to provide students with a Goleta-based arts experience that could also be shared with the broader community. The Goleta Lemon Festival was an important part of this goal because it allowed the students to represent a Goleta-based program at a major Goleta community event, helping contribute to community pride and the cultural life of the area.
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
The program successfully provided flamenco classes, cultural education, and performance opportunities for a core group of 10 girls from the Boys & Girls Club of Goleta Valley. Students learned foundational flamenco technique, practiced rhythm and musicality, learned multiple choreographed sections, and used traditional flamenco accessories such as fans, castanets, skirts, scarves, shawls, and hair flowers.
One of the program’s biggest accomplishments was that students were able to perform at six different community events. A highlight of the program was their performance at the Goleta Lemon Festival, where they were able to share flamenco with the Goleta community and participate in a well-loved local event. This was especially meaningful because the program was funded by the City of Goleta and was designed to serve youth connected to the Old Town Goleta area.
This performance was a meaningful example of the Pride of Place Grant in action. The students were not only learning dance steps, but also experiencing that their community is a place where youth arts, culture, and performance can be celebrated. Through their classes at the Goleta
Community Center and their performance at the Goleta Lemon Festival, students were able to take pride in their hard work while contributing to the cultural life and visibility of Goleta.
Students were also given the flexibility to participate in performances based on their family schedules and availability. Many students performed in multiple shows, which demonstrated their commitment, confidence, and excitement for the program. The performance opportunities included the Goleta Lemon Festival, De la Guerra Plaza, Paseo Nuevo Mall, the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the Fiesta Children’s Parade, and other local Fiesta and community performances.
Although several of the performances took place in Santa Barbara as part of larger regional cultural events, the students were representing a Goleta-based youth program and sharing the work they developed through classes at the Goleta Community Center. These opportunities allowed the students to carry the pride and creativity of Old Town Goleta into the broader community.
These performances gave students meaningful opportunities to share their work, experience local cultural traditions, and build confidence in front of an audience. For many students, the program offered not only dance training, but also a chance to feel proud, prepared, and connected to the community.
The program created a positive and welcoming environment where students could explore a cultural art form that may not have otherwise been easily accessible to them. The use of proper dance materials and performance accessories helped students feel included, prepared, and proud of their participation.
Additionally, many of the materials purchased through the grant, such as flamenco shoes, skirts, fans, castanets, shawls, and scarves, can continue to be used in future youth programming. This allows the impact of the grant to continue beyond the initial program period and supports the long-term goal of making dance and cultural education more accessible to local youth.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
The primary deviation from the original proposal was the number of students served. The original proposal anticipated a larger program with multiple class groups and up to 45 students.
The final program served a core group of 10 girls. This adjustment was due to several factors, including the final grant award amount being lower than the original request, the condensed timeline for launching the program, the approval process required to begin working with the Boys & Girls Club, and the realities of summer scheduling for families.
Although the number of participants was smaller than originally projected, the program still met the core goals of providing accessible flamenco instruction, cultural education, performance materials, and community engagement opportunities. The smaller group also allowed for more focused instruction and gave the students a strong opportunity to prepare for multiple performances in a short amount of time.
The program remained aligned with the original purpose of the grant by supporting youth access to the arts, building confidence through dance, and connecting students to local cultural traditions and community events. In many ways, the program’s accomplishments were especially meaningful because students were able to learn, prepare, and perform within a limited program timeline.
Both Avellana Dance Studio and the partnering organizations gained helpful insight into how this type of program can be improved and expanded in the future. With earlier planning, a longer enrollment period, and more time for scheduling and preparation, this program has strong potential to grow into an annual tradition for youth in Old Town Goleta.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
The original budget request was $9,000, and the final grant award was $5,000. Because the awarded amount was lower than the requested amount, the program budget was adjusted to focus on the most essential parts of the project.
The original budget included materials, studio space rental, teacher compensation, program coordination, and performance-related expenses. With the reduced award amount, grant funds were prioritized for the core program needs, including reusable dance materials, performance supplies, class instruction, program coordination, and performance-related expenses. Materials included flamenco shoes, skirts, fans, castanets, shawls, scarves, red hair flowers, and other items needed for students to participate fully in classes and performances.
The reduced award amount required the program to be scaled down from the original proposal, including serving a smaller number of students than initially anticipated. However, the funding was still used in a way that directly supported the main goals of the project. The materials purchased through the grant will continue to benefit future students because many of the items are reusable and can be used year after year.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects, either within your business or the grant process itself, that could be improved moving forward?
This grant program reinforced how meaningful access to the arts can be for young students, especially when financial barriers are reduced. Providing students with the proper shoes, skirts, and accessories helped them feel more confident, included, and excited to participate. It also gave them a stronger connection to the cultural and performance aspects of flamenco.
One important lesson learned was the value of starting the program planning process as early as possible. Because the grant funding was received later in the school year and additional approval steps were needed before beginning the Boys & Girls Club program, the instructional timeline was shorter than originally envisioned. Even with this condensed timeline, the students were able to learn choreography, engage with the cultural material, and participate in multiple community performances, which showed strong interest and potential for the program.
Working with young students and community partners also requires flexibility, especially when participation numbers and schedules change during the summer. In the future, I would build in more preparation time for student enrollment, communication with families, fittings, ordering supplies, and performance planning.
Another important lesson was that even a smaller group of students can have a meaningful community impact when they are given the opportunity to perform and share what they have learned. The performances helped the students build confidence and allowed the community to see the value of youth arts programming.
Overall, the grant was extremely helpful in allowing Avellana Dance Studio to provide a more complete and accessible flamenco experience for local youth. Moving forward, I would love to see this program continue and grow into a tradition, with earlier planning and a longer class timeline so even more students can participate consistently, benefit from dance and cultural education, and develop a stronger sense of pride and belonging in Old Town Goleta. The program showed how dance classes and cultural events can help celebrate what already makes Old Town special while strengthening that foundation for the future.
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
February 19th, 2026
Agency Name: Blue Blossoms
Contract Amount: $5000
Activity or Program Name: Creating community-friendly space for gatherings/ workshops and private events. Beautification and technical updates.
Activity Location:
Agency Contact Name: Laura Goycochea and Ingrida Kraukle Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
We requested the funds to help us progress with our project to create a space where we could welcome the community for gatherings, workshops, and private events.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? Our goal was to install some necessary items such as lighting, an outdoor sink, and a work area to make the backyard presentable. We also asked for assistance to beautify the area with new plants and furniture. Depending on the items mentioned, we were also using some of the funds for marketing-related tasks.
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
We are happy to report that we were able to accomplish most of what we intended, thanks to the funds provided. We did add the sink and workspace outdoors to keep the area neat. We added lighting, a security camera, and privacy fencing. We also hired a part-time events planner and were able to use the funds for flyers and advertising. We have hosted an open house, 2 workshops, and a private party. We are hoping to open our studio for more community events.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
I believe in our original request, we mentioned books/ reading nook style. Even though we have books, we have not been able to fully incorporate this idea.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
None; we have humbly used the budget and are grateful for the City of Goleta's support.
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency: BUSCARON BIOMETRICS.
Contract: $5,000.00
Program: OLD TOWN PRIDE OF PLACE GRANT
Location: OLD TOWN GOLETA
Contact: TERESA CURRY
Contact #:
THE FUNDS ENABLED THIS COMPANY/AGENCY TO ESTABLISH ITSELF
IN A DEPRESSED COMMUNITY PROVIDING A UNIQUE SERVICE AND
ATTRACTING BUSINESS FOOT TRAFFIC TO THE OLD TOWN GOLETA CORRIDOR.
THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF FUNDED PROGRAM WERE TO
INSTIGATE A PLAN OF ACTION TO MARKET ITS BIOMETRIC SERVICES.
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE A CITY OF GOLETA
LANDMARK LOCATION FOR WORLDWIDE BACKGROUND CHECKS,
DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING, AND OTHER BIOMETRIC SERVICES.
THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DEVIATION FROM PROGRAM GOALS AS
COMPANY WAS TOTALLY FOCUSED ON BECOMING THE PREMIER
PROVIDOR BY PROPERLY APPLYING GRANT FUNDS TOWARDS
MARKETING.
ALL MONIES RECEIVED FROM GRANT WERE PUT TOWARDS
MARKETING GOALS.
OUR COMPANY IS GREATLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE GRANT PROGRAM.
IT WAS A STREAMLINED PROCESS. THANK YOU.
February 14, 2026 BUSCARON BIOMETRICS
.........................................................Teresa Curry & Jose Buscaron
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
1. Dine With Us (Pilot Phase): This six month dining campaign served as our flagship engagement model. It utilized coordinated digital "pulses" and community-based incentives to drive residents into local eateries. By focusing on repeat-visit velocity, the campaign successfully transformed standard dining transactions into a measurable "community habit," proving that localized incentives could sustain restaurant revenue even during off-peak hours.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? • Dine With Us: A six month-long community dining campaign designed to increase restaurant visits and reward local customers with gift certificates to spend at participating businesses. Participants engaged in structured challenges to discover new local favorites while providing vital spend-velocity data.
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
The "Dine With Us" initiative served as our primary Proof of Concept, successfully bridging the gap between local commerce and community engagement.
Agency Name: CopyRight Printing Systems
Contract Amount: $7500
Activity or Program Name: Dine With Us
Reignite Old Town
Activity Location: Old Town Businesses
Agency Contact Name: Phebe Mansur
--
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
Program Description: Old Town Economic Activation Series The funded activities consisted of three interconnected marketing campaigns designed to stimulate local commerce, increase foot traffic in Old Town Goleta, and stress-test the proprietary datacapture architecture.
Key Accomplishments:
• Physical Outreach: Executed two high-impact postcard mailings (5000 and 7500) delivered directly to Old Town residents and businesses. These served as the primary "analog" anchors for our digital challenges, ensuring that the "Seniors" and "Local Residents" demographics were reached outside of social media. Window posters and table tent cards were distributed to participating restaurants.
• Engagement Scaling: The program drove a measurable increase in local business participation, transforming standard transactions into a "Community Challenge" ecosystem.
• Merchant Retention: Restaurants that fully integrated the campaign reported a surge in first-time visibility and a significant uptick in repeat visit velocity. • Data-Driven Momentum: By deploying the Master Audit Template—a proprietary data-architecture used for multi-channel reconciliation—we turned raw consumer spend into actionable loyalty data, proving that localized incentives can drive sustained economic activity.
"The Dine With Us campaign transitioned from a promotional effort to a community habit, proving that our infrastructure can successfully activate the 'Youth' and 'Women' demographics for sustained participation."
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives.
None.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal.
None.
Describe any lessons learned and aspects that could be improved moving forward.
The Correlation Between Marketing and Merchant Success The most significant lesson learned is that the scale of the program's success is governed by its visibility. We identified that the lack of marketing funding directly correlated with customer engagement and, subsequently, business participation.
1. The "Funding-to-Engagement" Ceiling: While the pilot proved the technical concept, the $7,500 budget created a clear barrier to entry for the wider Old Town community.
o The Lesson: Without sufficient funds to saturate the district with professional-grade marketing, customer awareness plateaued early. This
directly impacted merchant engagement; businesses are most active when they see a consistent, high-volume influx of users. o The Improvement: Moving forward, the marketing budget must be viewed as the primary engine for merchant participation. A more robust funding model will allow for the sustained, high-frequency campaigns necessary to turn occasional visitors into the 100+ active, daily users required for longterm economic validity.
2. Resource Allocation and Support Personnel: Because the initial funding did not account for support personnel, the management of the Master Audit Template and merchant relations fell entirely on leadership. o The Lesson: When leadership is involved in complex data-set validation and manual support, strategic growth within the Old Town district is throttled.
o The Improvement: Future grant cycles should provide for hiring support staff. A dedicated team ensures that marketing momentum is never lost and that merchant concerns are addressed in real-time, allowing leadership to focus on the national brand expansion that brings prestige and further investment to Goleta.
Exhibit B
Gift Certificates
Postcard 1 - QTY 5000
ostcard 2 - QTY 7500
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name:
Contract Amount: $
Activity or Program Name:
Activity Location:
Agency Contact Name:
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? Describe activity or program accomplishments.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward?
E Salon
It was to elevate and beautify our business for our customers who deeply appreciate.
This alowed us to have amazing lighting for our work as a salon and to look aesthetically beautfiul.
N/A
The project costed more but this grant helped .
Things were ok as far as implenting but the amounts for some were I felt alot from what some of us got. The WEV was and has alot of value
Lighting
5575 Holister Ave Ste C
Goleta Ca 93117
Servimex
$2498.00
This was to replace excistant llighting that was old and dull. Cleaning all materials and removal charge.
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
athletes and spectators with a list of local Goleta businesses where they could eat, drink, and stay overnight. We are hosting this highly anticipated competition again this year in July.
We have also initiated the process to become an official facility for training seminars for CrossFit Headquarters. Each of these multi-day seminars would bring in a significant number of visitors to the area.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any. None. We have met the goals of this funding.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any. None.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward?
I will admit that we did not take advantage of the business coaching and mentorship that was available. I already work with a business mentor, and my time is quite limited, so I didn’t prioritize making an appointment with the WEV - though I’m sure it would have been helpful, and something that I should have followed up on.
We are incredibly grateful for the funding that we received - so, thank you. It really did allow us to better serve our members, and we are continually looking to find ways to expand and continue to support the local community.
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name: Business Contact: Pedro Jimenez, Goleta Barbers Contract Amount: $20,000
Activity or Program Name: Original Center of Old Town Goleta - Hollister & Magnolia, An Updated Vision
Activity Location: 5860-5878 Hollister Avenue.
Agency Contact Name: Hilary Ruston
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
Signage/Storefront; Beautification/Plants/Lighting; Benches/Seating Removed old signs, repaired and painted storefronts, and installed new signs in accordance with an approved sign program. Installed new lighting for morning and evening safety and beautification.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? This was a collaboration among four long-term, established Old Town businesses — Family Discount, Goleta Barbers, Maya Tax Accounting, and Blue Blossoms — to make the area more inviting, enhance the customer experience, and contribute to the economic vitality of Old Town.
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
The Goleta Design Review Board approved the Sign Plan, establishing a design concept for the future of this central building front. Old signage was removed, and in collaboration with the businesses, a new sign concept was developed, manufactured, and installed. Warm, attractive lighting was installed on the underside of the overhang, enhancing both safety and security.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any. Approval for planters and benches has not yet been received. Drafts were submitted to Samantha Bailey, and after incorporating her feedback, a final application was submitted to the DRB, but no response has been received to date. We would still like to add planters.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any. Sign removal, manufacture and install: $12,931, Repair and paint: $7,800, Lighting: $2,500.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward?
Staff — especially Shannon Kirn, Samantha Bailey, and Mary Chang — could not have been more helpful and diligent throughout the process. City regulations are complex and require significant expertise to nav igate, and staff were consistently courteous in educating and guiding us through each step. We are also grateful to Council Member James Kyriaco for being an outstanding and active advocate for Old Town, who knows and cares for the business owners and customers, and who represents them all with a prosperous vision for the future.
Lighting installed (pre-signs)
Agency Name: Old Town Coffee and Roasters
Contract Amount: $3,000.00
Activity or Program Name: Creating Community through Coffee - A Nexus for Old Town Activity Location: 5877 Hollister Ave.
Agency Contact Name: Brad McRoberts & Madison Ward
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program Over the course of 2025 and 2026, we hosted different meetings and events at Old Town Coffee. We used the money to pay for coffee donations, our space and our staff’s time to host the meetings and give small talks on running a small business to local teen organizations.
Below is a list of activities we’ve hosted at Old Town Coffee and organizations we’ve donated to between June 2025 & June 2026.
❖ Freedom For Youth
➢ culinary program and culinary education program
❖ Art Walk events in Old Town Goleta
➢ Provided discounted specialty drinks to attendees of the Art Walk ❖ Book Truck
➢ All Booked Up
❖ Watercolor events
➢ Strypa Studio on the Patio
❖ Dos Pueblos High School: Innovate Course for Entrepenuership ➢ Hosted a meet and greet with Madison and Brad on running a small business. ❖ LEAP Bingo Benefit & Fundraiser (August 2025)
❖ Partnership in local Elementary Schools: Donated coffee once a week to local PTAs (throughout the school year)
➢ Hollister Elementary, Brandon Elementary, Foothill Elementary, Elwood Elementary, Mountain View, Kellogg Elementary, La Patera Elementary, El Camino Elementary
❖ Goleta Boys and Girls Club
➢ Donated coffee to the annual Thanksgiving Dinner event ➢ Provided hot chocolate vouchers for Club Kids in the Holiday Parade ❖ May Infrastructure Ride
➢ Donated patio space & coffee for event
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? The main goal for this program was to be involved with our community through outreach and participation in local organizations. We proposed to host a wide variety of activities at the shop and network with a list of local businesses and non-profits throughout the year. We aimed to be a nexus in our community through coffee donations and representing ourselves as a resource to different organizations in a variety of ways.
Describe activity or program accomplishments
Accomplishments that we’ve made in Creating Community through Coffee included becoming a resource for Old Town Goleta to use as a space for conversation, connecting with community members, and by being a pillar for local schools. We’ve become a place of outreach for our community and will only continue to do so in Old Town Goleta.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
Our main deviation was we hosted less events than initially anticipated. As a business we had to downsize in space which caused limited seating for attendees. To compensate, we partnered with different community organizations to host smaller events, and provide opportunities for the youth both in the classroom and outside of it to learn more about running a small business and the customer service industry. Even though we wanted more hosting in the coffee shop, we were able to pivot and provide coffee to events outside of the shop. We provided coffee to local schools and the Goleta Boys and Girls Club. We found ways to make ourselves available to our community through something beyond just being at the shop.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
There was no significant deviation from the budget proposal. We were able to allocate the funds given to us by the City of Goleta to participate in donating our time and resources to local organizations between June 2025 and June 2026.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be A great lesson we learned was being able to pivot with a smaller space. We addressed the issues with the space and realized that our initial hopes and desires for the program were somewhat constrained by the realities of the flow of the shop’s footprint. Meeting the goals of our grant within this environment meant that we learned how to readjust by partnering with organizations in a different way. While we still hosted some events, we were able to support programs through the donation of our time and resources outside of Old Town Coffee’s location.
Having this grant gave our team here at Old Town Coffee the opportunity to be a resource in Goleta. This has been a very encouraging experience for us and only motivates us to give back beyond just the Pride of Place Grant. Thank you very much.
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name: Paperback Alley
Contract Amount: $ 4225
Activity or Program Name: Old Town Community Walk
Activity Location: Old Town Goleta
Agency Contact Name: Ruta Safranavicius
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
The Old Town Goleta Community Walk is a quarterly, bilingual event designed to bring community members together to explore, support, and patronize local businesses. It serves as a structured walk that connects local customers with neighborhood establishments.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? - Community Building: To foster stronger connections business-to-business and local customer-to-business.
- Economic Support: To drive additional revenue directly to participating local merchants in Old Town.
- Inclusivity: To effectively reach and support the bilingual businesses - Scalability: To expand marketing reach
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
- Consistent Operation: Successfully operated the 4 walk events - Community Engagement: Brought an average of approximately 80 community members out to explore local merchants per event.
- Economic Impact: Generated approximately $100–$500 in additional revenue per event for each participating business.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
- N/A
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
- We weren’t able to achieve our goal to digitally market the event, no money was spent towards that goal.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward?
- It would be helpful to have a structured form to capture money spent, so that reporting spending is more streamlined.
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name: Santa Barbara Aquatics
Contract Amount: $3500
Activity or Program
Name:Pride of Place
Activity Location:5822 Hollister
Agency Contact Name:Andrew or Jed
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
Painted large full wall mural depicting Goleta Ocean and Coastline.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? To beautify Old Town and show our love of the local ocean.
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
Hired 2 muralists to paint the large blank wall of our building. Everyone driving down Hollister through Old Town will now see the ural.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any. None
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any. We spent considerably more than we were approved for. The muralist gave us a deal, $4000. We paid about $2500 more to rent a bucket lift for muralists and for general supplies. Steve at Goleta Valley Paint donated paint for the project which was very much appreciated. We were not able to do a hosted grand unveiling for the community due only being approved for 50% of original ask.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward?
I thought the approval process was fairly
Page
loose and grants
43 of 51
were a bit unfounded, just
made up on the spot without much vetting. I was disconcerted to see people receive large sums of money for interior renovations, etc. I thought the program was more strictly for outward improvements and projects, I guess that was my misinterpretation.
We almost didn’t go forward with the project due to costs and spent a decent amount out of our own pocket to complete the project. I guess lesson learned is next time I will ask for more than I expect we will need and hope to get enough!
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name: Santa Barbara Electronics Supply, LLC
Contract Amount: $7,500
Activity or Program Name: Old Town Pride of Place Grant Program Activity Location: 5836 Hollister Avenue
Agency Contact Name: Ken Alker
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
Clean up of “junk yard” alleyway between Santa Barbara Electronics and Santa Barbara Aquatics; removal and disposal of old refrigerators, old bicycles, BBQ pits, broken furniture, old mechanical equipment, and various other items. Removal of chain link fence that impedes access between buildings. Remove broken portion of alleyway including trip-hazard area near public sidewalk on Hollister (via jack-hammering and concrete saw) and areas of parking lot destroyed by neighboring tree (skid-steer with grinder and asphalt saws), new asphalt near public sidewalk to eliminate trip hazard, replace some asphalt and resurface parking lot and alleyway, stripe parking lot.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? Expose the parking lot behind SBES and open up pedestrian access from Hollister to the three buildings that would then be accessed via alleyway, thus encouraging employees and patrons to park in the back parking lot since they would then have a way to walk to the front of the building. Free up some parking spaces on Hollister. Turn the alleyway into a Goleta-friendly corridor. Remove triphazards. We also removed graffiti on entrance gate to alleyway.
Describe activity or program accomplishments.
We have accomplished the goals and objectives set out in project #3 described in application and immediately above.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
No significant deviations.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
Amount spent went over the budget; owner contributed extra funds.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects— either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward? It is really nice to have improved buildings and space in Old Town. This project has created comradery and conversation amongst neighbors. Tenants and their employees and visitors are happier. Extra parking is essential and every way to create it is important to the economic health of Old Town Goleta. There are no improvements that can be suggested, but it would be great if there is another program in the near future as we’d really like to continue working toward project #1 and #2 in our original application if and when more funds are allocated. Thank you very much for the opportunity to help us improve and beautify Old Town Goleta!
EXHIBIT A
End of Year Report
Agency Name:
Contract Amount: $
Activity or Program Name:
Activity Location:
Agency Contact Name:
Agency Contact Number:
Provide a description of the funded activity or program.
What were the goals and objectives of the funded activity or program? Describe activity or program accomplishments.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the activity/program goals and objectives, if any.
Describe any areas of significant deviation from the budget proposal submitted with the activity/project application, if any.
Describe any lessons learned through your participation in this grant program, and are there any aspects—either within your business or the grant process itself—that could be improved moving forward?
Powell Peralta
5750
Kellogg Square Merchants United
320 S. Kellogg Ave Suite E1
Carlos Juarez
commissioned Goleta art work for placement on shirts and stickers. Free giveaways and promos for other local business events. Sponsorship of local skate contest held at the Orchid. should have asked for more and done less. seems like murals got the most money we were able to use all the funds for everything but the punch card. We got a contest and new art which helps bring awareness to the store.
unique Goleta graphic only available at our store. Main sponsor of a local contest. Giveaways and collaborating with local business events offering promotional items and discounts. not enough time, traffic was awful which made us a undesireable location and weather was an issue for some events.
giveback to the community that has supported us through the mess of the Hollister project.
Bring as much awareness to the store and the area.
ATTACHMENT 2
Economic Development Strategic Plan Sequencing Spreadsheet
Imperative Strategies FY 23-24 (Year 1) FY 24-25 (Year 2) FY 25-26 (Year 3) FY 26-27 (Year 4) FY 27-28 (Year 5) Objectives Re-Envision and expand the GEM
program to better support highgrowth startups.
Support marketing and
branding campaigns designed
to position Goleta as a
technology and innovation hub.
Development of the new GEM
post-discovery pilot program
Support marketing and branding
campaigns designed to position
Goleta as a technology and
innovation hub.
TechTopia marketing and
branding campaign
TechTopia marketing and
branding campaign
TechTopia marketing and
branding campaign
TechTopia marketing and
branding campaign
Update local zoning to encourage
the development of light industrial
space.
Projected FY 27-28
Study and launch a publicly
backed equity investment fund.
Feasibility analysis/preliminary
research
Targeted consultant work,
needs assessment, and
analysis
Establish a micro-enterprise loan
fund to help close capital access
gaps for local small businesses
Streamlined small business
loan program
Invest in relationship development
with and support of culturally
focused organizations to better
support women-owned and
BIPOC-owned small businesses.
Mexican Independence Day
festival, Digital equity grant
program, WEV business
consultation
WEV business consultation WEV business consultation
Collaboration with "Viva el Arte
de Santa Bárbara!", WEV
business consultation
Partner with local workforce
development stakeholders to
support career pathway
opportunities for historically
marginalized groups
Chamber workforce
development program
Chamber workforce connection
dinner
1. Increased number of jobs in
technology-based and innovationled sectors
2. Increased brand
recall/awareness for Goleta as a
center of innovation and
technology
3. Increased number and dollar
amount of local financing deals
(angel, seed, venture capital,
SBIR/STTR)
1. Increased number and size of
grants, loans, and investments
from City supported programs to
minority-owned small businesses
2. Increased number of BIPOCowned and women-owned small businesses
3. Decreased underemployment of
historically marginalized
populations in the city
Amplify the reputation of
Goleta as a world-class
center of innovation and
technology.
Improve access to
economic opportunity by
increasing the availability
of livable-wage jobs and
enhancing support for
local BIPOC and womenowned small businesses
and entrepreneurs.
Imperative Strategies FY 23-24 (Year 1) FY 24-25 (Year 2) FY 25-26 (Year 3) FY 26-27 (Year 4) FY 27-28 (Year 5) Objectives Partner with local employers to
identify innovative solutions and
opportunities to increase the
availability of workforce housing
Projected FY 27/28
Evaluate and streamline local
zoning and permitting processes
to increase the diversity and
availability of housing.
Housing Element
implementation
Housing Element
implementation
Housing Element
implementation
Housing Element
implementation
Housing Element
implementation
Explore innovative solutions, best
practices, and legal pathways to
reserve affordable housing for
Goleta's childcare workforce.
Projected FY 27/28
Partner regionally to identify
actionable strategies to improve
access to affordable childcare.
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Partner with local organizations
with the shared mission to
incentivize employers to invest in
childcare options, particularly for
lower-income residents.
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Childcare grants, participation
in United Way Brighter Futures
Childcare Coalition
Identify incentives to encourage
property owners and businesses
to activate underutilized properties
in Old Town
Projected FY 27/28
Invest in infrastructure and
streetscape amenities in Old
Town
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project, bike
racks, old town parking signage
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Activate the implementation of
existing Old Town visions and
plans
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project
Activate Old Town by studying the
feasibility of relocating City
services to the district and/or
investing in community
infrastructure
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Explore the feasibility of a
Business Improvement District
(BID) through the Old Town
Visioning Process
Projected FY 27/28
Study, identify and implement antidisplacement tools and strategies for Old Town businesses and
residents
Meet Me in Old Town Meet Me in Old Town, Old
Town Pride of Place Grants
Meet Me in Old Town, Old
Town Pride of Place Grants Meet Me in Old Town
Prioritize the implementation of
existing City of Goleta Parks and
Recreation plans to maximize the
use of recreation and sports
facilities.
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
Goleta Community Center
Strategic Plan; Parks, Facilities
and Playgrounds Master Plan
1. Annual increase in service and
retail sales in Old Town
2. 5-year increase in the number
of visitors in Old Town as
measured by cell phone location
data
3. Increased positive
neighborhood perception of
businesses in Old Town as
measured by an annual business
survey
1. Increased capacity to
accommodate higher resident use
1. Increased number of housing
units accessible to residents with
Area Median Income (AMI) or less
for a family of four
2. Decreased deficit of affordable
childcare slots by 2028
Position Goleta as a local
leader of high-quality,
innovative affordable
child-care and housing
solutions.
Enhance the experience
of Goleta for both
residents and visitors by
leveraging Old Town’s
unique historical and
cultural identity and
investing in district
placemaking.
Imperative Strategies FY 23-24 (Year 1) FY 24-25 (Year 2) FY 25-26 (Year 3) FY 26-27 (Year 4) FY 27-28 (Year 5) Objectives Increase incentives and
streamline the process for green
alternative energy projects that
improve the stability of electricity
supply.
EV Reach Code, Heat Pumps
and Electrification Incentives
Prioritize investments in transit,
bicycling, and pedestrian
infrastructure city-wide
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project, Goleta
Train Station Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project, Goleta
Train Station Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project, Goleta
Train Station Project
Project Connect, Old Town
Interim Striping Project, Goleta
Train Station Project
Promote stronger collaboration
with the Santa Barbara Airport to
foster industrial land opportunities
Projected FY 27-28
Partner with broadband providers
to support access to high-speed
internet for small businesses and
low-income residents
Projected FY 27-28
Collect and direct business
license regulatory fees to support
local businesses.
User fee/permitting process
review
Dedicate an economic
development staff position within
the City Manager's Office
Partner with a third party to create
an assistance program for
businesses navigating City and
other government entity
processes.
Partnerships and
entrepreneurial support
Analyze the City permitting
process to identify and implement
opportunities to improve efficiency
and ensure appropriate staffing
levels.
User fee/permitting process
review
Sign an intergovernmental
agreement to fund regional
tourism
g
and hosting of youth sports
tournaments at Goleta's parks and
sports-related facilities
2. Decreased number of blackouts
and maintenance outages of the
electricity supply
3. Increased ridership of public
transit options and use of active
transportation such as bicycles,
scooters, walking, etc.
4. Increased percentage of
residents who access high-speed
internet (data disaggregated by
demographics)
1. Increased business retention
rates
2. Increased number of new
businesses located in Goleta
3. Increased resident and
business community sentiment of
Goleta as a place to do business
Improve City Government
support of local
businesses and
relationships with
economic development
stakeholders.
Promote and advocate for
smart investments in
essential community
infrastructure.