AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING NOTICE
APRIL 21, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
MEMBERS
Tyron Hampton, Chair District 1
Jessica Rivas, District 5
Steve Madison, District 6
Jason Lyon, District 7
STAFF
David Klug, Economic Development Director
Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Pasadena is dedicated to delivering exemplary municipal services, responsive to our entire community and consistent
with our history, culture and unique character.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices are available from the City Clerk’s Office with a 24-hour advance notice.
Please call (626) 744-4124 to request use of a listening device.
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Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible para éstas juntas llamando al (626) 744-4124 por lo menos con 24 horas de anticipación.
Items on the agenda may not be called in order listed.
Agendas and supporting documents are available on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-economic-development-technology/
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Economic Development and Technology Committee after distribution of the agenda packet will be posted online and listed as: “Supplemental Agenda Material Received after the Posting of the agenda”
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
APRIL 21, 2026 AT 5:00 P.M. WILL BE ACCEPTED IN-PERSON AND BY VIDEOCONFERENCE/TELECONFERENCE.
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CITY OF PASADENA
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
APRIL 21, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
PASADENA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE, ROOM S249
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the regular meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee, will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber to discuss matters on the attached agenda.
_____________________
Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and
Technology Committee
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this agenda in its entirety, was posted on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-economic-development-technology/ and on the Council Chamber Bulletin Board, Room S249, and the Bulletin Board in the rotunda area; City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, this 16
th day of April 2026 by 5:30 p.m. and that copies hereof were emailed or delivered to each member of the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing, all of which recipients are identified on the distribution herein below.
Katrine Panoyan
City Manager’s Office
DISTRIBUTION:
City Council Los Angeles Times
City Manager Pasadena Journal
City Attorney Pasadena Now
Public Information Officer Pasadena Star News
Pasadena Weekly La Opinion
Pasadena Independent
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
APRIL 21, 2026
Public Meeting: 5:00 P.M.
Council Chamber, Pasadena City Hall
100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249
The City Council may take action on any item listed on this agenda as it deems appropriate following consideration and discussion of the matter.
PUBLIC MEETING – 5:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public comment will be limited to a total of 20 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and will continue at the conclusion of the meeting, if necessary.
Please limit comments to 3 minutes each.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• MARCH 17, 2026 – REGULAR MEETING*
NEW BUSINESS
1. PASADENA RETAIL VACANCIES*
2. COMMERCIAL DISTRICT NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CDNA)*
OLD BUSINESS
INFORMATION ONLY
3. CDBG PROGRAMS – FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS AND MICROENTERPRISE GRANTS*
4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
ADJOURN
*Attachment
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• MARCH 17, 2026 – SPECIAL MEETING*
01 03/17/2026
CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
MARCH 17, 2026 – 5:00 P.M.
MEETING
OPENING The Chair called the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:11 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Steve Madison (Absent)
Councilmember Jason Lyon
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
Manuel Carmona, Director of Public Health
Jennifer Paige, Director of Planning and Development
Guille Nunez, Principal Planner
Teresa Garcia, Senior Project Manager
Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC COMMENT No one appeared for public comment on matters not on the agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Councilmember Lyon, seconded by Vice Mayor Rivas, to approve the minutes of January 29, 2026 , and February 17 , 202 6 (Cancelled Meeting) , as submitted. ( Motion unanimously approved ) (Absent: Councilmember Madison)
NEW BUSINESS 710 INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING AND FINANCING TOOLKIT
OVERVIEW
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Joseph Dieguez , Senior Vice President from Kosmont Companies (City Consultant) , presented a PowerPoint presentation as part of his oral presentation, including providing information on Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFD), Tax Increment Financing (TIF), property tax revenues, and financing district formation schedule s, with both responding to questions.
The following individuals raised concerns with funding sources and/or provided related comments on the matter:
Blair Miller, Pasadena resident
Jill Shook, Pasadena resident
James Maddox, Pasadena resident
Following public comment, Chair Hampton asked the public speaker to submit her inquiries on the matter by email to City staff for distribution to the Committee.
02 03/17/2026
Chair Hampton requested an update on potential state participation in revenue sharing; and recommended exploring collaborative partnerships with Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and Pasadena Community College (PCC), particularly in relation to planning coordination and shared use of facilities.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
OLD BUSINESS MICRO-ENTERPRISE HOME KITCHEN OPERATIONS (MEHKOs)
Manuel Carmona, Director of Public Health, presented a PowerPoint presentation as part of h is oral presentation, including providing information on economic development benefits, and permit requirements, and responded to questions.
The following individuals provided comments on the matter:
Roger Overstreet, Pasadena resident
Yadi, Pasadena resident
Juliet Seniff, Pasadena resident
Following discussion, i t was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas, seconded by Councilmember Lyon, to approve the staff recommendation of staff taking steps to establish a tw o-year pilot program authori zing MEHKOs in the City of Pasadena . ( Motion unanimously approved ) (Absent:
Councilmember Madison)
UPDATE ON ADOPTED FEE REDUCTIONS FOR THE
RECONSTRUCTION OF SINGLE -FAMILY HOMES DESTROYED BY
THE EATON FIRE AND DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLY EXPANDING THE
FEE REDUCTIONS
Jennifer Paige, D irector of Planning and Development , provided a brief summary of the staff memorandum as part of her PowerPoint presentation, and requested Committee guidance on defining eligible sites for a potential expansion of the fee waiver program to include repairs for properties not red-tagged; and responded to questions.
Chair Hampton raised concerns regarding the burden of permit fees on displaced residents, especially those facing delays with insurance reimbursements; and spoke in support of helping residents return to their homes as soon as possible.
Aurore Blossom Wright, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns regarding contamination issues of standing homes after the Eaton fire.
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that one correspondence was received by the City Clerk’s Office, which was distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
03 03/17/2026
Director Paige spoke on the need to establish clear parameters for eligibility, including evidence demonstrating repairs are necessary, and to further study the potential expansion of the repair related fee reduction program.
Guille Nunez, Principal Planner, provided information on the number of properties (tagged red, yellow or green) that were assessed within the fire boundaries.
Chair Hampton suggested staff conduct out reach to community -based organizations to better understand the needs of displaced residents.
Councilmember Ly on s poke on the need for staff to provide a recommendation on the boundaries related to eligibility and projected related costs.
Following discussion, the Committee directed staff to examine and define a potential geographical bounda ry and identify edibility criteria for properties.
Following further discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
INFORMATION ONLY CDGB PROGRAMS —FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS AND
MICROENTERPRISE GRANTS
Chair Hampton announced that this item will not be considered and will be agendized at a future Committee meeting.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Chair Hampton announced that this item will not be considered and will be agendized at a future Committee meeting.
ADJOURNMENT On the order of the Chair, the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee was adjourned at 6:11 p.m.
_________________________________
Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
ATTEST:
____________________
Betty Gao
Recording Secretary
NEW BUSINESS
1. PASADENA RETAIL VACANCIES*
Pasadena Retail
Economic Development & Technology Committee
April 21, 2026
• Retail Snapshot & Supply
• Vacancy Measurement &
Misconceptions
• Regulatory Challenges
• What Drives Retail Success
• New Openings & Retailer Perspectives
2 Agenda
Retail is more than storefronts
• Economic activity
• Jobs
• Community identity
• Walkable neighborhoods
• Tax revenue
3 Why Retail Matters
Retail Snapshot
1,660 Retail Businesses
16%
42%
42%
NG&S F&B GAFO
10.7M SF
RETAIL SPACE
$40
RETAIL AVG. ASKING
RENT/SF
5.5%
RETAIL VACANCY
RATE
77 SF OF RETAIL PER
CAPITA
4 5
Retail Uses
200
BUSINESSES
700
BUSINESSES
700
BUSINESSES
6 • When combined, retail
supply across Pasadena’s
core districts, as zoned,
would constitute the
largest commercial offerings
in the entire LA region.
• Old Pasadena and Playhouse
Village together constitute
the second largest shopping
destination in Southern
California.
• South Lake is a corridor with
square footage akin to The
Grove in Los Angeles, with
aspirations to a similar
clientele.
Retail Supply in Regional Context
Vacancy Measurement &
Misconceptions
7 8
Retail by Location
A
220
RETAIL BUSINESSES
1.3M
RETAIL SQUARE FEET
3.0%
RETAIL VACANCY
$36
RETAIL ASKING RENT
B
890
RETAIL BUSINESSES
5.4M
RETAIL SQUARE FEET
7.8%
RETAIL VACANCY
$43
RETAIL ASKING RENT
C
280
RETAIL BUSINESSES
1.5M
RETAIL SQUARE FEET
3.8%
RETAIL VACANCY
$39
RETAIL ASKING RENT
D
270
RETAIL BUSINESSES
2.5M
RETAIL SQUARE FEET
4.0%
RETAIL VACANCY
$40
RETAIL ASKING RENT
9 Vacancy Rate by Commercial District
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
Old Pasadena Playhouse South Lake
Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2026
Retail Vacancy
Q1 2025 Vacancy Rate Q1 2026 Vacancy Rate
Common Industry Assumptions
“If landlords are penalized, vacancies will disappear.” “If rent goes down, tenants will fill vacancies.”
“That space has been vacant forever. Nothing’s happening.” 10 The Retail Iceberg
Vacancy is a complex market
issue
• Some vacancies reflect normal
tenant turnover
• Leasing often involves long
timelines and behind-the-scenes
negotiations
• Retail viability depends on
consumer demand, not just rent
• In some areas, retail supply
exceeds demand
• Many spaces require significant build-
outs, many small businesses are
undercapitalized
• Time to market is influenced by
permitting and entitlements
• Buildouts can often take 12-24 months
• Foot traffic, access, and visibility
influence business success
• District conditions play a role in
viability
11 Senate Bill 789
• Introduced by State Sen. Caroline
Menjivar (Burbank, SFV) in 2025
• Proposed to impose a $5-per-
square-foot annual tax on
commercial properties that remain
vacant for 182 or more days
• Would have been the first vacancy
tax measure to apply statewide
• Strong opposition from stakeholders
• Failed in February 2026
Regulatory Challenges
12 Experiential Retail & Use Restrictions
Changing shopping habits = new types of
businesses. As shopping habits change
commercial activity in brick-and-mortar
businesses must provide goods, services and
experiences that cannot be purchased online.
Over a decade of growth in the "experience
economy." Growth in recreational experiences,
dining and drinking, live entertainment, and light
manufacturing (e.g. breweries), and services.
Conditional Use Permits create hurdles
to market entry for select businesses.
CUPs are required for many less
traditional uses that are seeing growth.
They create hurdles to market entry for
uses that are increasingly the norm,
and in many cases the most compelling
visitation drivers.
Conditional and/or prohibited uses in
some districts:
• Bars, liquor stores, live
entertainment uses
• Alcohol uses, beer & wine
• Hotels
• Recreation, education, and public
assembly uses
• Office and business support uses
are permitted or conditional
• Childcare
13 Ground Floor Retail Requirements
Central District – Playhouse & Lake Avenue
2004 Specific Plan 2023 Specific Plan
Allowed ground
floor commercial
uses expanded
Must be ground floor commercial
Minimum 80% ground floor commercial
Minimum 20% ground floor commercial
Requiring excessive
ground floor retail
contributes to
challenges with
oversupply
• Updated specific
plans have
provided more
flexibility.
• Additional
updates may be
needed to reflect
market needs.
Allowed ground
floor commercial
uses limited
14 New Space Challenges
New spaces are more expensive to fit out.
Often larger and in "raw shell" condition,
more expensive tenant improvements.
New space is often not conducive to small
business activity. Small businesses are
undercapitalized and spaces with high
tenant fit-out costs are misaligned with
their space needs.
Owners do not often have flexibility with
rent. New spaces are also subject to
bank underwriting which limits the ability of
an owner to lower rents. Lower rents reduce
the overall value of the asset, putting the
loan at risk of default.
15 What Drives
Retail Success?
16 Retail Success Depends on the Whole
Environment
• Visitation, foot traffic
• Mix of businesses
• Walkability
• Nearby population
• Visibility
• Time to market
• Access & parking
• Safety & cleanliness
• Supportive business environment
17 Business Environment
Retail Recruitment in Real Life: Starting,
Restarting, and Focusing On What Works
• Consider retail mix and district scale
• Local knowledge and relationships drive deals
• Outreach is long-term (with brokers, owners,
and operators) it can take years from first
contact to opening
• Retailers need speed and predictability in
approvals
• Reduce bureaucracy, be nimble
• Many retailers have defined criteria.
Understand and align with those
requirements.
• Use data and market analysis to target the
right opportunities
18 CALED Case Studies
19 Supporting Retail Health
Improve the Business Environment
• Streamline permitting and plan check
• Right-size ground floor retail
requirements
• Track retail data and trends
• Provide small business technical
assistance, grants, support, promotion
Activate Districts
• Support events and programming
• Invest in streetscape and placemaking
improvements
• Encourage outdoor dining and flexible use
of space
• Improve cleanliness, lighting, and safety
Reduce Barriers to Entry
• Provide flexible zoning for experiential
uses
• Support temporary uses and flexible
occupancy
• Support shared or smaller-format retail
concepts
Strengthen the Retail Ecosystem
• Encourage housing near retail
• Support walkability and access
• Continue partnerships with business
districts, brokers, property owners
• Develop long-term corridor strategies
20 Available Retail Sites
Using ArcMap to track on-
the-ground conditions
• Vacancy status- fully
vacant, improvements in
progress, for lease
• Storefront images
(coming soon)
• Timestamped records
21 Takeaways
• Retail remains important to community
vitality in Pasadena, a leader in
commercial space in the region
• Pasadena is on trend with growth in the
experience economy; new businesses
continue to open
• Vacancy is complex; complex issues
prevent simple solutions
• Stakeholders, programs and policies
should address the whole retail
environment
New Openings &
Retailer Perspectives
22 Now Open:
• Boot Barn - 3353 E Foothill Blvd
• Bob’s Furniture - 3341 E Foothill Blvd
• Escapology - 300 E Colorado Blvd.
• Monarca Collective - 300 E Colorado Blvd.
• Lunasia Signature - 865 E Colorado Blvd.
• I-Mei Spa - 1 W California Blvd.
• Ry’s Poke Shack - 2700 E Colorado Blvd.
Anticipated:
• Mammoth Coffee Roasting - 183 N. Fair Oaks
• Thumbling - 113 N Fair Oaks Ave.
• Nana’s Green Tea - 45 N Raymond Ave.
• Olive Young - 58 W Colorado Blvd.
• Nova Lagree - 305 E Foothill Blvd.
23 Notable Openings in 2026
24 The Paseo
Now Open:
• Escapology – Jan 2026
• Wagyu Master Shabu House – Jan 2026
• Wushiland Boba – Nov 2025
• Hawaiian fluid Art – Oct 2025
• The Open Book– Oct 2025
• AT&T Store – May 2025
• Panini Kabob Grill – March 2025
Anticipated:
• Round 1 – spring 2027
• Paris Baguette – summer 2026
95k SF
leased in the last year
16k SF
in the pipeline
25 Retailer Perspectives
End of Presentation
Thank you!
2. COMMERCIAL DISTRICT NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CDNA)
Commercial District Needs
Assessment (CDNA)
Economic Development & Technology Committee
April 21, 2026
Integration of City Plans
2 Economic Development Strategic Plan
• 2.0 Invest in Neighborhoods and Small Businesses by reducing barriers to market entry and improving neighborhood commercial corridors.
• 5.0 Prioritize Place and Accessibility Investments by investing in walkability, mobility and spaces that create an attractive environment for visitors and the business activity they generate.
Planning & Community Development Specific Plans
Council has adopted Specific Plans for each neighborhood. Each specific plan includes an economic development component with recommended strategies.
Northwest Pasadena
3 Northwest Pasadena’s commercial districts
have long faced economic
underinvestment and challenges, which
have been exacerbated by their proximity
to the Eaton Fire impacted areas.
Through a Commercial District Needs
Assessment (CDNA), EconDev will collect
data on Northwest Pasadena’s commercial
district. Data will be shaped by field
observations and input from business
owners. Observational data and data from
interviews will guide recommendations.
(Figure is for sample purposes only)
Commercial District Needs Assessment
What the CDNA is not:
• Not a plan to address housing, homelessness, education, parking or topics not squarely in the realm of economic development. • While commercial revitalization is multifaceted and these are contributing factors to the economy to be considered as part of the overall analysis, the CDNA is meant to specifically address local economic development interventions.
• Will not focus on residents, but business owners. Some resident data will be collected as some business owners and stakeholders interviewed will be residents of Northwest Pasadena.
• Not “just another plan.” Each CDNA will leverage past outreach, data analysis, partnerships and projects identified through specific plans processes.
4 Los Angeles Economic Equity &
Access Forward (LEEAF)
5 LEEAF is an economic justice nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs, students, and communities through research and systems building. LEEAF is IRB (Institutional Review Board)certified and licensed to responsibly conduct research involving people. The organization has visited over 14,000 businesses throughout LA County. Their work includes:
• Data collection: Interviews and observations with tailored canvassing, qualitative and quantitative data collection, and data analysis. • Education and direct services: Supporting businesses with resources, accelerators, workshops, financial and marketing services. • Action research and advocacy: Using data findings to build new partnerships, impact reports, activate resources and elevate community issues.
LEEAF’s Footprint in Pasadena/Altadena
6 LEEAF has reached 522 businesses across Pasadena and Altadena.
Businesses that were canvassed were provided resources, and 81% of those surveyed reported they were not aware of the resources offered. • 2022 Outreach/Application support for Economic Opportunity Grant • 2023 Economic Mobility Academies Outreach
• 2024/2025 MEHKOs Academy and permits in unincorporated areas • 2025 Tenant and Landlord relationships survey
• 2025 Eaton Fire Recovery Efforts, LEEAF supported 259 businesses specifically in the fire zip codes with technical assistance • 2026 Access to Capital & Procurement Programs
Scope of Work and Timeline
7 Approximately 400 businesses across Lincoln Avenue, Fair Oaks/Orange Grove, and North Lake will be surveyed in May–June 2026. Outreach team will aim to reach the majority of businesses in the areas. • Data will include business information, address, updated contact information, owner information, the digital visibility of a business, success of businesses, and other information collected directly from the business owner.
• Canvassing will include observational data on façades, available parking, whether a building houses one or multiple businesses, vacancies, the surrounding landscape, and access to transportation, among other factors.
• Interviews will include some stakeholders like local nonprofits. • Final report will include a comprehensive analysis of data, along with recommendations for effective action based on needs and strengths identified.
Data Collection Plan
8 Data collection team will include an outreach
admin staff, a data lead, partners, and Pasadena
City College students. PCC students will be
recruited, trained and paid to support with data
collection. Partners interested in participating will
also be trained and can participate.
• Teams of 6 or 7 students with one lead.
• Focused on customer experience – ensuring
that data is collected while also providing
businesses with resources like trainings and grant
opportunities.
• Data will be interactive; as data is collected,
the outreach may change based on early
interactions with business owners.
Sample Questions – Interview Data
9 Interview Questions
1. How long have you been in operations?
2. Is this your only location?
3. What are your immediate needs? Please select all that apply:
Marketing, Capital, Tech, HR, Accounting, Permit/Inspections, Other.
4. Have you heard of these resources before? If so, have you used them? What’s been your experience?
5. What have been your biggest challenges? (The past few years have been difficult for small businesses…)
6. What makes you proud of your work?
Sample Questions
10 Observation Data
• Outdoor uses – What do you see? Awnings, signage, murals, street lighting, outdoor seating, parking lot, nearby vacancies? • Areas of potential support - What could be helpful to address? Vandalism, deteriorated paint, windows, awning in poor condition, indoor area could use renovation.
• Property – Office, cart, no storefront at all, offices with no lobby…? Digital Visibility
• Logo & Branding – does the business have a logo and basic brand materials?
• Website Searchability – What’s their URL? Was it easy to find? • E-Commerce – Does the business have an online store?
End of Presentation
11 INFORMATION ONLY
3. CDBG PROGRAMS – FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS AND MICROENTERPRISE GRANTS*
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG):
Commercial Façade Improvement, and
Microenterprise Recovery Grant
April 21, 2026
Edtech Committee
CDBG Grant Timeline
2 • CDBG Application (Feb 2025): EconDev applied for City Set-Aside grant funds via Housing Department.
• City Council Approval (May 2025): Approved $200,500 for the Commercial Façade Improvement Program, and $125,500 for Microenterprise Recovery Grants. • Federal Update (July 2025): Executive order temporarily paused federal fund use. • EdTech Update (Aug 2025): Shared program updates.
• Edtech Update (Oct 2025): Commercial Façade program update • Applications Open (Nov 3, 2025): Commercial Façade Improvement program. • Applications Closed (Nov 30, 2025): Commercial Façade Improvement Program. • Federal Funds Received (Dec 2025): Housing Department received HUD funds. • Applicants Notified (Feb 2026): Commercial Façade Improvement applicants notified. • Façade plans in review (On-going): City departments including Housing Department are reviewing all improvement plans submitted by selected grantees. • Applications Open (March 19, 2026): Microenterprise Recovery Grant program. • Applications Closed (April 30, 2026): Microenterprise Recovery Grant program.
Commercial Façade Improvement Program
3 • Summary: This program supports businesses with
storefront upgrades, façade improvements, and
exterior renovations to help businesses.
• Goal: To support businesses in disadvantaged
areas, in particular low and moderate incomes
areas, to attract more foot traffic, increase
customer interest, and boost sales.
• Amount: Eligible businesses may qualify for up to
$20,000.
• Grantees: A total of 10 grantees were
anticipated to ensure the grant funding would
have a significant impact.
• Status: Applications are now closed, and the
grantees selected are currently working through
the City’s permitting process to receive
approval for their upgrades.
(Figure is for sample purposes only)
Outreach
4 • Information was shared via our EconDev newsletter.
• Application links and guidelines were provided to Council District liaisons, and Northwest Commission.
• Direct emails were sent to businesses to encourage them to apply. • Flyers were distributed to businesses at their business location the week of November 17th by EconDev staff.
• EconDev issued a press release on November 18, 2025.
Eligibility and Applications
5 • Eligible Area: Only areas within
CDBG benefit service areas were
eligible per federal guidelines.
• Selection Criteria: Applications were
evaluated on a 100-point scale
based on impact (35 pts), capacity
(30 pts), need (25 pts), and vision
(10pts).
• Selection Committee: Included
EconDev staff, and Deputy Director
of Parks, Rec & Community Services.
• Applications: We received a total of
16 applications, and 10 businesses
were selected to move forward.
Most businesses who were declined
were not in eligible locations.
Commercial Façade Improvement Program
Grantees
6 # Business Name Location Area
1 Maxwell Alexander
Gallery
1300 N Lake Ave Block 5 -
District 2
2 Associate Barbers
Studio
88 N Fair Oaks Ave Old Pasadena
District 3
3 Mi Casa Mexican
Food
812 N Fair Oaks Ave NW Pasadena
District 3
4 Pasadena Fish
Market
181 E Orange Grove NW Pasadena
District 3
5 Union Street Toys 65 N Madison Ave Playhouse Village
District 3
6 Annapurna Grill 929 E Colorado Blvd Playhouse Village District 5
7 Koko's
Mediterranean
Cafe
273 Shoppers Ln South Lake
District 7
8 Amigo’s Restaurant 1076 E Colorado District 7
9 Nine and Nine Thai
Kitchen
738 E Colorado Blvd Playhouse Village
District,
District 7
10 Amara Cafe &
Restaurant
55 S Raymond Ave Old Pasadena
District 6
Commercial Façade Improvement Grantees
7 # Business Name Improvements
1 Maxwell Alexander Gallery New lighting, windows, and doors 2 Associate Barbers Studio Decals for windows and new signage 3 Mi Casa Mexican Food New signage, paint refresh, and door replacement 4 Pasadena Fish Market New signage, updated lighting and paint 5 Union Street Toys New ADA accessible doors
6 Annapurna Grill New signage, replacement of window film and lighting 7 Koko's Mediterranean Cafe New fabric for existing awning 8 Amigo’s Restaurant Repaint of exterior, and new signage 9 Nine and Nine Thai Kitchen New exterior sign and lighting 10 Amara Cafe & Restaurant Anti-graffiti window film, and new exterior business sign Selected grantees are currently working through the City’s permitting approval process. Final scopes of work will depend on City department approvals.
Improvements are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.
Before Photos of Grantees Locations
8 Façade Improvement Grants - Round 2
9 A total of $100,000 from the Dine Out grant program has been allocated to support façade improvement grants outside of CDBG funding.
• Application Period: Businesses will be provided a longer application period due to the program’s flexible timeline. Launch date will be early FY27.
• Eligible Area: Funding will be available to eligible businesses throughout the City-wide.
• Upfront Funding Not Required: This program will not operate on a reimbursement basis, meaning businesses will not be required to pay costs upfront to receive grant funds.
• Extended Outreach: The City will increase outreach efforts, more walk-through in the neighbors especially for those areas that didn’t have applicants in the first round of façade improvements grants.
Microenterprise Recovery Grant
10 • Summary: The program will assist local, low-to-moderate income, micro- enterprises impacted by the 2025 Eaton wildfires and windstorm. Microenterprises are those with 5 employees or less including owners.
• Eligible use of funds: Reimbursement-based grant to cover overhead and operational cost, rent and utilities, business inventory, salary and wages for employees, and marketing.
• Amount: Anticipate awarding a total of 25 micro-enterprises up to $5,000 each. $125,000 is available via CDBG funding.
• Status: Applications open March 19, 2026, and close April 30, 2026. • Eligible Applicants: Per HUD guidelines, eligible applicants are businesses that operate from a brick-and-mortar location within Pasadena city limits, qualify as a microenterprise with five or fewer employees (including owners), and have owners whose income is below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Grant Information & Outreach
11 Information will be shared via our newsletter, a press release, liaisons, and direct emails to encourage businesses to apply.
Information will be posted on our web page with an application link and guidelines.
End of Presentation
12 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 21, 2026
To: Economic Development and Technology Committee
From: David A. Klug, Economic Development Director
Subject: Economic Development Update
The Economic Development Division is committed to supporting a thriving local economy. This memo provides an update on market conditions and the Division’s efforts.
1. Business Development
a. Notable Openings & Successes
i. On March 22, Monarca Sol Collective held a grand opening at its new location at The Paseo. The business is a cultural boutique and artisan marketplace founded by Erica Gutiérrez, featuring work rooted in ancestral tradition and community craft. The event included a ribbon‑cutting with Mayor Gordo and featured live music, art demonstrations, children’s activities, and vendor showcases.
ii. Love Baked Wings is now open for takeout and delivery at 38 W Colorado Blvd. in Old Pasadena. The menu includes oven-baked chicken wings, cauliflower wings, house made sauces and seasonings, and sides such as carrot fries. Food is prepared
from scratch with a focus on all natural ingredients
and compostable packaging, reflecting the
business’s commitment to sustainability.
iii. Sliders Bakery and Ice Cream Factory, located at
1355 N Hill Ave., held a grand opening event April 3-
5. Sliders is known for combining fresh-baked
cookies with small batch ice cream to create a
menu that focuses on simple, nostalgic flavors. This
is the company’s second location, following its
original shop in Burbank.
iv. THAIM is now open at One Colorado. This new
restaurant brings authentic Thai street food to Old
Pasadena. The menu features easy, flavor-packed
bowls of classics like Pad Thai and basil stir‑fry,
alongside signature grilled vegetables and a
rotating roster of seasonal specials.
b. Open Rewards Pilot Program
Since launching on October 1, Shop Local Pasadena has received strong community engagement. Over 1,100 local businesses are participating, and nearly 1,200 users have downloaded the
app to start earning 5% cash back on
purchases. To date, the program has
generated an economic impact of over
$145,000. The initiative continues to
encourage residents, visitors, and workers to
shop locally while providing valuable insights
into Pasadena’s economic activity. The pilot
has been extended through June 30, 2026.
c. Shop Local Pasadena featured by PublicCEO
PublicCEO recently featured Pasadena’s Open Rewards program as an example of how cities are modernizing shop‑local efforts. The article described how Pasadena used its business license database to automatically enroll more than 1,100 retailers and restaurants. It also noted the program’s real‑time incentive adjustments, which allow the City to modify rewards during peak activity periods. Overall, the feature presents Pasadena’s approach as an early use of digital tools to support small business participation and inform local economic development efforts.
2. Small Business Support
a. Back in Business Grant for Wildfire‑Impacted Small Businesses The Back in Business Recovery Fund was recently launched by 11:11 Media Impact, GoFundMe.org, and the Pasadena Women’s Business Center to support women owned small businesses that were affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles County. The program provides grants that range from $10,000 to $20,000 and includes individualized advising through the Pasadena Women’s Business Center. The fund is modeled on the successful local recovery effort that assisted 50 women owned Altadena businesses following the 2025 Eaton Fire. Ninety percent of those businesses continue to operate today, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the program’s approach.
Partners involved in the national launch participated in a ceremonial event at the New York Stock Exchange earlier this spring to help raise awareness for the initiative. Applications for the current funding round will close on April 30.
b. LA County Commercial Acquisition Fund
Los Angeles County launched the second cycle of its Commercial Acquisition Fund on April 3. The program provides $2.6 million in forgivable loans to help small businesses, nonprofits, and mission‑aligned developers purchase their first commercial properties. Applications for the new cycle will open on May 5, and participation is expected to exceed available funding.
c. Microenterprise Recovery Grant Program
The Economic Development Division launched the Microenterprise Recovery Grant Program to provide up to $5,000 in reimbursement funding for Pasadena brick‑and‑mortar microenterprises with five or fewer employees that experienced economic impacts from the 2025 Eaton wildfire or windstorm. The program is funded through federal Community Development
Block Grant allocations and supports eligible expenses not previously reimbursed by other sources. The application closed April 16, and applications are now under review.
d. Broad Foundation Open House
On February 25, Economic Development staff attended the Broad Foundation’s Family Office Annual Open House at its downtown Los Angeles office. This invite-only event brought together workforce development leaders, grantees, and local partners, offering the City of Pasadena an opportunity to connect with organizations advancing similar goals of expanding workforce opportunities across the Los Angeles region.
During the event, Economic Development staff connected with representatives from Per Scholas, a Broad Foundation grantee, as well as the head of intergovernmental relationships and development from the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (LADEO). Since then, staff has conducted follow-up meetings, including discussions with Per Scholas about the potential expansion of its no-cost tech training programs to Pasadena. Staff also engaged with LADEO’s life sciences liaison to explore upcoming opportunities tied to the department’s recently secured $24 million in state funding. This investment will support implementation of the region’s 5- Year Life Sciences Strategy, a cross-sector initiative aimed at strengthening Los Angeles’ bio-innovation ecosystem and creating 10,000 quality jobs by 2030.
3. Special Events & Conferences
a. NASA/JPL Site Tour
On February 27, Economic Development staff
visited NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in
Pasadena. The visit included a briefing on JPL’s
small business engagement and marketing
activities, as well as an overview of current
research in nanotechnology. Staff also
discussed opportunities for future collaboration
and learned more about upcoming research
priorities that could align with the City’s
Economic Development Strategic Plan related
to innovation. Staff will continue coordinating
with JPL to support components of the City’s
deep tech initiative and to strengthen our
partnership.
b. Regional Business Improvement Districts Convening
On April 7, Economic Development staff joined LA28’s Regional BIDs Convening at their headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles. The convening brought together business improvement district leaders to discuss high-level insights into LA28’s progress and planning efforts, including updates on games operations. LA28 provided an update on the “Look of the Games” and shared that a brand guidelines toolkit will be released, offering guidance on how to appropriately use LA28 marketing assets. Additionally, they shared information on procurement and small business outreach, including where to find opportunities and how to navigate the procurement process.
c. Pasadena Chamber Spring Soirée
Economic Development staff attended the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce & Civic Association’s Spring Soirée on March 26 at the Langham Huntington Hotel. The event brought together Chamber members and community partners to recognize local business milestones. During the program, Hahn and Hahn LLP received the Legacy Award in acknowledgment of more than 125 years of service to the Pasadena community. Councilmember Jason Lyon accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
d. LA–Netherlands Life Sciences and Healthcare Program
Economic Development staff participated in the LA–Netherlands Life Sciences and Healthcare Program on April 13, hosted by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s World Trade Center Los Angeles. The session brought together a delegation of Dutch life sciences and healthcare companies with regional government, business, academic, and nonprofit stakeholders to discuss opportunities for international collaboration and industry development. Participation in this program supports the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan by furthering work to champion Pasadena’s life sciences and deep‑tech sectors.
4. Technology & Innovation
a. Connect Week
Innovate Pasadena, in coordination with the Economic Development Division, held Connect Week from April 12–16. The program brought together local startups, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and Pasadena’s top educational institutions for a series of discussions and activities focused on technology, science, and entrepreneurship. Sessions throughout the week covered topics including quantum technologies, climate innovation, and a pitch competition, along with a VIP reception and happy hour event.
Connect Week continues to serve as a platform for highlighting Pasadena’s innovation ecosystem and its supporting partnerships.
b. NASA–JPL Initiatives Supporting National Space Policy NASA released an update outlining new initiatives to advance the United States’ National Space Policy. The plan includes work on lunar exploration, long‑term operations in low Earth orbit, scientific missions, and development of nuclear power and propulsion systems for spaceflight. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory will support several of these efforts as part of its federal mission responsibilities. The initiatives are intended to align upcoming programs and research investments with national space priorities.