July 2, 2024
Economic Development
DATE: July 2, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nannette Beacham, Economic Development Director
Lizeht Zepeda, Senior Business Assistance Officer
Kyle Lam, Management Analyst
Subject:
Contract with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center for Assistance for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no net financial impact towards the general fund.
This initiative is supported with American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA) funds $650,000 (Account String 13661065-
400201-36033).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 5, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On December 5, 2023, the City Council appropriated
$1,250,000 in ARPA funds to support small businesses
disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The City of Richmond issued a Request for Proposals
(RFP) on May 10th, 2024, seeking qualified community-
based providers to deliver the required assistance. There was a total of 9 proposals received. Following a thorough review and interview process, city staff recommend that the City Council approve a contract with Renaissance
Entrepreneurship Center to provide the necessary
support to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
AGENDA
REPORT
July 2, 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the professional services contracts with
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center to provide
assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19,
in an amount not to exceed $650,000 with a term ending
December 31, 2026; and AUTHORIZE the city manager
or her designee to negotiate and approve additional
scope(s) of work, if necessary, for additional amounts not to exceed $100,000 – Economic Development
Department (Nannette Beacham 510-621-1306/Lizeht
Zepeda 510-620-6653/Kyle Lam 510-620-6802).
DISCUSSION:
Background
On December 5th, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 139-23, appropriating $1,250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds towards small business support and use the city’s definition of small businesses via Measure U, which was a business with less than $250,000 in gross receipts, location within a qualified census tract, impacted industries such as barbershops, hair salons, childcare; and businesses that had not already received assistance from federal governments.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
On May 10th, 2024, the City of Richmond released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking qualified community-based providers to assist small businesses through eligible avenues. The program aims to support small businesses disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The RFP was disseminated using the City of Richmond’s procurement procedures, with a Q&A period for potential candidates. Proposals were due on June 10th, 2024, and nine proposals were received.
The RFP sought the following activities. An applicant can specialize in one, some, or all of the following activities. Activities should be available in multiple languages based on need and demand.
1. Small Business Training includes but not limited to: business planning, financial management, graphic design, marketing and communications, human resources, legal services, technology solutions, and real estate/property services.
2. One on One Consulting including but not limited to: evaluating and adopting new technology, designing appropriate marketing solutions, setting up bookkeeping and accounting systems, managing employees, building financial skills, and other small business management topics.
3. Access to Capital includes but not limited to: helping businesses identify lenders and other sources of capital, prepare financial documentation, and complete applications for relevant grants and loans.
July 2, 2024
4. Other Activities can include development and oversight of business incubators, networking and mentorship opportunities, online marketplaces to sell products and services, and other activities designed to support small business growth.
5. Technical Assistance, Business Incubators, and Grants for start-up or expansion costs for small businesses. Only available to disproportionately impacted small businesses.
6. Grant Administration for small businesses.
Selection Process
A total of nine proposals were received from qualified service providers. An evaluation committee, composed of individuals from the Economic Development Department’s Business Division, the Environmental Health Initiatives (EHI) Division, and the Children and Youth Department, was formed to review each proposal. Using a point-based system, the committee scored each proposal based on the evaluation criteria listed below. The top three proposals were selected by ranking the average scores. The committee's tasks included ensuring each proposal's completeness and narrowing down the options to the top three proposals for interviews.
The following list are the proposals received:
1. Alliance for Community Development
2. CoBiz Richmond
3. East Bay Small Business Development Center
4. Geocko, Inc. dba FORWARD
5. MakeGreenGo Inc.
6. Mitchell Productions
7. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
8. Revby LLC
9. Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative Inc.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposal reflects understanding of the City’s goals and objectives; proposal is complete in its responses to all RFP elements
15%
Proposed Program Model, including service delivery approach, staffing model, and alignment with recognized effective practices 25%
Relevant qualifications and experience, including demonstrated program outcomes and experiences with target small businesses
25%
Cost of proposed services and ability of applicant to leverage in-kind or private/public funding resources
20%
Regional reputation and references 15%
Following the evaluation, the committee narrowed the selection to three proposals based on ranking the average scores of the proposals.
The three finalists were:
July 2, 2024
1. East Bay Small Business Development Center
2. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
3. CoBiz Richmond
These three teams were invited for virtual interviews. The interviewing panel was composed of the Economic Development Department - Business Division Staff and a staff member of the Economic Development Department of the City of Antioch. Each applicant was informed they would have 10 to 15 minutes to present their proposal, followed by a Q&A session.
Subsequently, after the interview, based on the average rank of the interviewees, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center was selected.
Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center
Launched in San Francisco in 1985, Renaissance began working in Richmond in 2008.
They introduced off-site small business training classes and consulting services in the Richmond Public Library, partnering with organizations like the Latina Center and the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, Renaissance opened their Richmond Center in the Iron Triangle District at 1500 MacDonald Avenue. In 2023, they moved across the street into CoBiz, Richmond’s first coworking space, where Renaissance was a founding partner. Renaissance provides experienced counsel from small business professionals and delivers comprehensive services from inception to planning, access to capital, and ongoing assistance required to start and grow a business. They are locally focused, community-driven, and highly personalized, bringing a compassionate understanding of the needs, skills, challenges, and dreams everyone brings to the table.
Renaissance collaborates extensively with partner organizations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area to deliver comprehensive support for entrepreneurs. These partnerships involve securing capital, sharing best practices, making referrals, and promoting programs and services. Key collaborators include government agencies like the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and East Bay Small Business Development Center (SBDC), along with local entities such as the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, economic development agencies, and community-serving nonprofits.
Among these partners, CoBiz stands out as a pivotal collaborator, where Renaissance has been a tenant since January 2023 and helped establish the space. CoBiz provides a collaborative workspace and vital resources that have proven crucial for small businesses, particularly during challenging times. Renaissance plans to leverage CoBiz for quarterly networking events and outreach to Richmond residents, enhancing awareness of grants and training opportunities while fostering community engagement.
Another significant partner is The Latina Center in Richmond, where Renaissance collaborates to empower Latina women through entrepreneurial training and support.
This partnership focuses on building economic independence and business skills
July 2, 2024
through mentorship, workshops, and access to resources. Together, Renaissance and The Latina Center aim to cultivate a supportive environment where Latina women can flourish as business owners, contributing to the economic strength of the Richmond community.
All of Renaissance’s programs and services are free and are designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs from under-resourced communities and populations. They equip entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, and support needed to develop small business expertise, access capital and networks, build capacity, and position their businesses for success. Renaissance is proposing the following programs and services, in English and Spanish, from July 1, 2024 - December 31, 2026 to 200 aspiring and established Richmond entrepreneurs. Of the 200 clients, approximately 45 eligible business owners will receive grants of $5,000 - $10,000 (totaling $350,000).
Recommendation and Next Steps
City staff is requesting approval for a contract with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center for technical assistance and grant administration, with a total contract amount not to exceed $650,000. Within this total, compensation to the contractor for these services will not exceed $300,000. The term begins July 3, 2024, through December 31, 2026. Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center has demonstrated an exceptional ability to fulfill the project and outcome of goals of supporting small businesses in the City of Richmond.
Next Steps
Following City Council approval, City staff will finalize the contract with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and arrange to begin the program of technical assistance and grants for small businesses. Staff will coordinate to ensure a smooth initiation of the work outlined in their proposals, including setting timelines, establishing points of contact, and detailing deliverables. Regular progress meetings will be scheduled to monitor the advancement of each project and to address any issues promptly.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Request for Proposals Posted Online (RFP) Attachment 2 – Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center Contract Attachment 3 – Scoring Matrix