1 Economic Development
Subcommittee Meeting
July 9, 2024
Strategic Plan Implementation Progress
Business Retention and Expansion
Santa Rosa Eats Restaurant Program- In partnership with Sonoma Small Business Development Center “SBDC” • This program will support participating BIPOC-owned restaurants that currently make $200-500,000 per year and will complete:
• A 6-session series (online or in person and Bilingual) of restaurant-specific training program classes • One-on-one advising sessions with restaurant industry experts • Courses include menu planning, marketing strategies, cost control, customer service, and financial management Purpose:
• Designed to assist 15-20 existing BIPOC restaurants in Santa Rosa • Invigorate revenue trajectory
• Stabilize if currently in decline
Goals:
• Long Term Stabilization
• Provide resources needed to foster a vibrant restaurant scene in SR • Increased job or job retainment
• Long-term expansion opportunities
2 Expected Outcomes:
• Increase in revenue
• Greater efficiency in operations, leading to
increased jobs and improved net profit
Virtual One-Stop Shop
3 Virtual One-Stop Shop
Business Attraction
Website Vision:
• Access business resources – CA
GoBiz
• 10 steps to starting a business- EDB
• Permitting path in Santa Rosa –
storefront, pop-up, food truck, etc.
• Business case studies/How-to videos
• Learn why SR is a great place to live
and do business
• Find suitable real estate sites for
your business
• SR Economic Development at a
glance
• New URL- srcity.org/GoBusiness
4 Business Gap Analysis
5 Business Gap Analysis and Clusters
Business Attraction
6 7
Preparatory Measures
8 9
Technology:
Costar is a comprehensive platform for area-specific commercial, office, and industrial real estate information, analytics, and news.
Hubspot- A comprehensive content management software designed to assist in lead generation tracking. Helps to achieve cross-functional alignment.
Vacant Building and Parcel Directory:
Overview:
Developed an internal vacant building directory updated monthly from multiple resources Purpose:
To assist our partners, businesses, and owners in filling vacant spaces with short-term and long- term uses.
Small Business Check-ins:
Conducted ten small business check-ins in June to kick off the ongoing program Preparatory Measures
Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion
New Marketing Overview
10 Marketing
Business Retention and Expansion
Community Vitality
Highlight Reels
• Social media campaign
• Areas of community offerings and events
throughout SR
• Video features
Business Resource Features
• Regularly feature available business
resources on Social Media and City
Connections channels
11 12
WEB ANALYTICS
JUNE 30, 2023 - JUNE 30, 2024
Total Visitors to website
7109 Last year
10,751 THIS YEAR
MOST (1) to LEAST VISITED (5) categories
2 1 3 5 4
Average visitors per month
592 Last year
895 THIS YEAR
Instagram followers
LAST YEAR: 7444
THIS YEAR : 8038
Facebook followers
13,515
Average cost per year - $90,000
Current Economic Updates
13 Current Economic Update - Informational
14 Office Industrial
Retail
Fire Station 5 Public Art
15 Fire Station 5 Public Art Winner
• Artwork: “Intersecting Infinity”
• Artist: Po Shu Wang: Artist from Berkley, CA shows
nationally and internationally focus on site specific
public artwork.
• Artwork Design:
• H 8’6”, W 8”, D 6”10
• Stainless steel
• Concept: The relationship between the generated
circles that coincide with key principles of birth,
growth and evolution. All in unison with the project
context of rebirth and resiliency. Stands in dynamic
balance with strength of phoenix rising.
16 Events
17 Events
39 Events permitted since January 2024 (SR Metro Chamber Blanket Permit and Economic Development Division)
Largest events :
• 3/22/2024 20th Annual Pliny the Younger Release - 12,000 • 5/8-7/31 Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market- 36,000
• 5/18/2024 Luther Burbank Rose Parade & Festival -10,000 • 6/1/2024 39th Sonoma County Pride- 12,000
• 9/28/2024 Railroad Square Music Festival- 6,000
• 5/5/2024 Santa Rosa Cinco de Mayo -5,000
18