1 City of Santa Rosa Economic
Development Subcommittee Meeting
April 2025
Agenda
1. Call to order and roll call
2.Remote Participation
3. Modifications to the Agenda
4. Announcements
5.Approval of Minutes
6. Public Comments
7. Partner Reports
8. New Business Items
9. Matters held in Committee
10. Department Reports
11. Adjournment
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
7. Partner Reports
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
8. New Business Items
8.1 Economic Development Division Update
A) Economic Development Strategy Implementation Plan Update B) Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion Update
C) Entrepreneurship and Small Business Update
D) Economic Vibrancy and Resiliency Update
E) Community Investment Update
F) Metrics and Indicators
G) Special Projects Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Economic
Development
Strategy
Implementation
Plan Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Implementation Plan Progress as of April 1, 2025
BUSINESS GROWTH & RETENTION
ACTION ITEMS
PERCENTAGE COMPLETE
Objectives:
• Create Fiscal Stability
• Support Workforce
• Business-Friendly City
• Communication Strategy
• Increase Businesses
• Business Retention &
Expansion
• Support & Grow Businesses
• Support Entrepreneurship
• Remove Barriers
City of Santa Rosa
Economic Development Division
[email protected]
srcity.org/doingbusiness
ACTIONS:
1.Create a Virtual (online) and Physical One-Stop-Shop to support businesses
2.Obtain Software Platforms for Tracking and Reliable Demographics
3.Conduct a Business Gap Analysis, Existing Cluster Industry Analysis, and Key Emerging Industry Sectors Analysis
4.Identify Key Opportunities and Land Development Sites and Work with Outside Partners to Prepare and Market
5.Align Policies, Procedures, and Standards with Plans to Encourage Mixed-Use and Innovative Uses of Commercial Properties
6.Establish Site Visits and Open Communication with Businesses
7.Strengthen and Support Partnerships with Educational Organizations and Business Associations to Support Workforce Development Needs
8.Develop Incentive Packages to Attract Identified Key Industries
9.Create a Comprehensive Outreach and Marketing Plan (aka “Business Recruitment Plan”.) to Attract Identified Key Industries
10.Create a Streamlined Re-Tenanting Program with Clear Pathways for Re-Tenanting Retail, Restaurant, or Office Spaces
11.Align Efforts with Sonoma County to Create a Tandem Approach to Attraction Efforts
BUSINESS GROWTH & RETENTION
Implementation Plan Progress as of April 1, 2025
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SMALL BUSINESS
PERCENTAGE COMPLETE
Objectives:
• Create Fiscal Stability
• Support Workforce
• Business-Friendly City
• Communication Strategy
• Increase Businesses
• Business Retention &
Expansion
• Support & Grow Businesses
• Support Entrepreneurship
• Remove Barriers
ACTION ITEMS
ACTIONS:
1.Strengthen Support for Entrepreneurship through Incubator Organizations
2.Identify and Promote Available Funding Sources for Small Business Owners
3.Create Ombudsman Program for Technical Assistance and Process Support
4.Partner and Connect Students for Training Opportunities, Mentoring, and Workforce Development Upskilling
5.Meet with underrepresented (LGTBQ, Immigrant, BIPOC, and Women-Owned) Businesses to Identify Barriers and Build Pathways for Assistance and Support
6.Analyze Opportunities to Support Home-Based and Work from Home Entrepreneur Trends
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & SMALL BUSINESS
Implementation Plan Progress as of April 1, 2025
PERCENTAGE COMPLETE
ECONOMIC VIBRANCY & RESILIENCY
Objectives:
• Downtown Housing
• Increase Revenue
• Support Economy
• Walkable Neighborhoods
• Climate Action Goals
ACTION ITEMS
ACTIONS:
1.Expand Downtown Asset Strategy activating city-owned property for economic development purposes, to include housing and housing supportive amenities with an emphasis on sustainability and walkable neighborhoods
2.Establish an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District in Downtown
3.Ensure General Plan and Economic Development Strategic Plan alignment
4.Review and amend zoning code where needed to align with economic strategies in support of development initiatives and opportunities
5.Conduct a downtown infill housing economic and fiscal impact study
6.Create an Economic development fund to conduct feasibility studies
7.Explore, develop, and implement sports and entertainment as an economic driver for both residents and tourists
8.Continue to assess City Hall Complex redevelopment opportunities
9.Implement the public art program strategic plan
10.Support community events and activities through direct programming and grants
11.Champion sustainability and the City’s Climate Action
ECONOMIC VIBRANCY & RESILIENCY
Implementation Plan Progress as of April 1, 2025
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
PERCENTAGE COMPLETE
Objectives:
• Upstream Investment
• Support Diverse Needs
• Address Childhood Poverty
• Early Childhood Sector
ACTION ITEMS
OBJECTIVES:
1.Coordinate annual district-based surveys to solicit community input at a neighborhood level from all seven districts
2.Advance childcare support programs
3.Identify and capitalize on funding opportunities to expand upstream investment pilot programs
4.Use ARPA funds to continue pilot programs addressing childhood poverty and increase advanced education opportunities – continue implementation through expenditure of funds by end of 2024
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Business Attraction,
Retention and
Expansion Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Entrepreneurship and
Small Business Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Economic Vibrancy
and Resiliency Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Community
Investment Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Metrics and Indicators
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Special Projects Update
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
Pop Up Program
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting April 2025
Street Activation
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting April 2025
Farmers Market
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting April 2025
One Stop Shop
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting April 2025
End New Business
Public Comment on New Business
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
9. Matters Held In Committee
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
10. Department Reports
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025
11. Adjourn
City of Santa Rosa Economic Development Subcommittee
Meeting April 2025