Launch Local!
Program Guidelines
This guide offers an overview of the Launch Local Program and application process.
Overview
Launch Local! is the City’s pilot program designed to lower the barriers to entry for businesses looking to open a brick-and-mortar space.
Through the program, the City is the landlord of City-owned vacant retail spaces on El Camino Real and Grand Avenue, leasing these spaces to various pop-up tenants for a 12-month term. Lease terms are set at $1 per square foot. Long-term lease options may be negotiated with the City based on the initial 12-month term. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Background
The economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, inflation, ADA litigations, and the rise of remote work have severely impacted businesses in South San Francisco. Like many communities in the past several years, small businesses in South San Francisco have experienced economic challenges, which cause an uptick in vacant storefronts in commercial corridors. Vacant storefronts are often associated with increased maintenance challenges, including graffiti and vandalism, and can contribute to perceptions of neglect in business districts, potentially impacting surrounding property values.
Launch Local! aims to provide a strategic framework to address these challenges by:
Stabilizing the South San Francisco commercial real estate market by:
Reducing operating costs for businesses
Creating pathways to permanent tenancy by allowing new business concepts to be tested Maintaining Downtown and El Camino Real as thriving commercial destinations by:
Activating and filling vacant storefronts
Cultivating a vibrant and dynamic retail environment
Encouraging local entrepreneurship and expanding business opportunities by:
Lowering barriers to entry for aspiring business owners through subsidized commercial rents Providing “test pilot” opportunities for new and growing businesses to scale successfully The tenant would assume some proportion of the NNN costs of operating the property, based on space used or other arrangements.
The City welcomes all lease proposals for ground-floor retail space. However, the most successful tenants are expected to be those offering retail merchandise or experiential services that are not currently available in the existing corridors. Please note that these spaces are not equipped for food service. The City encourages proposals that enhance the streetscape and social environment of the surrounding area. Applicants should propose concepts that appeal broadly to diverse customer bases, complement rather than compete with nearby businesses, and provide a memorable experience to potential customers and window shoppers.
Priority will be given to small businesses and entrepreneurs who have successfully completed at least one of the Renaissance programs at the Economic Advancement Center (EAC). Eligible applicants must be for-profit businesses seeking their first brick-and-mortar location in South San Francisco. The program is open to businesses without a storefront and is not limited to those with a business license in South San Francisco. Nonprofits are not eligible for this program, but for-profit businesses that meet the criteria will be considered. Additional eligibility requirements may include demonstrating a viable business plan and the capacity to operate in a retail environment.
Eligibility
Successful applicants meet the following minimum qualifications:
Experience in the operation and management of a retail, service, and/or a business plan demonstrating a clear plan for operation and management.
Demonstrated managerial and staffing resources to maintain a high quality, successful operation.
Demonstrated financial capacity to finance operating costs and initial lease.
Lease Terms
City staff will draft a lease agreement with the selected tenant(s) to be submitted to the City Council for final approval.
Timeline
Leases will run for an initial term of twelve (12) months with monthly evaluation of sales by the City. Additional options are dependent on additional interest, space availability, etc.
Space Selection
City Staff will determine the placement for selected tenants in available spaces. City reserves the right to relocate pop-up tenants, as needed.
Terms
Leases will run for an initial term of twelve (12) months with monthly evaluation of sales by the City.
Basic Terms:
City reserves right to select and relocate pop-up tenants, as needed.
City monitors tenant sales reports.
City streamline of permits for tenant b businesses and minor TI’s, if needed.
Rent
Tenants will be responsible for:
Security Deposit - $2.00 per square foot
Rent - $1.00 per square foot
Any additional triple net costs – variable
Tenant Improvement Allowance
Selected businesses can qualify for up to a $10,000 tenant improvement allowance, disbursed as rent credit. The final allowance amount is determined by Council approval, based on the specific upgrades needed to make the space move-in ready, as outlined in the tenant’s proposal. The Tenant Improvement Allowance, disbursed as a rent credit, does not apply to the required security deposit, which remains the tenant’s responsibility.
Other Costs
In addition to rent, tenants are responsible for the following:
Insurance
Utilities and garbage pickup
Security Deposit
City of South San Francisco Business License
Required Hours of Operation
Minimum hours of operation must be at least:
A minimum of seven (7) hours per day, between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM daily.
A minimum of five (5) days per week.
Open between the hours of 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM is encouraged.
How to Apply
To apply, interested parties must submit a completed online application at www.ssf.net/retail.
To prepare for the application, you will need:
A signed cover letter with primary contact information; Company profile and qualifications;
A detailed business concept, including product/service description, target audience, experience, and intended impact on local corridors; Business status (e.g., online-only, new, or existing business seeking relocation); A business plan; and
Financial projections
Important Dates:
RFI Issued
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Deadline for RFI Questions
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
RFI Q&A Posted
Thursday, April 17, 2025, or sooner
Proposals Due
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Selection of Businesses
Friday, May 30, 2025
Contact: Katie Donner, Management Analyst | [email protected] | (650) 829-4601