Business News from the Island November 2022
Contents

- The Research Park at Marina Village: Evidence of Strong Life Science Industry

- "Turn-Key" Incubator Expansion Meets Startup R&D Space Demand

- Results of the Business Pulse Survey Are In!

- City of Alameda to Launch Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program in 2023

- City Makes Headway on Public Art Master Plan

- Community Development Welcomes New Members

- Shop Local 2022 Launches Supporting Alameda Businesses

- Façade Grant Program Leverages $850,000+ in Private Investment

- Pilot Program Provides Small Business Resources

- Alameda In the News

- Upcoming Events

The Research Park at Marina Village: Evidence of Strong Life Science Industry

During the last few years, an infusion of capital into the life science industry has spurred a thriving community at The Research Park at Marina Village, with over 3,000 employees on-site at approximately 30 life science companies. Under Blue Rise Venture’s leadership, the operating partner for The Research Park, companies are attracted by increased amenities, fifteen-foot ceilings, and improved lab space: perfect for R&D and advanced manufacturing. A recent addition is Eat Just — the pioneering food technology company — which completed their move of 156 employees into a 120,000 sq. ft. R&D space last May. 

Aware of the pandemics’ uneven impact on different industries, Blue Rise found ways to support restaurants and other local businesses heavily impacted by COVID, by sponsoring weekly lunches or yoga boot camps for tenants and their employees. “Being a good partner to the local community has been a pillar of our philosophy throughout our ownership,” Dan McGill, Partner, overseeing Construction and Development at Blue Rise, remarked. Despite increasing construction costs and capital requirements, The Research Park has strengthened its presence as a hub for Bay Area innovation, while staying connected to Alameda’s small business community.

"Turn-Key" Incubator Expansion Meets Startup R&D Space Demand

Community Development Department (CDD) staff recently toured the Bay Area Disruptor and Startup Support Labs (known by its iconoclastic acronym BADASS Labs) at 1010 Atlantic Avenue, in The Research Park at Marina Village. BADASS is one of the few life science incubators in the East Bay and distinguishes itself by providing “turn-key” space with an all-inclusive fee. The 25,000 square foot incubator provides office space, a freezer room, tissue culture and other equipment, communal wet lab space, discounted supplies, and high speed internet. It also offers highly desirable private lab space, between 500 and 3,000 square feet, for companies expanding out of the startup phase. 

Approximately 20 startup companies are located at the incubator with space for 15 more. Reflecting the high demand for startup lab space, BADASS has recently launched a second location in Alameda at 1650 Harbor Bay Parkway, home to eight more life science startup companies. Alameda is recognized as a major growth pole in the East Bay for highly innovative and technologically advanced companies, with over 30 life science companies in addition to the startups located at the incubator. 

Results of the Business Pulse Survey Are In!

In August of 2022 the City conducted an online survey of local businesses to better understand how businesses are doing, and what we can do to help. Most of the 182 respondents were small, long-running Alameda businesses. When asked how their businesses are doing, most reported that they are “holding steady“ or growing, with stable or increasing revenues. However, the impacts of the pandemic are still being felt by many businesses – particularly retailers, restaurants and bars. Two-thirds of retailers, restaurants and bars reported that they have not returned to pre-pandemic performance.

Supply chain issues were the most commonly cited current concern among the businesses surveyed, followed by the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking forward, however, businesses were most concerned about the national economic outlook, including inflation and the potential for recession.

The small businesses surveyed reported that information-sharing (through emails, webinars, etc.), grant programs (such as COVID-19 and Façade Grant programs) and marketing campaigns (such as Restaurant Week and Flavors of Alameda) were the City’s most helpful economic development services, and requested more of these services moving forward along with assistance filling vacancies in the business districts.

We expect to post a more thorough summary of results on the City’s website in the coming weeks, and will share the link in a future email. In the meantime, please contact Eric Fonstein at [email protected] for any questions.

City of Alameda to Launch Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program in 2023
Following direction from City Council last year to explore Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) as an anti-poverty policy mechanism, City staff (staff) developed a proposal to design and implement a pilot program that provides payments of $1,000 per month for 24 months to 150 low-income households. In May 2022, City Council approved the allocation of $4.6M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in order to proceed with the GBI pilot program.

Over the past several months, staff has focused on developing the program’s framework. As a part of this effort, staff has met with other local jurisdictions, regional and national experts, and community-based organizations to gain a better understanding of 1) best practices for program design and community engagement, and 2) potential partners for research, program implementation, and distribution.

Proposed project partners will be presented to City Council on November 15. Once approved, staff will then work with the selected partners to develop the pilot program structure and implement an extensive community engagement program. During this later phase of program development, staff will also work with its partners on the methodology to determine who is eligible, the application and selection process, and procedures to inform potential recipients on possible impacts on other benefits. Program launch is anticipated for Spring/Summer 2023.

City Makes Headway on Public Art Master Plan

Community Development Department has begun developing a Public Art Master Plan to help refine short and long-term priorities for the Public Art Program, bring greater equity in approaching public art in Alameda, and improve administrative and site selection processes. To assist with the development of the Public Art Master Plan, the City has contracted with Forecast Public Art, who has extensive experience working with both public and private partners all over the country on issues surrounding public art.

Forecast has conducted a series of one-on-one interviews and focus groups as part of initial outreach efforts. In addition, Forecast facilitated a discussion with the Public Art Commission to explore such topics as: defining public art, how public art should be dispersed throughout the City, the prioritization of temporary versus permanent art, and the benefits of focusing resources on local artists versus soliciting interest from national or international artists. Further opportunities for engagement with the public and Public Art Commission are planned over the coming months. Completion of the Public Art Master Plan is anticipated for early 2023.

Community Development Welcomes New Members
Scott Watson, Base Reuse Manager
Scott graduated with a Finance-Real Estate degree from Indiana University and started his career in multifamily lending / underwriting and eventually pivoted to real estate development in 2011. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2018, Scott has served as a construction project manager in the LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) and modular/3D printed housing spaces, but is eager to get back to his passion for development by joining the City of Alameda. Scott lives in Oakland with his wife and daughter.

Amanda Olson, Program Manager
Amanda will be leading and organizing our social service and housing initiatives. Before joining the City of Alameda, Amanda served individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Fremont as a Program Manager with local non-profit, Bay Area Community Services (BACS), developing programs, resources, and partnerships to aid in ending homelessness. Before her work with BACS, Amanda managed volunteer work experience programs for the San Jose-based Downtown Streets Team, where she served individuals and families at risk of homelessness and actively experiencing homelessness to gain self-sufficiency through individualized strength-based approaches. Amanda holds a BA in Psychology from San Jose State University.

Please join us in welcoming Scott and Amanda to the team!

Shop Local 2022 Launches Supporting Alameda Businesses

Shop Local this holiday season and support Alameda businesses. Remember, for every $1 spent locally, 67¢ remain in circulation in our economy.

For more information and a list of participating businesses, visit Shop Local 2022.

Click here to register your business today!

Façade Grant Program Leverages $850,000+ in Private Investment
Over the past year, the City has awarded grants totaling nearly $310,000 in the local commercial districts through Alameda’s Façade Grant Program. The City awarded 36 grants, which are expected to leverage over $850,000 in private investment spread across the Park Street Business District, Webster Street Business District and the Historic Station Areas. The total value of the anticipated improvements (public and private contributions) is approximately $1.16 million.

Through 50/50 matching grants up to a maximum of $15,000, the Façade Grant Program seeks to help local business and property owners spruce up their storefronts and improve the appearance of the City’s retail districts. Major project awardees in 2021/2022 included a new delicatessen on Lincoln Avenue called Island Savoy, a new wine bar concept on Park Street called Mo’s Wine Bar, as well as established Alameda businesses such as the Neptune Palace Hotel, Café Jolie, Ceron Kitchen, the Preacher’s Daughter, the majority of the Morton Street Station businesses, and Wescafe.

Pilot Program Provides Small Business Resources

As part of the New Leadership Challenge program from the California Library Association's "Developing Leaders in California Libraries" program, Alameda's Library Technician and Library School student, Fernanda Nunez Gutierrez worked with a partner to create an online small business toolkit with the intention of helping underrepresented adults gain confidence in their skills and abilities to start their own small business or grow an existing business.

Alameda was one of four libraries that piloted the project. Each library received marketing materials, a book collection on topics related to starting and growing a small business, as well as self-help job searching tools, resume and cover letter writing guidelines, and more. 

Alameda In the News

Groundbreaking Event Held for Dignity Village

Two tenants poised to lease nearly 130,000 square feet of industrial space at Alameda Point

Neighbors Support Clement/Tilden Project

Alameda County to auction off former Oakland Raiders headquarters and training facility

Approving the Housing Element is the Right Thing To Do

Upcoming Events

Nov. 10 4-5:15pm: The Future of Walking and Biking in Alameda

Nov. 11 at 11am: Veterans Day on the USS Hornet 

Nov. 17 3:30pm: Lincoln Park Play Structure Grand Reopening 

Nov. 26 11am-5pm: Magical Market's Small Business Saturday

Dec 3. 5:30pm: Lighted Yacht Holiday Parade 2022: Alameda-Oakland Estuary

Dec 10 10am-12pm: 20th Annual Breakfast With Santa

Dec. 17 11am-5pm: Magickal Market’s Yule Celebration