Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2021 01 15

Home Browse Search

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes December 18, 2020 Page 2 of 4 maximum employee requirement and advocated that the grant amount be enough to make a difference for businesses Chair Dickinson noted his concurrence with almost all Mayor Pro Tern Maloney's points and said he felt the tiebreaker should be a discussion point since there would not likely be funding for all those that could apply. He agreed with staff's recommendation of $5,000 grants and suggested prioritizing funding by types of business: restaurants/bars, gyms/fitness users, and then limited health service providers. Councilmember Leh said that since relief from Level Red restrictions is not in sight, it made sense to benefit those most affected by this dial level. He suggested using applicant acknowledgements where possible to not add too much administrative complexity. He questioned whether the limitation on employees should still be included in eligibility to make sure the aid went to small businesses. The Committee discussed the potential for prior grant recipients to still participate in this program and whether they should be funded after others that had not yet received funding. With Director Pierce, they also reviewed some of the concerns from the Emergency Solutions Grant program regarding employment size and businesses that factor may have excluded. Mr. Oberholzer commented that the Committee should consider allowances for types of businesses that may have fallen through the cracks. He also suggested a tiered system for funding, possibly related to the amount of financial hardship a business has experienced. Mr. Rick Kron expressed gratitude for the additional funding to the Recovery & Improvement Matching Grant program. He said targeted and simplified grants were the most important item to consider. He suggested Louisville should be lobbying to be separated from Boulder County in terms of restrictions on businesses. He agreed with having businesses certify that they have experienced financial hardship. Ms. Barbara Butterworth agreed with Mr. Oberholzer's suggestions and said she liked the idea of tiered grant amounts. Following public comments on the item, Chair Dickinson revisited the decision points around grant eligibility with the Committee for consensus. They agreed on the eligible business types and prioritizing them for funding in the order of: restaurants/bars, gyms/fitness users, and limited health service providers. In the need to break a tie for amount of funding, staff would use first come, first serve. The Committee felt that it is too hard to measure damage in trying to get this program administered quickly and so agreed to have grants of one level at Agenda Packet P. 3