HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12102013 - C.70RECOMMENDATION(S):
APPROVE the Substantial Amendment to the County's FY 2013/14 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)
Action Plan by allocating an additional $18,000 in CDBG funds to the West Contra Costa Business Development
Center, and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute an amendment to the
existing contract with the West Contra Costa Business Development Center.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No General Fund impact. CDBG funds are provided to the County on a formula allocation basis through the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CFDA# 14.218
BACKGROUND:
On May 7, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved the Contra Costa County FY 2013/14 Action Plan for the
allocation of CDBG funds. The West Contra Costa County Business Development Center (WCC BDC) was awarded
FY 2013/14 CDBG funds to provide business assistance services to small businesses/microenterprises in Contra
Costa County. The WCC BDC services include business plan development, financial organization assistance,
business organization/formalization assistance, marketing assistance, and business capital assistance. The additional
$18,000 in CDBG funds will allow the WCC BDC to provide additional technical assistance to small
businesses/microenterprises in
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 12/10/2013 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Gabriel Lemus,
674-7882
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: December 10, 2013
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Stacey M. Boyd, Deputy
cc:
C.70
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation and Development Director
Date:December 10, 2013
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Substantial Amendment to the County FY 2013/14 CDBG Action Plan - Allocation of additional CDBG funds to
West Contra Costa Business Development Center
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
understanding their rights and responsibilities to comply with California Senate Bill 1186 (SB 1186) and the
American with Disabilities Act.
The WCC BDC, in partnership with the San Pablo Economic Development Corporation (SPEDC), will provide six to
ten educational workshops to small businesses/microenterprises throughout the County on SB 1186. SB 1186 was
signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on September 19, 2012, and was meant to curb attorney demand letters for
money and frivolous lawsuits against businesses filed under the guise of the American with Disabilities Act.
Although SB 1186 is meant to provide businesses a process and protection from frivolous lawsuits, many small
businesses/microenterprises are unaware of the process and protection and continue to be taken advantage of by not
knowing their rights and responsibilities under SB 1186. According to the SPEDC, some small businesses in the
County have closed down as a result of unnecessarily paying off to settle a potential lawsuit or have closed down as
a result of getting a demand letter from an attorney that threatens a potential lawsuit. The additional $18,000 will pay
for staff time and materials to provide the workshops to businesses at various locations throughout the County. At a
minimum, there will be two workshops each in east, central, and west Contra Costa County.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Not awarding the additional funds will result in delays in providing the workshops to small businesses and could lead
to additional businesses deciding to close down unnecessarily.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The WCC BDC furthers the Children's report card outcome of "helping families be safe, stable, and nurturing
through economic self-sufficiency."