Election season in full swing: SJDA's Weekly Message to Businesses

This is the 44th Weekly Message to Businesses from San Jose Downtown Association since the end of the COVID-19 "tier" system June 15.

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To our members:

As we report at the beginning of every issue, this message to businesses is now going into its third year. It was born out of the need for disseminating information about health department mandates impacting our members, as well as pandemic relief programs and grants available to local businesses. As we mentioned in last Thursday’s message, the health department has not sent a news release in over a month, and small business grants are becoming scarce.

You will note that this issue is less about the pandemic and more about issues and topics we think you might want to know about.

Do you enjoy receiving this newsletter? Are there topics of interest to you that we are not currently addressing? Has this vehicle served its purpose and lost its relevance? Please drop me a note at nwilliams@sjdowntown.com and let me know your thoughts.

In Today's Message

SJSU Office of Innovation Seeks Alumni Input
Microbusiness Grants Still Available
Candidate Forums for District 3 and Mayoral Race
Katia McClain Receives Latinx Leadership Award
Downtown and Silicon Valley in the News

Feedback Sought From SJSU Alum
The SJSU Office of Innovation is focused on nurturing and growing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that will enhance the impact of SJSU research. Office objectives include growing industry collaboration, creating impact from SJSU innovation, and growing the number and quality of SJSU-affiliated startup companies.

In creating campus-wide innovation programs to support SJSU-affiliated entrepreneurs in the creation and development of startup companies, they are seeking alumni input to better understand the need for and the type of services that are important to the SJSU community. Your input will help in the review and decision-making process as they develop the new programs.

Please take 5 minutes to complete the San Jose State University Startup and Entrepreneurship Support Poll. If you complete the entire poll by April 15, 2022, you could win one of three SJSU logo umbrellas.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Financial Opportunity

Microbusiness Grants are still Available
To qualify for one of the $2,500 grants from the California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Program, you must have been in business in 2019, have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, made less than $50,000 in total revenue in 2019, and have less than five employees.

Applicants’ businesses must still be operating or plan to reopen in 2022. Small businesses can apply via online application, available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and applications will be accepted until the funds are depleted.

Candidate Forums

The June 7 Primary is just a little over two months away and candidates for Mayor and District 3 Council representative are campaigning in force. For those who are invested in the future of downtown San Jose, this is an important election and we encourage business owners to get to know the candidates. We will share opportunities to do so as we learn about them, such as these upcoming in April:

SV@Home Mayoral Candidate Forum
April 8 | 6-7:30 p.m. | 350 W. Julian Street #5

SV@Home District 3 Candidate Forum
April 14 | 6-7:30 p.m. | 350 W. Julian Street #5

SAP Center Mayoral Forum, moderated by SJDA CEO Scott Knies
April 27 | 7 p.m. | 525 W Santa Clara Street
The goal of this forum is to allow the mayoral candidates to share their vision and plan for how they plan to protect SAP Center during the upcoming massive transformation of SAP Center’s neighborhood, including Google’s Downtown West development, the large-scale expansion of Diridon Station for BART and high speed rail, as well as several other significant planned private developments in the area.

Who Will Lead the Future of San Jose?
April 28 | 6-7:30 p.m. | 149 S 9th Street | Register
SJDA and SPUR are co-presenting a mayoral candidate forum (in-person) at the San Jose State University Student Union Theater. Hear where the candidates stand on the city’s most pressing challenges, including homelessness, housing costs, transportation investments and the economy.

SPUR Update

SPUR’s Next Projects in San Jose
Since 2018, one of SPUR’s top priorities has been research and planning for Guadalupe River Park, and are now moving forward with policy ideas for the river park and other areas in and around downtown San Jose, supported by essential funding from the Knight Foundation. In addition to exploring governance models for the river park, SPUR’s work will focus on commercial corridors including Coleman Avenue, Santa Clara Street and Alum Rock Avenue. They are also working with the city to develop an ongoing Al Fresco program to support community life and businesses as the city emerges from the pandemic. Read more about SPUR projects in San Jose.

Public Meeting

SJDA April 15, 2022 Public Meeting Notice: Homeless Solutions
San Jose Downtown Association's April 15 public meeting will focus on homelessness, mental and behavioral health challenges. Hear from Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, City and County staff on how service delivery innovations, proposed temporary and permanent housing options and the County's mental health and substance abuse State of Emergency will impact downtown San Jose.

Attendees can attend in person at Tabard Theatre or watch from home or office online. Both ways, the meeting begins at 8:15 a.m. Register here to attend in person at Tabard Theatre.

For all guests attending in person, proof of vaccination will be required at the door. Masking is encouraged but not required. Click here for complete COVID protocols at Tabard Theatre. Register here to attend via Zoom Webinar.

Thank you to our co-sponsors The Tabard Theatre Company, Nirvana Soul and Pinnacle Peak Advisors LLC. Visit sjdowntown.com’s public meeting page for more information.

SJDA Member News

Congratulations to Katia McClain of Steinberg Hart for being honored with a Latinx Leadership Award from the Silicon Valley Business Journal at a ceremony held in downtown San Jose on April 1. Katia was recognized for her work toward creating architectural inclusion by focusing on the human experience in her designs.

Job Postings

Downtown is Hiring Web page updated for next wave of new employees
The Downtown is Hiring website is continually being updated, and we have heard from you that several open positions have now been filled. Please let us know when you have a new job posting, or are no longer accepting applications for a posted position so that we can keep the site current. The website was created for our members and we encourage you to use it.

Downtown San Jose and Silicon Valley in the News

Recent media reports involving Downtown San Jose/Silicon Valley. Subscriptions may be necessary to see the article:

Links

Freshly updated and categorized!
Health Links

Workplace Safety

Grants and Loans

City / County / State / Federal

Let us know how else we can help your business by replying to this email. We’ll have another message next week.