1. CDBG-Funded Small Business Technical Assistance
Peggy Sheehan, Community Development Programs Manager
(360)
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2. Vancouver, Washington Located in Clark County in Southwest Washington
Part of the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area
Population: 173,500
Median household income: $50,626
Poverty rate: 14.8%
Unemployment rate: 6.0%
Private sector businesses: 4,937
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Sources: American Community Survey; U.S. Census Bureau; City of Vancouver

3. Vancouver CDBG & HOME funding
2016 entitlement:
$1,155,000 CDBG
$535,000 HOME
2016 CDBG Project Funding
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4. Why fund small business assistance?
4,937 private sector businesses
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5. Communication & Outreach
City of Vancouver business assistance
Communication & Outreach
Small business month
Social media & promotions
Vancouver Business Resource (on City website)
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6. Place-Based Strategies
City of Vancouver business assistance
Place-Based Strategies
Business districts
Innovation Partnership Zone
Farmers market business development
Mobile food vending downtown pilots
Innovation Partnership Zone
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7. City of Vancouver business assistance
Targeted Programs
Pre-Lease Program
Mobile food vending technical assistance
Adaptive Reuse Program
Brownfield assistance
Pre-lease walkthrough:
Business owner(s)
Business owner partners/team: realtor, contractor, architect
City staff: fire, land use, transportation, engineering, building, economic development, parking
Staff from other public agencies: health department, state liquor control board
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8. City of Vancouver business assistance
Removing Barriers
Startup in a Day
Permitting assistance
Vancouver Business Resource
SDC Assistance Program
Initiative to streamline licensing, permitting, and other requirements needed to start a business
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RECOGNIZED NEED: Technical Assistance Providers

9. Targeted redevelopment – Fourth Plain Forward
Fourth Plain Forward – Action Plan for Vancouver’s Multicultural Business District
2015 capstone workshop project completed by Portland State University Masters of Urban and Regional Planning students
Goals of cultivating a vibrant business district and stabilizing and growing small businesses in Vancouver’s Fourth Plain corridor subarea
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10. CDBG eligibility National Objective: Create economic opportunities
Activity: (o)(1)(ii) – Provision of technical assistance, advice and business support services to owners of microenterprises and persons developing microenterprises
Criteria for National Objective: (a)(2) – Limited clientele
Accomplishment Type: People (could also use Businesses)
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11. Solicitation Process RFP in 2014
Reached out to nonprofit business assistance providers working in nearby jurisdictions
Received two proposals and funded both – Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber and Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
Subsequent years – the agencies have applied through regular annual CDBG application process and received continued funding
In some years, City set-aside for economic development
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12. Technical assistance providers
Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber
Service provider with extensive TA experience and expertise serving communities of color, particularly Latino/Hispanic entrepreneurs
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
New TA provider, agency desire to become more relevant, opportunity to build community capacity
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13. Scope of work General business education
Market research and access to market data
Financial literacy and credit repair
Asset development
Development of business plan
Obtaining license, permit, certification, etc.
Financial management skills and systems
Marketing and social media
Access to loans and other sources of capital
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14. Participant eligibility
Must either:
Reside in Vancouver, or
Own a business or be in the process of starting a business in Vancouver
Majority of clients must be low/mod (80% AMI or below)
Self-certification of income (using Part 5 definition) and household members; backed up by income documentation
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15. Part 5 income eligibility
Gross income for all adult household members anticipated to be received in coming 12-month period
Includes wages, business income, pensions and retirement benefits, public assistance, unemployment income, alimony and child support
Also includes a percentage of the value of assets such as cash, retirement accounts, personal property (or total value of assets if cash value $5,000 or less)
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16. Tracking outcomes Serve 30 businesses annually
At least 75% of clients new to program each year
Agencies track:
Businesses newly created (based on licensing)
Jobs created / retained
Businesses accessing financing
Businesses experiencing an increase in gross revenue
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18. Frutas Locas Permits Business plan Marketing Outcomes: New business
Open store front in Fourth Plain revitalization area
Positive cash flow
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19. TriStar Family Chiropractic
Labor laws and employee registration
Financial analysis
Filing of quarterly taxes
Cash flow statement
Operations analysis
Outcomes:
Positive cash flow
Named Best 2016 Chiropractor by Vancouver Business Journal
Hired 2 people
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20. Nonavo Pizza Permits Business plan Projects and industry margins
Pre-lease assistance
Marketing/social media
Enrollment in Business IDA
Outcomes:
Open store front in downtown Vancouver
Positive cash flow
Received $10,000 in IDA funds
Employs 3 people
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21. Maximizing impact
Link technical assistance to revitalization efforts – Fourth Plain Corridor
Agency participation in Vancouver Small Business Month
Referrals from providers to City Pre- Lease Program
Referrals from providers to City-funded matched savings program
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22. CDBG-funded Individual Development Account (IDA)
City has used CDBG as match funding for Individual Development Account (matched savings account) for purpose of starting or expanding a business
4:1 savings match; funds can be used for business licensing and purchase of business-related assets
Guidance provided in Notice CPD-01-12
Assets for Independence, the federal source of IDA funding, has been cut – unclear what opportunities there will be in the future
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23. Going forward Continued advocacy for additional resources
Clark County CDBG funding for small business technical assistance to persons/business outside of Vancouver
City awarded $100,000 in 2017 CDBG funds (split between 2 agencies) for small business technical assistance; fourth consecutive year of support
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