San Mateo County will soon begin accepting applications for a support fund for small businesses in North Fair Oaks affected by redevelopment along Middlefield Road, for those experiencing financial hardship due to an improvement project of highways delayed by record winter rains and other challenges.
Thus, San Mateo County supervisors voted to allocate nearly one million dollars to the Middlefield Road Small Business Assistance Program.
Eligible businesses can apply for grants totaling up to $10,000 to help pay payroll, rent and keep doors open during a project that promises significant benefits but has taken longer than expected.
“The pandemic, the change in the workforce and the ongoing construction have created the perfect storm. Our businesses need help now,” said Supervisor Warren Slocum, who proposed the relief grants in his district.
"When the project is complete, families will enjoy wider sidewalks, new streetlights, free public Wi-Fi, small businesses to frequent, and much more," he added. “Many of these companies only need a short-term financial boost in order to stay afloat long enough to see benefits.”
“This grant would go a long way to keep us afloat during construction,” said Mariela Peralta of Cuco's Burritos, who estimated that businesses have been cut by as much as 60 percent due to access issues. "Every week we are fighting."
With the business in the Shawarma Palace, co-owner George Saman closed the restaurant to foot traffic temporarily to focus on catering until the street and parking situation improves.
Saman said he hopes the funds will help his business stay open long enough "to enjoy the fruits when the street is full? It's going to be beautiful."
The project is to transform a busy stretch of Middlefield Road through North Fair Oaks into a destination with a downtown feel. In addition to road work, the project includes the placement of underground utilities and the installation of modern infrastructure including technological upgrades and more.
The authorities highlighted that the record rains recorded during the winter contributed to the delays that are causing longer than expected impacts.
To qualify for the grants, small businesses must meet a number of criteria, including being physically located and operating on Middlefield Road between Douglas Avenue and Fifth Avenue with a customer service store; have fewer than 25 employees; and have suffered proven economic losses due to construction work.
Other criteria include being independently owned and operated or, if franchised, half owned by county residents.
The Community Affairs Office, which is already working with eligible businesses, will provide outreach and application assistance. The first distributions are expected by the end of this month.
Establishments that are not eligible to receive a grant include cannabis businesses or that support cannabis businesses, liquor and tobacco stores, as well as cigarette or vape shops.
You may be interested in: Has anti-Asian hate crime really decreased?
