Apply today to become a vendor at the Better Block Milpitas event on November 5-6, 2021. Local Milpitas vendors are highly encouraged to apply and will be given preference! More information about the event and the application can be found at www.betterblock.org/milpitas. Vendor applications are due September 27. The Better Block event also seeks volunteers and performers to participate in the event so if you know anyone who may be interested, please feel free to share through your networks.

The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program grants up to $25,000 to eligible small businesses. More information about eligibility requirements and the upcoming rounds can be found on their website.

Who Can Apply: New applicants and waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds. Applicants not selected to move forward in the review process in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, or 7 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 9. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com

In June 2021, the City of Milpitas adopted a law to protect residents from exposure to secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing and in outdoor areas. As of July 15, 2021, smoking is prohibited in the following outdoor areas:

Smoking is already prohibited in outdoor dining areas and parks and trails in Milpitas.

The ordinance also prohibits smoking in multi-unit housing as of January 1, 2022, including:

The City has a limited number of free “no smoking” signs available for posting at local businesses and multi-unit residential buildings. Please contact the Planning Department at (408) 586-3279 or planningdepartment@ci.milpitas.ca.gov.

For more information about the ordinance, please visit this website. The full text of the Ordinance is available in Chapter 215 of the Milpitas Municipal Code.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Milpitas created a no-fee Temporary Outdoor Dining Registration Program to support local restaurants and provide opportunities for Milpitas residents and visitors to enjoy being out in the community. We were pleased to see many restaurants register with the City and set up safe outdoor dining areas for their customers on a temporary basis.

In July, the City extended the Outdoor Dining Registration Program through September 30, 2021. Participating restaurants must continue to comply with State and local safety regulations, as well as the City's Guidelines for Outdoor Dining, outlined in this letter. The Extended Outdoor Dining Registration Program will end on September 30, 2021.

The City intends to implement a new program in early 2022 to allow permanent outdoor dining. This new program will require changes to the City's Zoning Ordinance as well as input from the City Council and the community, so it will take a few months to develop. In the meantime, local restaurants that wish to continue outdoor dining operations after September 30th must submit a new registration form to the Milpitas Planning Department. The registration form is available at: www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov/planningdepartment. Restaurants that do not submit the new form must stop outdoor dining operations and remove all temporary improvements after September 30, 2021.

Please read the full letter for more details on the application process and full list of local guidelines. If you have questions about the information in this letter, please call 408-586-3279 or email outdoor.dining@ci.milpitas.ca.gov. We appreciate the opportunity to work with you to extend outdoor dining options in Milpitas through September 30, 2021 and beyond.

If you have any questions or need business assistance, please visit our website. Additionally, do not hesitate to contact the Office of Economic Development team by sending us an email. Assistance is available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and other languages. The pandemic has created hardship for Milpitas families and businesses alike. Please know that we stand with you as you navigate your way out of the pandemic. We are here to help you!