Business News in Brief

Quarterly newsletter for the Santa Barbara business community.

Winter 2022/23

Welcome Message

Hello, I am Jason Harris, the City’s Economic Development Manager presenting the City’s inaugural quarterly business newsletter. The City values our business and nonprofit community and wants to ensure your business or organization is kept informed and knows about the technical and financial assistance resources available to support your operation and investment.

Business News

City Launches Online Business License Portal and Announces Changes to Business Licenses Renewal Period

In an effort to improve tax and license administration services and enhance customer service, the City has launched an online business portal and has moved to a calendar-year business license renewal period. All business licenses are expected to be renewed in January 2023.

Is Downtown Ready For A Community Benefit Improvement District?

The City of Santa Barbara delivers many services that help businesses thrive, but some commercial districts want additional services beyond what the City provides. The City Council adopted a local enabling ordinance in 2021 to facilitate the formation of Community Benefit Improvement Districts (CBID) which allows property owners to assess their properties to fund special services in their district.

Adoption of 2022 Building and Fire Codes

Every three years, the State of California amends and adopts updates to the International Construction Codes. The City in turn adopts the State’s updates and any local amendments by ordinance. These then become the governing construction codes for Santa Barbara.

Silicon Riviera – A Tech Industry Advocate

Peter Sullivan, Jackpocket CEO, opened his software company’s West Coast headquarters in Santa Barbara during the pandemic and wants to help support, promote and grow the Central Coast’s technology and innovation ecosystem. With that goal in mind, he is working with the Santa Barbara Foundation to form a nonprofit trade organization, Silicon Riviera, to help link local startups to capital funding sources, connect mentors to budding entrepreneurs, and launch philanthropic initiatives.

To learn more visit: https://www.siliconriviera.org/

State Street Job Fair Surpassed Expectations

On September 28, 2022, Santa Barbara Public library in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board hosted a job fair on the 700 block of downtown State Street. More than 40 businesses ranging from hospitality to nonprofits, and aerospace to healthcare engaged with 225 registered job seekers and an additional 700 members of the public who came by the event which exceeded attendance expectations.

There will be another job and resource fair planned for February.

End of COVID State of Emergency Orders

On October 17, 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on February 28, 2023, charting the path to phasing out one of the most effective and necessary tools that California has used to combat COVID-19.

Additionally, the City’s Economic Recovery Extension and Transition Ordinance that allowed the temporary closure of streets and temporarily suspended the regulations to allow commercial uses to operate outdoors within the public right of way and on private property ends on December 31, 2023. Due to the high volume of activity on the closed portion of downtown State Street the City has focused on updating the guidelines to the outdoor dining areas and ADA enforcement. Recently Council directed staff to expand ADA enforcement to all parklets citywide. Staff is evaluating the temporary parklet use and is expecting to seek Council direction in the coming months on whether to pursue a permanent parklet program. Stay tuned for more information on this topic.

Public Counter Service Hours

City Hall Business License and Utility Payments

City Hall Business License and Utility Payments at 735 Anacapa St. are open for walk-ins Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and on alternating Fridays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Land Development

Public Counter Walk-In Hours at Garden Street

Building & Safety, Planning, and Public Works permit counters at 630 Garden St. are open for walk-ins Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-noon. No appointment is required.

Virtual Appointments for Land Development staff

Virtual counter services are available Monday through Thursday, and alternating Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Talk to City staff where you can share computer screens via Zoom. Appointments are scheduled for 20 minutes to answer general questions and must be scheduled 24-hours in advance. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Business News

Events and Meetings

January 10

Council Items

– Resolution/Public Hearing Modifying the 2022 Santa Barbara South Coast Tourism Business Improvement Management District Plan

- Proposed State Street Outdoor Business Facility Charge

2 p.m., David Gebhard Room, 620 Garden St. or online

January 24

Council Item - State Street Master Plan Update

2 p.m., City Council Chambers, City Hall, 735 Anacapa St. or online

January 24

Become a City Certified Sewer Lateral CCTV Inspector

7:30-9 p.m., Cabrillo Recreation Center

February 16

State Street Advisory Committee

3-6 p.m., MTD Auditorium, 550 Olive St.

February 25

Eastside Job Fair

11-1 p.m., Eastside Library, 1102 E. Montecito S

Job Seeker/Employer Workforce Resources

The Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board (SBCWDB) assists job seekers with free training or finding employment. SBCWDB also strategizes with businesses to recruit, develop and train their workforce and assist job transitions due to closures or reductions. Contact Alma Janabajab, Business Services at alma@sbcwdb.org for more information.

Business Assistance Resources

Economic Development Collaborative EDC's focus is to promote an abundant economy in our region by creating partnerships businesses and educational institutions and training to maintain the quality of life in the Ventura and Santa Barbara region, click here.

SCORE, the nation's largest network of expert business mentors and volunteers, is dedicated to helping small businesses take off, grow and achieve their goals, click here.

Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) is a local, non-profit organization that provides resources to residents in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties to start, improve, or expand their own small businesses. For more information, click here.

Recursos en Espanol

El Colaborativo del Desarrollo Económico El enfoque de EDC es promover una economía abundante en nuestra región creando alianzas con empresas e instituciones educacionales y entrenamientos para mantener la calidad de vida en la región de Ventura y Santa Bárbara, haga clic aquí.

SCORE, la red de mentores empresariales expertos y voluntarios más grande del país, se dedica a ayudar a las pequeñas empresas a despegar, crecer y alcanzar sus objetivos, haga clic aquí.

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) es una organización local, sin fin lucrativa, que ofrece recursos a residentes en los condados de Santa Bárbara y Ventura para comenzar, mejorar o expandir sus propios pequeños negocios. Para mas informacion, haga clic aquí.

Thank you for your interest in this newsletter. For more information or comments on how we can better serve you, feel free to reach out.

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