Carpinteria City Council approves $100,000 COVID-19 grant and outdoor business permit programs

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - The Carpinteria City Council unanimously approved a plan to fund a $100,000 COVID-19 Relief Small Business Restart Grant Program.

Mayor Wade Nomura said, 'We're working with merchants to do all we can to make sure they have the resources they need to move ahead and get going. We have a lot of ground to catch up."

The passage of the resolution will amend the fiscal year budget. The $100,000 will come from Carpinteria's Economic Uncertainty Reserve.

The average grant will be $1,000, and unlike a loan it doesn't have to be paid back.

The grants will be used to help the Carpinteria business community get back on track.

City Manager David Durflinger said it will help restaurants, shops and salons comply with criteria needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The council also unanimously approved an outdoor business permit program that will allow businesses to get creative without completely closing down Linden Ave.

"The other is an allowance for business, restaurants in the particular, to use street rights of way, private parking lots, and common areas to expand their dining areas," said Durflinger.

The Mayor said he is optimistic about both programs.

"A lot of it is retail, specifically restaurants, people like that have been pretty hard by it, we are hoping this will get them back on their feet, also to make note, we know money spent in the community stays in the community," said Nomura.