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Home My WebLink About2025-10-23; Small Business Office Hours with the City’s Small Business Liaison (Districts – All); Rocha, LauraTo the members of th~: 1 "f:!::(_;OUN(ll Dat e ~CA V CC / CM ✓ ACM ___0;'cM (3) ~ Council Memorandum October 23, 2025 To: From: Via: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Matt Sanford, Economic Development Dg e117~r ? Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager ~ {city of Carlsbad Memo ID# 2025063 Subject: Small Business Office Hours with the City's Small Business liaison (Districts -All) This memorandum provides an overview of the City of Carlsbad's Small Business Office Hours pilot program, launched on July 8, 2025, to improve access to city resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The program, offered in partnership with the Carlsbad Library, provided in-person sessions with the city's Small Business Liaison for a three-month period ending September 30, 2025. Through the pilot, 30 businesses connected with city staff for the first time. The program generated positive feedback from participants and strengthened connections between the city and the local business community. Based on the pilot's success, staff plan to continue the program on an ongoing basis, resuming October 21, 2025. Background In October 2022, the City Council adopted the Carlsbad Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which identified economic vitality as one of the city's core goals. To advance this priority, the City Council adopted the Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) in January 2023. The EDSP provides a long-term framework to guide economic development efforts over a three-to five- year horizon while allowing for annual updates to respond to changing economic conditions. The plan is centered on four overarching goals: • Supporting small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs • Developing the workforce and attracting talent • Growing and supporting key industries • Encouraging placemaking and engagement Discussion A central component of the EDSP is the city's commitment to supporting Carlsbad's small business community. Small businesses make up the majority of Carlsbad's local enterprises and are a cornerstone of the city's economic vitality. Recognizing the unique challenges that small Administrative Services Branch Economic Development Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-5987 t Council Memo -Small Business Office Hours with the City's Small Business Liaison October 23, 2025 Page 2 • business owners face in navigating city processes, accessing resources, and planning for growth, the city has prioritized new approaches to engagement and assistance. This includes initiatives such as establishing a Small Business Liaison, convening industry events that include small businesses, piloting programs designed to increase accessibility to staff, streamlining regulatory processes, and connecting entrepreneurs with resources and partnerships. The Small Business Liaison program, launched in fiscal year 2024-25, was developed directly in response to recommendations from the Economic Development Subcommittee and feedback from the business community. By providing a dedicated point of contact within city staff, the program helps ensure that small businesses and entrepreneurs receive clear, consistent, and timely guidance. The Small Business Office Hours pilot builds on this foundation by offering an accessible, in-person opportunity for business owners to meet with staff in community- centered locations, strengthening the city's ongoing efforts to be a responsive and business- friendly partner. Program Overview To increase access to resources and personalized assistance, the city's Small Business Liaison, in partnership with the Carlsbad City Library, launched a three-month pilot program -Small Business Office Hours -on July 8, 2025. The program provided in-person opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs to meet directly with city staff for guidance on city processes, external resources, and general business development support. Office hours were held weekly on Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., alternating between Dove Library and Cole Library. Carlsbad City Libraries were chosen as a venue because they are accessible to the public and already seen as a resource for community members. This program demonstrated how Carlsbad City Libraries can also be a resource for local businesses. Appointments were available in 30-minute increments and could be scheduled on line through either the Library or city website. Of the available appointments, 85% were utilized. Utilization of the program was greater at Dove Library, with participants coming from all across the city. Staff theorized that the Cole Library may have had better utilization from Village area businesses, but that proved not to be the case. Sessions served as the first point of contact for many small business owners with the city's Economic Development team, offering clarity on city regulations, guidance on business needs, and connections to relevant departments or external partners. As common themes emerged, staff incorporated these topics into the city's small business workshop series, hosted with the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Council Memo -Small Business Office Hours with the City's Small Business Liaison October 23, 2025 Page 3 Topics covered included: • Navigating city processes • Business license requirements • Permitting and zoning • Business classification and usage • Home-based vs. commercial operations • Signage regulations • Code enforcement questions • Incentives, grants, and financial support • Connections to partner organizations • General navigation of city departments and contacts Program Outcomes Over the course of the pilot, staff engaged with 30 local small businesses -each a first-time engagement with the Economic Development team and city staff, in general. Participants included residents considering their first venture, existing business owners evaluating expansion, and non-profit organizations navigating city requirements. Businesses represented a range of industries, ownership types, and stages of growth, including women-owned and veteran-owned enterprises. Participants typically arrived with 5-10 questions spanning topics such as financing, signage, real estate, marketing, and networking opportunities. Expansion projects discussed ranged from 1,800 to 15,000 square feet, with most businesses in the retail or services sectors. Feedback was consistently positive. Businesses highlighted the program's accessibility, staff's personalized guidance, and the convenient library locations. Several participants noted that the sessions helped reduce stress and gave them a clear path forward. Sample participant feedback included: "You are seriously amazing -thank you so much for your time, your insight, and the thought and care you put into supporting local businesses. I really, truly appreciate it. Everything you shared is so helpful, and I can't tell you how much it means to have this support." "Thank you so much for your email, I really appreciate it and it was such a pleasure meeting and talking with you today. Can't tell you how much I appreciate all your time Council Memo -Small Business Office Hours with the City's Small Business Liaison October 23, 2025 Page 4 and expertise and resources. You guys are awesome and I'm so grateful to live in this community with such amazing people all working together." "Thank you so much! This quells my anxiety and now gives me a clear path! Much appreciated." Next Steps Based on strong participation and positive outcomes, staff will continue hosting Small Business Office Hours at the Dove Library on a weekly basis beginning October 21, 2025. Staff will also evaluate opportunities to enhance the program, including adding appointment slots, exploring additional locations, and aligning sessions with other small business resources and programming. cc: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager Cindie McMahon, City Attorney Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director Sheila Crosby, Deputy Library Director Katie Nye, Deputy Library Director Andrea Hilliard, Principal Librarian Laura Stanger, Principal Librarian Bill Sanwald, Senior Librarian Allyson Goodwin, Senior Librarian Madelyn Horton, Lead Librarian Darin Williamson, Lead Librarian Rachel Maltz, Small Business Liaison