DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Alejandra Lopez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Establish a new Small Business Advisory Commission and rename the existing Small Business Advocacy Committee to the SBEDA Committee.
SUMMARY:
This resolution approves the creation of a new 15-member Small Business Advisory Commission to review upcoming policies, regulations and issues affecting small businesses and provide recommendations to Mayor and City Council. In addition, this resolution approves the renaming of the Small Business Advocacy Committee to the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Committee.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The San Antonio economy includes more than 37,000 small businesses representing 97% of employment firms. Small businesses are a driving force within the local economy and their challenges differ substantially from larger companies. While the needs are great, the City of San Antonio does not have a commission for small business owners to voice their opinions and policy recommendations outside of the Small Business Advocacy Committee, which has a narrow and purposeful function to advise on the effectiveness and modification of the SBEDA Ordinance that promotes the participation of small, minority and women owned businesses on city contracts.
ISSUE:
On October 3, 2019, District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha-Garcia submitted a Council Consideration Request proposing the creation of a Small Business Advisory Commission made up of 11 small business owners appointed by the Mayor and Council to provide feedback on proposed policies, outside the SBEDA Ordinance, that may impact small businesses. The Council Consideration Request was presented to the Governance Committee on November 14, 2019, where staff proposed a public engagement process to collect feedback from local small business owners on the potential creation of a new commission.
As a result, the Economic Development Department implemented ...
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