VTA’s goal is to support the local small business community and provide targeted resources to help alleviate potential disruptions during major construction of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension (BSVII) Project. The Business Resource Program (BRP) will focus on helping small businesses who often rely on foot traffic, such as "mom-and-pop" eateries and shops.
What is the purpose of VTA’s Business Resource Program (BRP)?
The BRP will enhance small business resiliency, encourage foot traffic to businesses that rely on “walk-in” customers, support businesses through technical guidance and marketing assistance, provide grant funding to assist businesses during construction-related disruptions, and create positive community benefits beyond the Project itself.
What is included in the BRP?
The BRP is comprised of four key elements
- Shop Local Marketing (SLM) is a branded marketing campaign that provides signage and wayfinding, posters, social and digital media promotional posts, business spotlights, a Local Vendor List, and more. Various types of signage will be installed throughout the Project alignment that promotes Eat, Shop, Local and participating businesses.
- Signage & Wayfinding provides a variety of physical signs installed throughout the Project alignment to direct people to the location of participating businesses, as well as delineate roadway and sidewalk access, detour routes, and pertinent Project information based on construction. Types of signage include streetlight banners, nylon construction fencing banners, bus stop ads, and window clings for participating businesses.
- Small Business Resource Connections & Support leverages existing community resources through partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs). These CBOs will regularly host workshops, education programs, webinars, and trainings that provide resources on a wide variety of business assistance including:
- Access to capital
- Technical support and training
- Marketing and promotional
- Partnerships with business resource providers (private and public)
- Business management
VTA sponsored networking events and pop-ups such as lunch meetups and SLM Nights will be hosted in partnership with business associations to spread awareness to the community. - Direct Financial Assistance (DFA) provides financial assistance to eligible businesses that experience documented business disruptions by Project construction activities. Disruptions refer to blocked access, vehicular lane closures, crosswalk closures, sidewalk closures, parking restrictions or temporary removal, advertisement, and signage obstruction. The maximum total annual grant amount is $10,000 (if satisfies eligibility requirements).
How was the BRP Developed?
The BRP was informed by consultation and interviews with transit agencies across the United States that have undergone similar programs, proactive VTA policies already in place during Phase II preconstruction such as the Construction Education Outreach Plan, lessons learned from past VTA projects such as VTA's Alum Rock Santa Clara Bus Rapid Transit Project, case study research, economic analyses, and real-time feedback from VTA’s Small Business Task Force.
VTA’s Small Business Task Force
VTA’s Small Business Task Force was established in 2019 to serve as a conduit between the local small business community and Project stakeholders. The Task Force meets with Project staff on a milestone basis to provide input on the Program's development and is comprised of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), local agencies, and chambers who reflect the diverse businesses community of Santa Clara County:
- Alum Rock Santa Clara Street Business Association
- Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet
- City of San José - Office of Economic Development
- City of San José - District 3
- City of San José - Team San José
- County of Santa Clara
- East Santa Clara Business Association
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley
- Latino Business Foundation
- Minority Business Consortium
- Prosperity Lab
- San José Chamber of Commerce
- San José Downtown Association
- Small Business Development Center of Silicon Valley
- Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce
- Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
- Silicon Valley Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce
- Small Business Development Center Vietnamese American Satellite
- The Alameda Business Association
Task Force Presentations
When Will the BRP Launch?
Implementation of the BRP will begin before major construction. SLM, Signage & Wayfinding, and Small Business Resource Connections & Support will be implemented during early preparatory and construction activities (tentatively Summer 2024) and Direct Financial Assistance (DFA) will begin when major construction starts in the station areas (tentatively 2025).
Program Eligibility & Criteria
How do Small Businesses Receive BRP Resources?
Businesses that meet the small business definition and additional criteria are eligible to opt-in or apply for any of the BRP elements. The opt-in form and application will be available in Summer 2024 and can be found on the BRP webpage, from the Business Liaison Team, or at any of the Project field offices. For the purposes of the BRP, the definition of a “Small Business” is:
- Locally owned business with 35 or fewer full-time employees
- Having an active business license in the City of Santa Clara or City of San José
- VTA is also exploring an annual revenue limit
Shop Local Marketing (SLM) and Signage & Wayfinding
- Sign a waiver approving VTA’s use of images, logos, and/or business name(s) on signage
- Business is not a non-qualifying category (i.e., businesses such as liquor stores, adult stores, tobacco/smoke shops, ammunition/gun stores, among other classes of advertising prohibited by VTA’s Advertising Policy).
- Business operates from a physical storefront located within approximately 500 feet of above-ground construction and/or CSA activities (i.e., Santa Clara Station and Newhall Yard Maintenance Facility, Diridon Station, Downtown San José Station, or 28th Street/Little Portugal Station).
Small Business Resource Connections & Support
- There are no eligibility requirements to attend trainings and workshops hosted by CBOs or other resources available on the BRP webpage. To be eligible to participate in VTA-sponsored events, small businesses must meet the definition of a small business.
Direct Financial Assistance (DFA)
- Consistent with the definition of a small business.
- Operates from a physical storefront located adjacent to above-ground construction and/or CSAs (i.e., Santa Clara Station and Newhall Yard Maintenance Facility, Diridon Station, Downtown San José Station, or 28th Street/Little Portugal Station).
- Business experienced disruption to business access and/or operations due to Project construction activities for at least two weeks for the minimum grant award and at least six months annually for maximum grant award.
How do Small Businesses Apply?
Small businesses that meet the Small Business definition and BRP criteria are invited to submit an opt-in form and DFA application (tentatively Summer 2024). The Business Liaison Team will review and process all applications.
Contact Us
How do i Receive More Information?
Contact the Business Liaison Team via the Project hotline at 408-321-2345 or email vtabart@vtabsv.com.
VTA’s goal is to support the local small business community and provide targeted resources to help alleviate potential disruptions during major construction of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension (BSVII) Project. The Business Resource Program (BRP) will focus on helping small businesses who often rely on foot traffic, such as "mom-and-pop" eateries and shops.
What is the purpose of VTA’s Business Resource Program (BRP)?
The BRP will enhance small business resiliency, encourage foot traffic to businesses that rely on “walk-in” customers, support businesses through technical guidance and marketing assistance, provide grant funding to assist businesses during construction-related disruptions, and create positive community benefits beyond the Project itself.
What is included in the BRP?
The BRP is comprised of four key elements
- Shop Local Marketing (SLM) is a branded marketing campaign that provides signage and wayfinding, posters, social and digital media promotional posts, business spotlights, a Local Vendor List, and more. Various types of signage will be installed throughout the Project alignment that promotes Eat, Shop, Local and participating businesses.
- Signage & Wayfinding provides a variety of physical signs installed throughout the Project alignment to direct people to the location of participating businesses, as well as delineate roadway and sidewalk access, detour routes, and pertinent Project information based on construction. Types of signage include streetlight banners, nylon construction fencing banners, bus stop ads, and window clings for participating businesses.
- Small Business Resource Connections & Support leverages existing community resources through partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs). These CBOs will regularly host workshops, education programs, webinars, and trainings that provide resources on a wide variety of business assistance including:
- Access to capital
- Technical support and training
- Marketing and promotional
- Partnerships with business resource providers (private and public)
- Business management
VTA sponsored networking events and pop-ups such as lunch meetups and SLM Nights will be hosted in partnership with business associations to spread awareness to the community. - Direct Financial Assistance (DFA) provides financial assistance to eligible businesses that experience documented business disruptions by Project construction activities. Disruptions refer to blocked access, vehicular lane closures, crosswalk closures, sidewalk closures, parking restrictions or temporary removal, advertisement, and signage obstruction. The maximum total annual grant amount is $10,000 (if satisfies eligibility requirements).
How was the BRP Developed?
The BRP was informed by consultation and interviews with transit agencies across the United States that have undergone similar programs, proactive VTA policies already in place during Phase II preconstruction such as the Construction Education Outreach Plan, lessons learned from past VTA projects such as VTA's Alum Rock Santa Clara Bus Rapid Transit Project, case study research, economic analyses, and real-time feedback from VTA’s Small Business Task Force.
VTA’s Small Business Task Force
VTA’s Small Business Task Force was established in 2019 to serve as a conduit between the local small business community and Project stakeholders. The Task Force meets with Project staff on a milestone basis to provide input on the Program's development and is comprised of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), local agencies, and chambers who reflect the diverse businesses community of Santa Clara County:
- Alum Rock Santa Clara Street Business Association
- Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet
- City of San José - Office of Economic Development
- City of San José - District 3
- City of San José - Team San José
- County of Santa Clara
- East Santa Clara Business Association
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley
- Latino Business Foundation
- Minority Business Consortium
- Prosperity Lab
- San José Chamber of Commerce
- San José Downtown Association
- Small Business Development Center of Silicon Valley
- Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce
- Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce
- Silicon Valley Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce
- Small Business Development Center Vietnamese American Satellite
- The Alameda Business Association
Task Force Presentations
When Will the BRP Launch?
Implementation of the BRP will begin before major construction. SLM, Signage & Wayfinding, and Small Business Resource Connections & Support will be implemented during early preparatory and construction activities (tentatively Summer 2024) and Direct Financial Assistance (DFA) will begin when major construction starts in the station areas (tentatively 2025).
Program Eligibility & Criteria
How do Small Businesses Receive BRP Resources?
Businesses that meet the small business definition and additional criteria are eligible to opt-in or apply for any of the BRP elements. The opt-in form and application will be available in Summer 2024 and can be found on the BRP webpage, from the Business Liaison Team, or at any of the Project field offices. For the purposes of the BRP, the definition of a “Small Business” is:
- Locally owned business with 35 or fewer full-time employees
- Having an active business license in the City of Santa Clara or City of San José
- VTA is also exploring an annual revenue limit
Shop Local Marketing (SLM) and Signage & Wayfinding
- Sign a waiver approving VTA’s use of images, logos, and/or business name(s) on signage
- Business is not a non-qualifying category (i.e., businesses such as liquor stores, adult stores, tobacco/smoke shops, ammunition/gun stores, among other classes of advertising prohibited by VTA’s Advertising Policy).
- Business operates from a physical storefront located within approximately 500 feet of above-ground construction and/or CSA activities (i.e., Santa Clara Station and Newhall Yard Maintenance Facility, Diridon Station, Downtown San José Station, or 28th Street/Little Portugal Station).
Small Business Resource Connections & Support
- There are no eligibility requirements to attend trainings and workshops hosted by CBOs or other resources available on the BRP webpage. To be eligible to participate in VTA-sponsored events, small businesses must meet the definition of a small business.
Direct Financial Assistance (DFA)
- Consistent with the definition of a small business.
- Operates from a physical storefront located adjacent to above-ground construction and/or CSAs (i.e., Santa Clara Station and Newhall Yard Maintenance Facility, Diridon Station, Downtown San José Station, or 28th Street/Little Portugal Station).
- Business experienced disruption to business access and/or operations due to Project construction activities for at least two weeks for the minimum grant award and at least six months annually for maximum grant award.
How do Small Businesses Apply?
Small businesses that meet the Small Business definition and BRP criteria are invited to submit an opt-in form and DFA application (tentatively Summer 2024). The Business Liaison Team will review and process all applications.
Contact Us
How do i Receive More Information?
Contact the Business Liaison Team via the Project hotline at 408-321-2345 or email vtabart@vtabsv.com.