Economic Development News

Council Economic Development Sub-Committee receives update on Economic Development Strategic Plan Policy and Program Recommendations from Kosmont Companies

Posted on April 13, 2023

Council Economic Development Sub-Committee receives update on Economic Development Strategic Plan Policy and Program Recommendations from Kosmont Companies April 13, 2023, the Council Economic Development Subcommittee received a briefing from Kosmont Companies on the Economic Strategic Plan draft policy and program recommendations. This presentation was a follow-up to the initial presentation made by Kosmont Companies...

Draft Economic Development Strategic Plan – Demographic, Market, and Economic Overview

Posted on February 27, 2023

As part of the City’s Strategic Priority of Economic Recovery, the City has retained Kosmont Companies to prepare an Economic Development Strategic Plan to make recommendations designed to enhance the City’s economic growth and viability. Kosmont’s approach will focus on both city-wide economic resiliencies, as well as the economic vitality of key areas of the...

Outdoor Dining update – “Streetary” program

Posted on August 15, 2022

San Rafael’s restaurants have long been a source of pride and appreciation for our community, and the rapid rise and success of the City’s sidewalk adjacent ‘Streetary’ dining concept came as no surprise to many in recent years. The current guidelines that were implemented during COVID-19 have since been analyzed and closely discussed with City...

New Energy Efficiency Resources for Marin Small Businesses

Posted on June 29, 2021

New energy efficient program opportunities are available for small and medium sized businesses. The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) has launched a new energy efficiency program for Bay Area businesses. Depending on the size of the businesses, there are a couple of options for participating: BayREN Business: Who: For small and medium sized businesses...

Upcoming Changes to San Rafael Public Meetings

Posted on June 9, 2021

Since April 2020, City of San Rafael meetings have taken place via video conference on the Zoom platform. As an accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic, five separate methods of submitting public comment were enabled to allow members of the public various opportunities to participate in City business while this virtual format is in place. As...

Dining Under the Lights returns 3/11 – Thurs & Fri night 4th Street closure

Posted on March 5, 2021

Dining Under the Lights is returning to downtown San Rafael every Thursday and Friday night beginning Thursday March 11! Launched in summer 2020 in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement District, the City's Dining Under the Lights program was a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support our downtown restaurants and bars by enabling...

Downtown San Rafael Farmers Market Postponed until 2021

Posted on June 19, 2020

Due to the lingering effects of Covid-19, the Downtown Summer San Rafael Farmers Market held on Fourth Street will not be occurring this Summer. The City of San Rafael and the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) look forward to resuming the market in 2021. We will miss seeing everyone’s smiling (masked) faces this summer! However,...

Temporary Outdoor Dining & Retail Permits

Posted on May 30, 2020

We are partnering with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Improvement District to support our incredible business community as best as possible. Starting next week, the latest Marin County Public Health order will allow outdoor dining and retail based on the following guidelines: Guidelines for retail Guidelines for restaurants To facilitate outdoor dining...

Guidance for Curbside Retail

Posted on May 15, 2020

The County of Marin issued a new public health order today with guidance for retailers. Starting Monday, May 18, 2020, retailers will be able to reopen for curbside pick-up and delivery only. Each curbside Retailer must create, adopt, and implement a written COVID-19 Site-Specific Protection Plan that incorporates and addresses all applicable Public Health Order requirements....

New Program Provides Free Restaurant Meals to Older Adults

Posted on May 7, 2020

State’s Great Plates Delivered program goes before Board of Supervisors May 12 San Rafael, CA – In partnership with the local community, the County of Marin plans to start participation in the State of California’s Great Plates Delivered Program, set up to support older adults who are sheltering in place, unable to access meals, and ineligible for...

Fiscal Impact of COVID-19 on the City’s budget

Posted on May 1, 2020

COVID-19 is an emergency on so many levels – physically, emotionally, and financially just to name a few. The staff report being presented to City Council on Monday evening provides a brief summary of COVID-19’s impact on San Rafael as context to a larger financial response discussion. While there are many financial unknowns (e.g. will...

Small Businesses during COVID-19

Posted on May 1, 2020

The majority of restrictions remain in place in light of the extended order, but let’s celebrate the re-opening of our outdoor businesses! COVID-19 has absolutely delivered a tough blow to our local, small businesses. The San Rafael Small Business COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund continues to help our small businesses stay afloat during these unprecedented times. You can help our local economy by donating to the fund, and by patronizing our businesses that remain open. Why not treat your household to...

Local COVID-19 Fund Established for Small Businesses

Posted on April 14, 2020

Launch Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2020 and complete applications must be submitted Deadline: No later than 5pm (PDT) on Monday, April 20, 2020. Application Closed About the Fund A San Rafael Small Business COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund (the “Relief Fund”) has been created to help small businesses struggling to maintain cash flow and financial solvency...

What You Need to Know: Potential PG&E Power Shutoff

Posted on October 25, 2019

Prepare Now Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) has notified the County of Marin that it may activate its Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) protocols in response to a high wind event and Red Flag Warning. At 7:30am this morning, PG&E said it could potentially initiate a planned power shutoff in parts of Marin County...

Downtown Design Charrette - May 8-11, 2019

What’s your vision for Downtown San Rafael? Join us for a Design Charrette May 8th to 11th, 2019!

Posted on May 2, 2019

The City of San Rafael is hosting a multi-day design workshop (known as a "Charrette") from Wednesday, May 8th to Saturday, May 11th to develop an updated master plan for Downtown San Rafael. Charrette events will include community workshops and presentations, brown bag lunches, and two open ‘drop-in’ studios. All members of the public are invited to come check out potential design concepts and share ideas with a group...

Downtown San Rafael Arts District Announces Launch Events

Posted on August 30, 2018

Arts Organizations Come Together and Celebrate Latinx Arts and Culture The newly designated Downtown San Rafael Arts District, located along Fourth Street in San Rafael, officially launches this Fall with an exciting array of arts programming centered around the shared theme of Latinx. Latinx is inspired by national movements such as Spanish Heritage month and National...

San Rafael launches new online business development tool

Posted on June 14, 2018

The City of San Rafael is proud to announce the launch of its new online business permitting portal, OpenCounter, which includes two new tools centered around business development. The first tool, a Zoning Portal, will allow users to explore where different businesses are permitted throughout the City. The second, a Business Portal, is designed to...

AlterTheater Ensemble

Posted on February 6, 2018

AlterTheater Ensemble creates pop-up performances with professional artists in storefronts along downtown San Rafael’s pedestrian shopping district. With its award-winning playwright residency program, AlterTheater plays have started on Fourth Street in San Rafael and gone on to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, to New York, to Canada, and more. We hire the same actors as larger...

San Rafael among first named as California Arts District in new creative statewide program

Posted on July 13, 2017

Newly launched state designation program celebrates the state’s arts and culture San Rafael has been selected as one of California’s premier state-designated arts and culture districts, the California Arts Council announced today. San Rafael joins 13 other districts in a new program highlighting the state’s unique artistic and cultural communities within California, home to the country’s leading...

Italian Street Painting, photo by Terry Peck

Street Closures Due to Italian Street Painting Festival

Posted on June 19, 2017

It's that time of year again! This weekend is Italian Street Painting Marin at Fourth & A Streets. You can't really have street painting without a couple of street closures. So, from 8 a.m. on Wednesday, 06/21 (tomorrow) to 4 p.m. on Monday, 6/26 the following streets will be closed: A Street will be closed...

Economic Development is Moving!

Posted on May 22, 2017

In order to make way for the construction of our new Public Safety Center, the Economic Development Department is moving. Starting Thursday, May 25th, the Department will move from its current home at 1313 Fifth Ave. to the Boyd Gate House, 1125 B Street. The Department will be officially open for business at the Boyd...

Business Improvement District

Posted on April 3, 2017

The year 2016 was one of transitions for the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District (BID), both in staffing and at the board. At the BID public hearing on November 21, 2016, the City Council appointed a new BID Advisory Board consisting of 5 members of our business community. At Monday’s City Council meeting, the...

San Rafael makes Milken’s 2016 Best Performing Cities Index

Posted on February 9, 2017

San Rafael, CA, ranks No. 3 on the small-cities index this year after debuting on the 2015 index of large cities at No. 23. Milken's Best-Performing Cities index helps businesses, investors, industry associations and government officials monitor and evaluate how well their metro is promoting economic vitality relative to the rest of the country. In addition,...

The 10 Most Walkable Bay Area Neighborhoods

Posted on February 9, 2017

Most people aren’t surprised when they hear that San Francisco is one of the most walkable cities in the U.S. With a walk score of 86, the city of S.F. is chock-full of charming neighborhoods, trendy restaurants and loads of amenities, but, with a median sale price of $1.25 million, it also happens to be...