$50,000 provided to start- up beauty supply store in Noe Valley and organic granola company in the Mission

07/14/09 - Mayor Gavin Newsom today announced that the City has awarded the first two loans through the San Francisco Revolving Loan Fund (RLF). The loans will allow two, women owned, small businesses to open or expand their businesses in San Francisco – Bubbles & Shampoo, a beauty supply store / salon in Noe Valley and 18 Rabbits, an organic granola company in the Northeast Mission. Each business received a loan of $25,000 through the Revolving Loan Fund.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but like many in the nation, San Francisco small businesses are shedding jobs while consumer spending drops and bank loans and credit diminish," said Mayor Newsom. "Our small businesses are too important to fail - that is why we created the Revolving Loan Fund to boost and aid entrepreneurism with more loans and free resources. The loans are designed to bridge the funding gap experienced by many small companies who have viable business plans but are failing to access funds." Read more

March 26, 2009 (pdf)

Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Supervisor David Chiu announce opportunity for payroll tax relief.

Payroll Taxpayers who are experiencing a financial downturn may petition Treasurer's Office for a reduction in tax prepayments to the City.

Mayor Newsom Announces San Francisco's Local Economic Stimulus Package

02/11/09 - Today Mayor Gavin Newsom unveiled the details of his five-part plan for stimulating and supporting the local economy.

"Today we face extraordinary challenges, but among those challenges is the risk of being consumed solely by the crisis at hand," said Mayor Newsom. "We must continue to think strategically and continue to invest in the people, infrastructure and businesses that will pull our economy out of this decline."

The five-part economic plan includes: (i) accelerating capital spending, (ii) investing in local businesses, (iii) reducing the burdens local government places on local businesses, (iv) supporting our workforce and (v) attracting more foreign investment to San Francisco.

Since the initial announcement of the five-part plan in October, the City’s economic condition has worsened. The updated strategy details, and in some cases expands, the City’s efforts to implement those key strategies. These implementation strategies both build on existing economic development programs and launch a number of major new initiatives, including:

• Granting local businesses a New Jobs Payroll Tax exemption for two years. Businesses will not have to pay payroll tax on any increase in non partnership payroll over 2008 levels for two years. This means new businesses coming to San Francisco in 2009 and 2010 will not pay any local payroll tax until 2011.
  
• Amending the City’s Public Works Code to further expedite billions of dollars of already funded local infrastructure projects and to make it easier for local companies to work on those projects;
  
• Directly providing over $23 million in no-interest loans to local businesses;
  
• Granting local businesses a tax credit on new, locally purchased equipment;
  
• Providing an offset for qualifying small businesses who are participating in Healthy SF;
  
• Launching a business assistance strategy specifically directed to Spanish-speaking businesses;
  
• Building on the success of "Homeless Connect" by launching a series of new "Job Connect" events that include job fairs and workforce assistance and counseling;
  
• Opening the a "one-stop" workforce center for the unemployed in the Western Addition;
  
• Expanding the City’s "Bank on San Francisco" program to include financial literacy;
  
• Expanding the scope of the "Working Families Tax Credit" program;
  
• Expanding the successful "Shop SF. Get More" and "Staycation" holiday marketing campaigns;
  
• Expanding the City’s successful Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative ("NMI") and Community Benefit District ("CBD") programs to support even more neighborhood commercial corridors;
  
• Expanding the scope and reach of existing state and federal tax credit programs; and
  
• Providing free space to local artists in vacant storefronts.

San Francisco's Shopping Incentive Program, Shop SF, Get More, Continues with January Offers For All Bay Area Residents

01/07/09 - Today Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that Shop SF, Get More, a city-wide incentive program to encourage local and Bay Area residents to visit, shop, and stay in San Francisco, will continue to offer special discounts and promotions through January. The program’s special discounts and promotions are exclusively for residents of the nine Bay Area counties.

"During these tough economic times, San Francisco is working to ensure that its small businesses remain strong and tourism thrives," said Mayor Newsom. "Shop SF will continue to showcase our world-class dining, museums, events, attractions, and hotels with new great offers. It’s an opportunity to experience all the beauty and excitement of one of the greatest cities in the world."

In order to encourage local and Bay Area residents to shop and buy in San Francisco in January, Shop SF, Get More includes the following special discounts and promotions:

Show Your Zip Program: Families can enjoy special promotions on hotel accommodations, shopping, meals and other great deals offered by over 170 local merchants, simply by proving residence in one of the nine Bay Area counties.

Restaurants: Through Dine About Town, over 100 of San Francisco's most popular restaurants will offer three course prix-fixe lunches for $21.95 and/or dinners for $34.95. The offer runs January 15 – 31, 2009. Diners can take advantage of the Sunday FunDay Pass and/or carpool validation as they explore the city’s culinary options.

Hotels: San Francisco hotels are offering reduced rates, complimentary parking and breakfast, and a variety of discounted holiday packages. In January, select San Francisco hotels will offer, "3 Nights for the Price of 2."

Shop Local: Special promotions and shopping events are occurring in unique neighborhood commercial districts across the city, including late night shopping and weekend sidewalk sales.

Events: Hundreds of events are happening all over San Francisco, including the Chinese New Year’s Parade, the MLK March, and public screening of the Presidential Inauguration.

Available discounts will be compiled on the Convention & Visitors Bureau website, www.onlyinSanFrancisco.com. Shop SF will also be linked on the SF Chamber of Commerce website, and other websites throughout the Bay Area. Promotions run through January 2009.