Lafayette May Revive Local Business Assistance Program

LAMORINDA, CA — The Lafayette City Council on Monday night is expected to discuss restarting the Lafayette Business Assistance Program, which operated for five months earlier this year to help local businesses and nonprofits access state and federal COVID-19 relief funding.

The council is set to discuss whether to resume paying Townsend Public Affairs $10,000 a month to coordinate this effort.

The program was first approved in April, and over the next five months it helped 82 local businesses and 10 local nonprofits, secure $1,561,100 in federal funding. The program
was suspended in September because Congress had not reached a deal on the Phase 4 COVID-19 relief package, a city staff report says.

With Congress apparently close to finalizing and approving a new relief package that would include the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for cities and schools, and unemployment benefits.

The Lafayette City Council meeting begins at 7 p.m., and is virtual only. Watch it online, with passcode: 304550.

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