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Two Oakley Businesses Celebrate Grand Reopening

by CC News
Bubbles Tea and Dessert

Two businesses in the City of Oakley recently held ribbon cuttings to celebrate their grand reopening after receiving grants from the city.

Under the Retail and Industrial Revitalization Grants, Bubbles Tea & Dessert ($8,580) has a brand new look, including sleek countertops. Meanwhile, the Rancho Vintage Mall Co-Op ($50k) has a now modernized exterior that preserves its timeless farm-style architecture.

  • Bubbles Tea & Dessert is located at 4532 Main Street, Oakley CA (website)
  • Rancho Vintage Mall Co-Op at 5685 Main St, Oakley CA (website)

The Oakley Chamber of Commerce joined the City of Oakley at the ribbon cuttings.

Oakley

Image provided by City of Oakley


Background the Grant Program

Back in February 2023, the Oakley City Council authorized the creation of the citywide retail & industrial revitalization grant program at a cost of $700k using American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds (see staff report on the item). It was a 5-0 vote.

Grant amounts were matching up to 80% of total project up to $50k. Anything above was to be approved by city council while an applicant could apply for up to two grants every three years.

The program is open to:

  • Any existing retail or light industrial business located within Oakley city limits; or
  • The owner of an existing retail or light industrial building in Oakley; or
  • A business that intends to locate in Oakley (as documented with a fully-executed lease in an appropriately zoned property in Oakley) and that is one of the business classifications

To be eligible for funding, the project must be:

  • A new project (projects that have already commenced do not qualify).
  • Improvements to an existing building that is zoned for retail or light industrial.
  • Improvements to any of the following:
    • Building Exterior – including: signage, windows, awnings, doors, exterior lighting, exterior wall repair/painting, architectural features, structural repairs, etc.
    • Public Interior – including: interior painting, display areas, lighting, counters, floor/ceiling improvements, or other tenant improvements of the public areas (excluding bathrooms, employee areas, stockrooms, or other back areas).
    • Permanent Outdoor Dining Areas – including: code-compliant raised platforms, permanent fencing or canopies, exterior lighting, landscaping or planter boxes integrated into the dining area, or other permanent fixtures (excluding furniture or removable features).
  • Well-designed as determined by the City’s design representative (either a designated City Planning staff or a design consultant retained by the City).

Reimbursable expenses would typically include design, construction, materials, labor, and City permit fees. In addition, the City (at its sole discretion) can consider a limited amount of funding for ADA or other code upgrades, installation of public art, anti-graffiti coatings, or other improvements as long as they support the program’s overall goal to achieve the dramatic visual improvement of the City’s retail and industrial buildings.

Previously, in 2014, the City created a “Downtown Revitalization Loan Program” to “leverage public funds and private investment to enhance the downtown corridor.” The program offered low-interest loans up to $75,000 to be used for: façade improvements, signage, lighting, landscaping, ADA compliance, building upgrades for new tenants, and demolition. The City also offered up to $2,000 per project in design assistance by the City’s design consultant. The City allocated $275,000 for the program.


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