REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, Director
Planning and Development Department
PHILIP SKEI, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: AKIO LOPEZ, Senior Management Analyst
Community Development Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) agreement between the City of Fresno and Chinatown Fresno Foundation to revise the Scope of Work and Proposed Budget for microenterprise assistance within the Chinatown neighborhood (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the amendment to the agreement between the City of Fresno and Chinatown Fresno Foundation to continue funding microenterprise assistance through its The Pop-Up Project and Chinatown Open for Business initiatives.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council previously approved $40,000 in CDBG funds for Chinatown Fresno Foundation to provide microenterprise assistance to small businesses in Fresno’s Chinatown neighborhoods. The proposed agreement would be effective from April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2026. Revisions to the Scope of Work and previously approved budget are required to realign with the programs Chinatown Fresno Foundation will be able to provide through the remainder of the program year as well as reallocating funding between staff roles.
BACKGROUND
On June 12, 2025, City Council approved the City’s 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan including the 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan. The Annual Action Plan allocated $975,138 of CDBG funds for community services.
On July 1, 2025, the City entered into an agreement with Chinatown Fresno Foundation to strengthen Chinatown microenterprises, attract customers to the area, and to build upon their current programs which have provided technical support, marketing support, and entrepreneurial support for new business owners.
Chinatown Fresno Foundation has historically been instrumental in assisting microenterprises with free rent, and business education. Through this amendment, the foundation will revise the Scope of Work to remove the amount of time they will provide free rent to microenterprises. The original scope detailed “six months” of free rent would be provided.
Chinatown Fresno Foundation originally proposed their Pop-Up Place program which takes 10-12 months to run. Due to the delays in funding at the start of the program year, the program has been adapted into four event-days for 17 new micro-enterprises. While the time for each business to showcase their work is shorter, the opportunity to improve their business skills and their potential to open a storefront remains.
Follow-up services will continue through April, May, and June. They include regular check-ins, tours of available locations in Chinatown, one-on-one technical assistance for social media improvements, assistance on how to apply for a business license, resources for operating a storefront, and also a group workshop to discuss the use of AI in business.
A revision to the budget is also included in the amendment to reallocate funds from the Community Development Coordinator to the Project Director. This change is a direct result of the freeze on federal funding that occurred in September and October of 2025. During the freeze, a transition from one Community Development Coordinator to another was required, and additional time was needed for Project Director oversight.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA guidelines Section 15378. These activities are exempt per 24 CFR 58.34 (a)(4) under HUD NEPA Requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable because of the use of federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
This agreement will be funded through the City’s CDBG allocations appropriated in the Planning and Development Department’s FY26 budget.
Attachments:
First Amendment to Agreement with Chinatown Fresno Foundation CDBG Activities
Original Agreement with Chinatown Fresno Foundation CDBG Activities