Second Round of Small Business Reimbursement Grants Announced

The City of Concord, in partnership with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, will soon launch the second round of a $2 million grant program to help small businesses continue their recovery from the economic strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Utilizing $2 million of the funds that the City received from the federal government as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, Concord provided one-time reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 to 176 small businesses in the first round in fall 2022. Another 207 grants will be awarded in the second and final round opening this month.

The online application for the final round will open on July 31 and close on August 11. Various resources are available to support applicants, including an instructional video and in-person office hours. Assistance in Spanish is also available.

The reimbursement grant is intended to help businesses recover typical operating costs such as 

rent/lease payments, utilities, payroll, inventory, facility repairs, upgrades, and other expenses. 

Applicants will be considered based on priority criteria detailed in the application, and a lottery 

will be initiated if the number of qualified applicants exceed the amount of funding available.

Awarded applicants will receive funding after submitting proof of payment for eligible activities 

by January 5, 2024.

Learn more on the Grant Program web page.

Community Input Sought for Homeless Strategic Plan

We want to hear from you! Please take our brief survey to share your thoughts and ideas regarding addressing homelessness in our community.

La encuesta también está disponible en español.

The City of Concord is gathering feedback from the community to help with the development of its Homeless Strategic Plan. The plan will help assess gaps in services, clarify community goals, identify strategies, and help set priorities for funding investments to effectively respond to and prevent homelessness. 

The Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 13 and its regular monthly meeting on Monday, July 24 as the project transitions to the next phase of developing a vision and goals for the strategic plan. Both meetings will be held at 6 p.m. at the Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Circle.

Learn more about the Homeless Strategic Plan here.

Tuesday Night Blues Returns

The Tuesday Night Blues concert series has returned to Todos Santos Plaza this July! Enjoy local blues performances from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This month's lineup features:

• July 11: Frankie G and the Conviction
• July 18: Annie Sampson
• July 25: Jr. Deville Blues Band

The City of Concord thanks its generous sponsors: Ashby Lumber, Mt. Diablo Resource and Recovery, Pacific Service Credit Union, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association, Coco Farms, Marathon Renewables, John Muir Health, the Concord Police Officers' Association, MCE Clean Energy, The Concord Clayton Pioneer, and Trumark Homes.

On Thursdays through Sept. 28, catch Music & Market at Todos Santos Plaza. Up next on July 13, Prince tribute band, The Purple Ones. See the full lineup.

Apply for the Fall Session of Concord's Community Academy

Are you interested in learning about how the City of Concord operates? Apply for the Fall 2023 session of the Concord Community Academy!

The Academy offers members of the Concord community the opportunity to participate in discussions and interactive exercises with fellow community members, gain insight into how the City operates, and meet elected officials and staff. 

The program is FREE and open to anyone age 18 years and older who lives, works, or owns a business in Concord. The program takes place over six sessions and participants MUST be able to attend all sessions. The dates for Fall 2023 are: 

• Saturday, Sept. 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 28, 6-9 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 5, 6-9 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 12, 6-9 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct 19, 6-9 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct 21, 8:30 a.m. -noon

Learn more and apply today! Applications will close on Friday, July 28 at 5 p.m.

Annual Parks Project Day Program Visits Brazil Quarry

Concord’s Public Works’ Parks Division recently launched an annual Parks Project Day program. This program involves having the entire Parks Divisions report biweekly to the same location and collaborate to address the critical needs of the park. Staff plans on addressing a different park location every two weeks to ensure a more manageable weekly maintenance schedule in order to keep our parks Usable, Safe, and Attractive (USA) on an ongoing basis.  

The services performed include cleaning and repairing park assets, playground maintenance, and addressing trees and vegetation. The Park Division recently visited Brazil Quarry Park, where they completed a variety of improvements such as replacing deteriorating wooden benches with new metal benches, removing dead trees and plantings new trees, renovating the horseshoe pits, and refreshing the butterfly garden.  

Request a Vacation House Check

It is summertime and people are traveling. If you are headed off on vacation and would like a member of Concord's Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program to check on your home, you can submit an online request.

Trained volunteers will perform an inspection of your property at least once per week while you are away, paying close attention to the details provided by you on the Vacation House Check Request Form. Vacation house checks include a perimeter check, physical and/or visual check of all doors and windows, and verification of vehicles left on the property. 

Vacation House Check requests must be submitted online at least 48 hours prior to your departure date and cannot be requested for longer than 60 days.

Request a vacation house check.

Stay Cool at the Pool - and Spray Park!

The weather is heating up, so be sure to stay cool this summer and enjoy the Concord Community Pool and Meadow Homes Spray Park.

The Pool, located at 3501 Cowell Rd., is open for recreational swim Monday-Friday 1-4 p.m. and on weekends 1-5 p.m. The full schedule and information on admission fees is available on the Swimming web page.

The Spray Park, located at 1351 Detroit Ave, is free and open daily from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Enjoy Coffee with a Cop on July 14

Join members of the Concord Police Department on Friday, July 14 for "Coffee with a Cop" at the Starbucks located at 1170 Concord Ave.

Stop by between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to say hello, ask questions, voice your concerns, and get to know members of the Concord Police Department.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The City of Concord's upcoming public meetings include:

• Wednesday, July 12: Community Services Commission - CANCELLED
• Wednesday, July 12: Zoning Administrator - CANCELLED
• Thursday, July 13: Design Review Board
• Thursday, July 13: Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group
• Wednesday, July 19: Commission on Aging - CANCELLED
• Wednesday, July 19: Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee - CANCELLED
• Wednesday, July 19: Planning Commission
• Monday, July 24: Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group
• Thursday, July 27: Design Review Board

See the full calendar.

To receive email or text notifications when the meeting agendas are posted, please subscribe to alerts using the "Notify Me" tool on the City's website.

City Council and Planning Commission meetings are broadcast live on Concord TV (Astound/Wave 29 and 1026, Comcast 28, U-verse 99) and streamed through the City's website as well as rebroadcast at later times.

Editor's Note

The next issue of your City News e-newsletter is scheduled for publication on Wednesday, Aug. 2. In the meantime, please follow us on social media (links below) and subscribe to our web updates.

We hope you're enjoying a great summer, Concord!