West Hollywood Unveils Economic Hardship Program: Program targets City’s Retail Stores, Restaurants & Hotels
OnSite Consulting has been delighted to work with a number of municipal bodies in an effort to provide opinion and expertise on behalf of our clients, our recent project with the City Of West Hollywood has proved to be a tremendous success.
WEST HOLLYWOOD UNVEILS ECONOMIC HARDSHIP PROGRAM
Program targets City’s Retail Stores, Restaurants & Hotels
In an attempt to boost local business during the economic downturn, the City of West Hollywood has partnered with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to offer a special economic hardship package to local retailers, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
The package was created by an ad-hoc committee comprised of businesses that assisted in the development of specific measures the city council should consider to sustain retail activity in tough economic times. The committee worked with the city, the West Hollywood Chamber, the Sunset Strip Business Association, Avenues of Art and Design, and the West Hollywood Marketing and Visitors Bureau to develop the newly released package.
While some elements of the package are still under review by the city council, including an increase to special events allowed per business from four per year to 12 per year, some of the package’s components have already been implemented. As of April, for instance, DJ’s are allowed to function as providers of ambient music in restaurants, and promoters are allowed to operate under a single permit, rather than a permit for each location in which they work. A reduction in fees for certain special event permits is also in place.
West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land said the package is a great tool for businesses suffering economic hardship.
“While we are fortunate that our city budget is strong, we recognized that some of our businesses were struggling,” Land said. ” It is important to us as a city to have a vibrant, diverse and healthy business community, and so in addition to the Economic Hardship Package, we also continue to encourage our local residents and businesses to support each other by shopping West Hollywood and spending their dollars here.”
Sharon Sandow, president and CEO of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the committee that made the proposals outlined in the package. She said the city has been expeditious in getting the package enacted.
“The city wants to help business along, which I think is really commendable and really necessary,” Sandow said. “We are very grateful for the quick action the city has taken on this. They are trying to give businesses the most assistance possible in a short amount of time.”
James Sinclair, president of Onsite Consulting, operators of O-Bar in West Hollywood, said the economic hardship package is not only a financial measure, but one that will raise morale amongst business owners.
“Right now, restaurants have an increase in raw material costs and high minimum wage requirements,” Sinclair said. “With the sales tax increase, we can’t raise our prices right now if we want to get customers in the door. West Hollywood stepped up of their own accord to protect its own community. I have restaurants nationwide and I have never seen a city so proactive in protecting its businesses.”
Many of the items pending council review will be heard at the July 13 and July 20 West Hollywood City Council meetings. For more information, visit www.weho.org.
OnSite Consulting is a nationwide hospitality management & consulting company www.onsiteconsult.com
