San Antonio For Growth On The Eastside Inc

SAN ANTONIO FOR GROWTH ON THE EASTSIDE EXISTS TO PROMOTE, RENEW, AND EMPOWER THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL VITALITY OF SAN ANTONIO'S EASTSIDE. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE AND TRUSTED PROCESS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE A COMMON PURPOSE OF SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, SAFETY, AND ENJOYMENT FOR ITS RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS WHILE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR SAN ANTONIO AS A WHOLE.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF GRANTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE: (1) THE SAGE STORE-FRONT GRANT PROGRAM CAN PROVIDE QUALIFIED BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESSES WITH MATCHING GRANTS OF UP TO $10,000. THE STORE-FRONT GRANT PROGRAM IS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM, WHEREIN GRANTS ARE ONLY GIVEN TO BUSINESS OWNERS WHO OWN THEIR PROPERTY. SINCE 2010, SAGE HAS AWARDED 120 STORE-FRONT GRANTS VALUED AT $1,311,333; (2) SAGE ALSO OFFERS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS OF UP TO $20,000 TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE NEW TO SAN ANTONIO AND WILLING TO LOCATE ON THE EASTSIDE. SAGE HAS AWARDED $20,000 IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS; AND (3) SAGE ALSO OFFERS FACADE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS OF UP TO $25,000 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN ANTONIO HOUSING AUTHORITY. THIS IS A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM, WHEREBY ALL GRANT FUNDS MUST BE MATCHED BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WITH OTHER FUNDS DEPENDING UPON THE LOCATION. THE AWARD CAN ONLY BE MADE TO PROPERTY OWNERS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD FOOTPRINT.

PUBLIC AWARENESS: SAGE HAS INITIATED A DIRECTED CAMPAIGN TO IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF THE EASTSIDE THROUGH EFFECTIVE USE OF BOTH TRADITIONAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA. SINCE JULY 2010, SAGE HAS HAD MORE THAN 1,300 MEDIA CLIPS (PRINT, TV, RADIO, ONLINE), REPRESENTING MORE THAN 76.5 MILLION IN MEDIA IMPRESSIONS AND MORE THAN $6.5 MILLION IN MEDIA VALUE. IN ADDITION TO OUR MEDIA ACTIVITIES, SAGE HAS PRODUCED SEVERAL BROCHURES AND OTHER COOPERATIVE ADVERTISING PIECES HIGHLIGHTING AREA BUSINESSES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, SAGE HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN 100 PRESENTATIONS TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY GROUPS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE EASTSIDE. ADDITIONALLY, SAGE SERVES AS THE COLLECTIVE IMPACT COORDINATOR FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE EASTSIDE PROMISE ZONE (EPZ). AS COORDINATOR, SAGE SERVES AS CONNECTOR AMONG CITY AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES/CORPORATIONS ENGAGED ON THE EASTSIDE TO FURTHER ENHANCE AND SUSTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT EFFORTS. THE KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY ARE CATALOGING INVESTMENTS AND COMMUNICATE IMPACT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETING, AND SUSTAINABILITY/RESCUE DEVELOPMENT. ALSO, SAGE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN EMERGING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (CDFI) BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. THIS DESIGNATION PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SAGE TO DEVELOP A BUSINESS PLAN AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR FULL CDFI DESIGNATION.

SAGE HAS DEVELOPED SEVERAL SPECIAL EVENTS DESIGNED AT PROMOTING THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS OFFERED AND TO RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE TARGETED CONSTITUENTS. THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDES: THE TASTE THE DREAM GALA, WHICH IS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAN ANTONIO'S KING WEEK, AND CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH FOOD; THE QUARTERLY EASTSIDE BUSINESS BRIEFINGS, WHICH PROVIDES A VEHICLE FOR AREA SMALL BUSINESSES TO LEARN ABOUT TOPICS OF INTEREST; HALLO-EAST, WHICH WAS AN EVENT HELD ON THE NEW BRAUNFELS CORRIDOR TO PROMOTE BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA AND OTHER VENDORS TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCT OFFERINGS; AND THE SAGE BACK OFFICE PROGRAM WHERE SAGE PROVIDES FISCAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOR A FEE.