VTA Board of Directors Approves the BSVII Project Thriving Business Program (TBP)

On March 7, 2024, the VTA Board of Directors approved $15 million over a 5-year period for the Thriving Business Program (TBP) including direct financial assistance for small businesses!

This approval marks an important milestone in our commitment to support the local small business community through major construction of VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension (BSVII) Project. VTA’s Small Business Task Force has been integral to the Program’s development since early Program concept discussions in 2019.

Following input from the Board of Directors in Spring 2023, Program refinements were incorporated along with additional Small Business Task Force’s feedback and recommendations.

The Program updates were well received at the March 4, 2024, Task Force meeting, where members offered their assistance to better engage small businesses and provided feedback on how to implement the Program. The Small Business Task Force continues to be involved in identifying ways to engage small businesses and implementing the Program.

"I am a business owner at Alum Rock and 33rd, as well as serve on the Alum Rock Santa Clara Street Business Association Board and as an advisor of the Small Business Development Center. (…) We [the Task Force] serve as the liaison between the business owners and VTA, and we have been doing a phenomenal job talking to the business owners about VTA and BART coming to Alum Rock. The Task Force is very important for communication [between small businesses and VTA].”

Helen Masamori

Alum Rock Santa Clara Street Business Association / SBDC Silicon Valley

Public Comment, VTA Steering Committee (February 8, 2024)

“The San José Downtown Association has been working with VTA staff on the TBP for over five years through a variety of means, including participating in the Small Business Task Force where many of these recommendations were formulated. For years the San José Downtown Association has continued to advocate for BART to Downtown San José, and we will continue to be a partner to VTA in this process.”

Alex Stettinski

Chief Executive Officer of the San José Downtown Association

Public Comment, VTA Board of Directors (March 7, 2024)

The Program’s Eat Shop Local Campaign and Local Resource Network (LRN) will launch prior to major construction, while Direct Financial Assistance (DFA), will be provided when major construction starts near the station areas. Next steps of the Program involve the Business Liaison Team visiting establishments to connect with business owners, understand their unique needs, and provide tailored information about the Program and how to opt-in. In addition to spreading general awareness about the Program at community pop-up events, look out for Project staff and the Business Liaison Team out in the community!

With approval in place, the Program will launch in Fall/Winter 2024! Watch the recording of the March Board of Directors Meeting where formal approval of the TBP was given.