Morgan Hill announced a Place-Branding Partnership Opportunity designed to support businesses and community through the COVID-19 pandemic. This is one of several business resiliency efforts supporting the City’s economic recovery plan to help with the beautification of outdoor dining spaces, activating vacant store fronts with temporary art, community announcements or businesses that may have lost their leases; and creating interesting ‘place-making’ street activations that will create a welcoming, fun and interesting environment.

The program complements the recent Morgan Hill al Fresco program where restaurants or retailers are able to successfully operate outdoors using sidewalks, parking lots, and on street parking. With recent State and County guidelines, the program can also assist fitness and service-related businesses do business outdoors during shelter-in-place.

The Place-Branding Partnership Opportunity is a public/private partnership that allows businesses, community organizations, and residents to contribute through financial or in-kind donations, discounts, or labor. Applicants can apply for up to $2,500 to purchase materials through the grant.  “The COVID-19 Pandemic is mandating businesses to be outdoors. By allowing businesses to develop strong outdoor spaces that are attractive, it will allow them to survive and thrive. The future is outdoors!” says Edith Ramirez, Economic Development Director for the City of Morgan Hill. She adds, “the Place-Branding Partnership Opportunity leverages limited City funds with private donations for a very important cause, which is to help our businesses and community survive these trying times. The community needs something positive and the ability to enjoy the spaces that we have, especially in this time of so much turmoil. The program will allow for some people to express themselves and engage in a meaningful way with the public space—a win, win for community and businesses.”

The Morgan Hill Place-Branding Partnership—a small grant program designed to support businesses and community through this COVID-19 pandemic. Grants will be up to $2,500 to pay for materials and could fund parklet enhancements, landscaping, lighting, murals, pop-up parks, creation of new public space, activation of existing parks, plazas, and public spaces. Activations need to be visible and enjoyable from the public right-of-way.