Economic Development

Supervisor Anderson supports policies that promote local career opportunities and support local businesses. In his first year as County Supervisor, Anderson helped local businesses recover financially from the pandemic through a $30 million small business grant program, started a County program to allow home chefs to prepare, sell, and serve meals from their licensed and inspected home kitchens, expanded and enhanced broadband service for rural communities and tribal nations through microtrenching project, and more.

Board Letters


Repeal of Regulatory Code Provisions Related to Amusement Devices and Establishments

Author/Co-Author
Supervisor Anderson & Vice Chair Vargas
Letter Date
04/26/22
Summary

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)
A small business owner contacted Supervisor Anderson’s office when he realized that San Diego City and San Diego County amusement device ordinances differed in their restrictions, limiting the ability of small businesses in unincorporated County areas to operate in the same manner as small businesses in the City. To correct this, Supervisor Anderson and Vice Chair Vargas introduced a board letter that advocated for repealing the outdated County regulatory code provisions relating to amusement devices, like arcade games. This repeal will now allow all small businesses to expand their customer base and workforce, reduce an unnecessary regulatory burden, and grant the same business opportunities to unincorporated areas that are available to those in incorporated areas.

Expanding the County's COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Plan and Employee Sick Leave Policy

Author/Co-Author
Supervisor Anderson & Supervisor Lawson-Remer
Letter Date
02/09/21
Summary

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated many businesses throughout the San Diego region. In 2020, the County Board of Supervisors approved $47.5 million to launch the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program. The County was able to fund 7,668 out of the 8,834 applications received. This board letter committed a minimum of an additional $30 million to fund a third round of the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program to assist businesses and established a temporary COVID-19 Paid Family Sick Leave Policy for County employees. 

Authorizing Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations in San Diego County

Author/Co-Author
Supervisor Anderson & Vice Chair Vargas
Letter Date
09/15/21
Summary

VOTES: 3-0 (PASS)
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve a board letter put forth by Supervisor Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas. This is the first step which will begin the process of establishing “MEHKOs”, or microenterprise home kitchen operations, in San Diego County. County staff will return to the Board of Supervisors in 120 days with a recommended ordinance for adoption. During this 120 day period, County staff will be soliciting public input to help shape the ordinance.

California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grant Program Application

Author/Co-Author
Supervisor Anderson
Letter Date
02/10/21
Summary

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

Although there are over 118,735 off-highway motor vehicles registered in San Diego County, the County has never submitted a grant application to the State’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division seeking funding to investigate the feasibility of siting an OHV park in San Diego County. This board letter directs staff to submit an application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division’s 2021 Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program. If awarded funds, the County will use them for planning activities to identify and establish an off-highway motor vehicle park in the County of San Diego.

Crafting A Fair Policy For San Diego Beer Manufacturers

Author/Co-Author
Supervisor Anderson & Vice-Chair Vargas
Letter Date
03/16/21
Summary

WITHDRAWN, STATE MANDATE RESCINDED PRIOR TO BOARD MEETING
San Diego is home to over 150 independent craft breweries and serves as the birthplace for a number of the industry’s most respected brands. Craft beer manufacturers contribute over $1.2 billion annually to the local economy and are responsible for nearly $5 million in philanthropic donations. This board letter directed County staff to advocate on behalf of the craft beer industry to eliminate a state requirement that beer manufacturers offer patrons sit-down dining as a condition of serving customers on-site during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preventing County Fee Increases and Extending Fee Deferrals During The Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

Author/Co-Author
Supervisor Anderson
Letter Date
04/06/21
Summary

VOTES: 5-0 (PASS)

The County took several actions to provide relief to small businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the deferral of various fees to County departments. In addition, the Board of Supervisors directed County departments to postpone planned fee increases during the pandemic, and to cover budget shortfalls using reserves and other funding sources. This board letter directs County staff to consider using federal stimulus funds - instead of imposing fee increases on the business community - to cover Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget shortfalls for several County departments. It also directs staff to extend the option for businesses to defer until September 30, 2021, the payment of fees for the deferral programs that expired on March 31, 2021.    


Related News


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Supervisor Joel Anderson reacts as State eases restrictions on breweries, wineries;

News Date
03/12/21
Short Description

The California Department of Public Health updated reopening guidance on Thursday to allow for outdoor breweries, wineries and distilleries to operate without having to serve food.

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Supervisors Approve Plan to Spend Nearly $650M Federal Aid, Emphasis on COVID Response

News Date
06/08/21
Short Description

A draft plan for spending nearly $650 million in American Rescue Plan funding, with an emphasis on helping San Diego County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

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Supervisor Joel Anderson on what is to come in 2022

News Date
01/01/22
Short Description

Supervisor Joel Anderson joined KUSI’s Elizabeth Alvarez on “Good Morning San Diego” to discuss updates on what is to come in San Diego County in 2022.

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San Diego cooking entrepreneurs rally for home-based kitchen businesses

News Date
01/10/22
Short Description

San Diego home-based cooking entrepreneurs rallied at waterfront park on Sunday to urge county leaders to pass an ordinance that would legalize and set up a permit system for Small home kitchen operations.

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Opinion: We’re legalizing home-based food businesses to help San Diegans

News Date
01/13/22
Short Description

After a public hearing and a unanimous vote at Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, San Diego County is about to start an exciting new program that will allow people to sell food prepared in their homes.

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Elected leaders discuss priorities for 2022

News Date
01/06/22
Short Description

County Supervisor Joel Anderson will be representing Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch in addition to Poway now that the boundaries of District 2 have changed.

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Supervisors Anderson & Vargas in Support of Homes Kitchens

News Date
09/17/21
Short Description

Thursday, September 9, Supervisor Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas hosted a press conference in support of "MEHKOs", or microenterprise home kitchen operations.

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Supervisors OK First Step Toward Home Kitchen Trial Program

News Date
01/12/22
Short Description

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday voted unanimously to take the first step toward allowing micro-enterprise home kitchens in the county, as part of a temporary program.

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San Diego County Supervisors formally approve home kitchen program

News Date
01/26/22
Short Description

In a unanimous vote Wednesday, San Diego County Supervisors officially gave the green light to micro-enterprise home kitchens, as part of a two-year program. Supervisors approved a second reading of the ordinance allowing the operation of home kitchens, or "MEHKOs," which will take effect in 30 days.

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County’s COVID-19 relief funds get a boost

News Date
06/25/21
Short Description

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors allocated more than $650 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds, known as ARPA funding on June 8 with the majority of the dollars slated for ongoing COVID-19 response costs, homeless services and small business support.

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County Supervisors OK Lease For Future Warehouse In El Cajon

News Date
03/17/21
Short Description

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a 50-year ground lease for a property near Gillespie Field on Wednesday where a 141,360-square-foot distribution center is planned.

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The first reading of Home Kitchen Ordinance was approved unanimously on Wednesday

News Date
01/13/22
Short Description

On Good Evening San Diego, KUSI’s Logan Byrnes talked with Supervisor Joel Anderson to talk about the approval.

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Supervisor Anderson plays key role in allowing craft breweries to resume normal operations

News Date
03/16/21
Short Description

Thanks to work done by San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson, San Diego craft breweries will now be allowed to operate and serve alcohol on their premises without having to serve food; which was a requirement put in place by Gov. Newsom . . .

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Supervisors to Repeal Old Law Forbidding Arcade Games Where Alcohol is Served

News Date
08/17/22
Short Description

The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the repeal Tuesday at the behest of Supervisors Joel Anderson and Nora Vargas, who said in a joint statement the move “will provide economic opportunities for small businesses in the unincorporated county.”

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First San Diego County Chefs Apply for Microenterprise Home Kitchens

News Date
02/25/22
Short Description

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a two-year, temporary authorization in January to let people countywide operate mini-restaurants out of their homes serving up to 30 in-person, take-out or delivery meals a day, with a maximum of 60 a week.

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Supervisors Vote to Allow Amusement Business in Uninorporated Areas

News Date
04/26/22
Short Description

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a board letter put forth by Supervisor Joel Anderson and Vice Chair Nora Vargas that will provide economic opportunities for small businesses in the unincorporated County. 

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County GRAZE Event Highlights the Importance of Agriculture in San Diego

News Date
05/29/23
Short Description

San Diego is well known for its warm weather, but stormy skies didn’t stop the local agricultural community from coming together for the San Diego County Farm Bureau’s GRAZE event. Held at the beautiful Carlsbad Flower Fields, this robust affair brought together community leaders and industry professionals to celebrate the vital role that local farms play in the San Diego community.