07 - July 24, 2025 - Economic Development Update 2025
CITY COUNCIL INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
Date: July 24, 2025
To: Cupertino City Council
From: Daniel Degu, Economic Development Manager
Re: Economic Development Update
Background
On April 22, 2025, Mayor Chao requested an updated informational
memorandum on economic development efforts since April 2024. In response,
staff has prepared this informational memorandum to highlight the Office of
Economic Development’s initiatives and achievements over the past year.
This memo is organized under three key categories: Business Attraction &
Retention; Marketing & Outreach; and Internal & External Partnerships.
Business Attraction & Retention: The following initiatives focus on supporting
the growth and sustainability of existing businesses while supporting new
businesses to Cupertino. Efforts include targeted engagement with commercial
real estate networks, permit streamlining and coordination, and expanding
access to business support tools and services.
• SVEDA Broker Breakfast: In 2024, staff participated in the Silicon Valley
Economic Development Alliance (SVEDA) regional commercial broker
breakfast, alongside the cities of Mountain View and Sunnyvale. Staff
presented the latest commercial real estate opportunities in Cupertino,
with attendees including commercial real estate brokers and commercial
property owners.
• Strategic Communication Support for Businesses: In 2024, staff
undertook the development of brand messaging and narrative marketing
that highlights Cupertino’s value proposition to businesses. This
messaging is being used across digital platforms, print materials, direct
and multimedia communications, and presentations to strengthen the
Division’s overall messaging.
• Women in Business Symposium: In 2024, staff relaunched and expanded
this quarterly luncheon to support business retention, growth, and
attraction in Cupertino. The events have been well attended and now
feature business resource providers who offer on-site services and
support. Key collaborators have included the Cupertino Chamber of
Commerce, KeyPoint Credit Union, NOVAworks, Nirvana Soul,
Mirapath, Access Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE,
and De Anza College.
• Retail Theft Prevention Outreach & Webinar: In 2024, staff hosted a
webinar in collaboration with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce to address retail theft, providing
businesses with invaluable insights, actionable strategies, and best
practices to strengthen store security.
• Green Business Workshop: In 2024, staff hosted an in-person workshop
on green business rebates and incentives for local businesses and
commercial property owners, in partnership with Silicon Valley Clean
Energy, the County of Santa Clara, the Green Business Network Program,
the Bay Area Regional Energy Network, and the Cupertino Chamber of
Commerce.
• New Economic Development Website: In 2024, staff redesigned the
Division’s website (https://rb.gy/2qsj33) to support business attraction and
retention efforts. The new website features updated content and branding,
clear navigation, and easily accessible resources to help new and existing
businesses connect with City services and business resources.
• Applied Development Economics Market Study: In 2024, staff completed
research with Applied Development Economics on post-pandemic shifts
in the local and regional economy, using data analysis, market research,
and stakeholder engagement to gain insights into Cupertino’s economic
strengths and weaknesses.
• Cupertino Business Outreach Program: In 2024 and 2025, staff continued
outreach to local businesses to foster dialogue and strengthen
relationships with major employers and key tax-generating sectors.
Engagements over the past year included technology firms such as Apple,
Amazon, Daxa AI, and Mirapath; retailers such as Target, Liang’s Village,
and Kong Tofu & BBQ; and shopping centers including Crossroads,
Cupertino Village, Main Street, and Saich Way Station.
• Small Business Workshop Series: In 2024 and 2025, staff hosted in-person
workshops focused on technical assistance for local businesses. Topics
included business compliance, access to capital, customer acquisition
strategies, digital tools, and artificial intelligence. Partners included the
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce, Access Small Business Development
Center (SBDC), NOVAworks, KeyPoint Credit Union, Comerica Bank,
CDC Small Business Finance, NASA, Elevate Yourself, NAVAJO
Company, West Coast Community Bank, Meriwest Credit Union, Marble
Bridge Funding Group, and TMC Community Capital.
• Grand Openings and Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies: In 2024 and 2025,
staff supported grand openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies for local
businesses and development projects, sometimes in partnership with the
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. Examples include YogaSix, Starbird
Chicken, Be Natural Music, Alan Row Homes, and Westport Senior
Apartments.
• Business Resource Hub: In 2025, staff beta launched the Cupertino
Business Resource Hub, a free online platform designed to support local
businesses. The Hub is tentatively scheduled to go live later this fiscal year
following the completion of a new business directory. Once fully
launched, it will provide small businesses with centralized access to
essential tools, resources, and support to help them grow and succeed in a
competitive market.
Marketing & Outreach: The following initiatives are designed to support
Cupertino businesses through year-round "shop local" campaigns that boost
visibility and drive local spending. When individuals shop locally, the City
receives one percent of sales tax proceeds from each transaction, helping fund
essential public services. These efforts not only strengthen the local economy but
also provide staff opportunities to engage with businesses, encourage
participation, and share important resources and information.
• Explore Cupertino Business Map: In 2024 and 2025, staff promoted the
Explore Cupertino Business Map, a searchable online map that helps the
community easily find and support local businesses. The map was
featured across City channels, including social media, the Cupertino Scene
Newsletter, and Cupertino Connect. View the map here:
https://rb.gy/s5lkem.
• Small Business Saturday: In 2024, staff produced the City’s first-ever
Small Business Saturday promotional video, highlighting local businesses
in Cupertino to encourage community support and boost holiday
shopping. The video received over 11,400 views on Facebook. View the
video here: https://rb.gy/hwoiv2.
• Holiday Shop Local Campaign: In 2024, staff launched the City’s first-
ever Holiday Cupertino Shop Local campaign, with support from the
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce. The campaign featured a four-part
promotional video series, promoted through digital marketing to engage
the community and encourage local shopping throughout the holiday
season. Watch the videos here: Part 1 (https://rb.gy/k7ebzi); Part 2
(https://rb.gy/1c7wk6); Part 3 (https://rb.gy/t1tu5c), and Part 4
(https://rb.gy/fv36o7).
• Business Connect Newsletter: In 2024 and 2025, staff sustained outreach
to local businesses through the City’s email subscription system. From
June 2023 through December 2024, the subscriber base expanded by 63%,
growing from 6,000 to 9,752, while the number of messages sent per fiscal
year increased over 500%, rising from 3 to 19.
• National Small Business Week: In 2024 and 2025, staff promoted
National Small Business Week on social media to encourage the
community to shop locally and support small businesses. Created by the
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), this national campaign
typically takes place the first week of May each year.
• Dine Out for the 4th: In 2025, staff launched the City’s first-ever Dine Out
for the 4th campaign, encouraging residents and visitors to support local
restaurants during the Independence Day weekend. Visit the campaign
here: https://rb.gy/sp7xif.
Internal & External Partnerships: These initiatives focus on fostering
collaboration across City departments and outside partners to advance economic
development opportunities.
• Cupertino Chamber of Commerce: In June 2023, the City Council
approved a formal partnership between the City and the Cupertino
Chamber of Commerce to support local businesses. While a leadership
change at the Chamber initially delayed implementation, the agreement
was officially signed in April 2024, and the partnership has since been
actively moving forward. Attached to this memo are the quarterly reports
submitted to the City as part of the agreement.
• Cupertino Development Cabinet: In 2024 and 2025, staff continued to
convene an interdepartmental group to advance revenue-generating
economic development projects by reducing red tape and coordinating
major policies, and strategic initiatives. This initiative has been an
excellent method to promote collaboration and permit facilitation for
projects such as Apple CC05, Jade Tea Garden, 76 Gas Station, and the
vacant office space at 10275 N. De Anza Boulevard.
• Real Estate: In 2024 and 2025, staff assisted the City Manager’s Office with
real estate-related tasks associated with lease agreements with the Rolling
Hills 4-H Club and Friends of Stevens Creek Trail, deposition of City-
owned property at 10301 Byrne Avenue, and the Stevens Creek Trail joint
use agreement.
• Project UnlockED: In 2025, staff assisted students from Cupertino High
School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter by helping
them understand the permitting process, enabling the students to explore
ways to streamline and improve it as part of their Project UnlockED
initiative. Their project culminated in a third-place finish at the 2025
National Leadership Conference.
As outlined above, staff, working hand-in-hand with internal and external
partners, continues to offer an extensive range of support to local businesses.
Looking ahead, staff will advance several priorities from the Fiscal Year 2025-27
City Work Program. Efforts will focus on streamlining permitting; retention and
recruitment of retail and small businesses; placemaking; and providing staff
support to the recently reinstated Economic Development Committee.
Additionally, as part of Cupertino’s 70th anniversary celebration, staff will
launch the City’s first-ever Restaurant Week in October, complementing existing
holiday campaigns like Small Business Saturday in November and Holiday Shop
Local in December. Together, these efforts will expand opportunities for
community engagement and economic growth during the peak shopping season.
Sustainability Impact
There are no sustainability impacts associated with this update.
Fiscal Impact
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this informational memorandum.
City Work Program (CWP) Item/Description
None.
Council Goal
Public Engagement & Transparency.
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Daniel Degu, Economic Development Manager
Reviewed by: Kirsten Squarcia, Interim Deputy City Manager/City Clerk
Approved for Submission by: Tina Kapoor, Interim City Manager
Attachment:
A – Cupertino Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Reports
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce
Quarterly Report - April through June 2024
Events, Meetings & Campaigns
(List and summarize all events, business seminars, CBOP meetings, campaigns, etc.)
●LAC - Mayor Mohan - April 5, 2024
○The Mayor provided an update to the State of the City and made some
comments on what to expect with the upcoming City budget
●Retail Theft Seminar - April 25, 2024
○Provided marketing campaign for the virtual seminar, tracked registration,
and attended the seminar that was conducted by members of the Santa
Clara County Sheriff’s Office - West Valley
●National Small Business Week - April 28 - May 4, 2024
○Coordinated some activities in recognition of National Small Business Week
including attending a City Council meeting where recognition was given
●Westport Ribbon Cutting - May 6, 2024
○Provided Westport personnel with overall structure for the event and
coordinated with City Staff to have City Council and members of the
Chamber Board present there for ribbon cutting event
○Emceed event for Westport host
●Public Safety Roundtable Exercise - May 9, 2024
●SBDC In-Person Seminar on HR Regulations in CA - May 20, 2024
○Emceed event, monitored registration and attendance, distributed speaker
materials to attendees post presentation and continued communications as
appropriate with attendees
●CBOP - Mirapath - May 22, 2024
○Toured business’s facility and participated initial technical discussion on
incubators and other ideas for the use of space and future programming
ideas
●SBDC In Person Panel on Access to Capital - June 18, 2024
○Obtained a couple of the panel members
○Emceed event, monitored registration and attendance, distributed speaker
materials to attendees post presentation and continued communications as
appropriate with attendees
●Broker’s Breakfast - June 20, 2024
○Performed marketing campaign and attended the event held at the
Sunnyvale City Hall
ATTACHMENT A
○Encouraged and assisted small business to attend and market a business
mixer related to construction
Technical Assistance
Types of Businesses Served:
●Big Box Retail
●Small Retail
●Information Technology
●Construction
●Real Property Development
●Hospitality
●Business/Financial
●Health and Wellness
Metrics and KPIs
Estimated Number of Businesses Assisted: 25
Total Events: 9
Total RSVPs: 62
Total Attendees: 37
Total Social Media Engagements: 61
Total Social Media Reached: 2,074
Total Social Media Impressions: 2,074
Total Social Media Views: 1,076
Ad-Hoc Requests
(List and summarize all ad-hoc requests. Such requests may include outreach efforts
around new city policies, rules, and regulations.)
●Distribution or posting of new county tobacco ordinance
●Various business license inquiries
Key Successes
(Key successes achieved during the period.)
●The SBDC in-person seminars seems to be catching the attention of a good number
of business owners in the area given the interactions during the sessions, not just
the numbers of people in attendance
Recommendations
ATTACHMENT A
(Recommendations for future endeavors that advance the common goals of the
agreement, if needed.)
ATTACHMENT A
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce
Quarterly Report - July - September 2024
Events, Meetings & Campaigns
(List and summarize all events, business seminars, CBOP meetings, campaigns, etc.)
● Federal Procurement Tech Assistance with MiraPath - July 12, 2024
● Incubator/Accelerators Tech Assistance for MiraPath - July 23, 2024
● CBOP - KeyPoint - August 2, 2024
● Shop Local Campaign - August 17 2024
● SBDC Seminar - Using AI Effectively in your Business - August 1, 2024
● CBOP - Local Kitchens - August 2, 2024
● Green Business and Incentives Planning Meeting - August 12, 2024
● Quarterly Women’s Business Luncheon - August 14, 2024
● XLB Kitchen Tech Assistance Visit - August 27, 2024
● Incubator/Accelerators and Hackers Dojo Expansion Tech Assistance @
MiraPath - September 10, 2024
● SBDC Seminar - How to Build Your Brand Workshop - September 19, 2024
Technical Assistance
Types of Businesses Served:
● Information Technology
● Restaurants
● Municipal Government
● Federal Government
● Non-Profit
Metrics and KPIs Report
Estimated Number of Businesses Assisted: 42
Total Events: 3
Total RSVPs: 178
Total Attendees: 67
Total Social Media Engagements: 114
Total Social Media Reached: 2,631
Total Social Media Impressions: 2,631
Total Social Media Views: 1,464
Ad-Hoc Requests
ATTACHMENT A
(List and summarize all ad-hoc requests. Such requests may include outreach efforts
around new city policies, rules, and regulations.)
● Outreach to businesses for City’s health fair
● Building Electrification Focus Group - September 10/11, 2024
Key Successes
(Key successes achieved during the period.)
● Very large attendance at the Women’s Business luncheon and lots of demand for
the next one planned for November
Recommendations
(Recommendations for future endeavors that advance the common goals of the
agreement, if needed.)
ATTACHMENT A
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce
Quarterly Report - October - December 2024
Events, Meetings & Campaigns
(List and summarize all events, business seminars, CBOP meetings, campaigns, etc.)
●SBDC Workshop - October 24, 2024
●Holiday Shop Local Campaign - Small Business Saturday video -
November/December 2024
●Women’s Networking Luncheon x SBDC Workshop - November 21, 2024
●Cupertino Green Business Rebates and Incentives Workshop - December 5,
2024
●Alan Row Home Ribbon Cutting - December 9, 2024
●La Pizzeria technical assistance meeting - December 17, 2024
●Starbird Chicken Ribbon Cutting - December 20, 2024
Technical Assistance
Types of Businesses Served:
●Information Technology
●Restaurants/Food
●Construction/Utilities
●Non-Profit
Metrics and KPIs Report
Estimated Number of Businesses Assisted: 38
Total Events: 6
Total RSVPs: 111
Total Attendees: 84
Total Social Media Engagements: 4,346
Total Social Media Reached: 2,736
Total Social Media Impressions: 2,736
Total Social Media Views: 1,610
Ad-Hoc Requests
(List and summarize all ad-hoc requests. Such requests may include outreach efforts
around new city policies, rules, and regulations.)
Key Successes
ATTACHMENT A
(Key successes achieved during the period.)
●Growing attendance for the Women’s Luncheon in November with a request for
more time for networking.
Recommendations
(Recommendations for future endeavors that advance the common goals of the
agreement, if needed.)
ATTACHMENT A
Cupertino Chamber of Commerce
Quarterly Report - January - March 2025
Events, Meetings & Campaigns
(List and summarize all events, business seminars, CBOP meetings, campaigns, etc.)
●De Anza CBOP Meeting - January 21, 2025
●Minimum Wage Change posting - February 3, ,2025
●LAC Mayor Chao - February 6, 2025
●SBDC Workshop - February 20, 2024
●State of the City Promotion - February 21, 2025
●Be Natural Ribbon Cutting - February 22, 2025
●Incubator Discussion Mirapath - March 4, 2025
●Quarterly Women’s Networking Luncheon - March 20, 2025
Technical Assistance
Types of Businesses Served:
●Technology
●Restaurants/Food
●Hospitality
●Construction/Utilities
●Art/Music
Metrics and KPIs Report
Estimated Number of Businesses Assisted: 53
Total Events: 4
Total RSVPs: 161
Total Attendees: 107
Total Social Media Engagements: 66
Total Social Media Reached: 5,557
Total Social Media Impressions: 5.557
Total Social Media Views: 1,331
Ad-Hoc Requests
(List and summarize all ad-hoc requests. Such requests may include outreach efforts
around new city policies, rules, and regulations.)
●Minimum wage increase information posted
ATTACHMENT A
●Support for the Cupertino Business Resource Hub
Key Successes
(Key successes achieved during the period.)
●Continuing growth for Women’s Networking Lunch and now it includes De Anza
students seeking internships with local employers in various fields of study
Recommendations
(Recommendations for future endeavors that advance the common goals of the
agreement, if needed.)
ATTACHMENT A