The Turlock Business Partnership Incentives Program has been so successful in aiding small businesses it now needs more money to keep it going.
On Tuesday the Turlock City Council voted to add $15,000 more to the program's budget for the remainder of the 2012-13 fiscal year. The program was originally funded with $10,000.
"We have been more successful than we had originally anticipated," said Maryn Pitt, the city's Housing Program Services manager currently overseeing the program.
The Turlock Business Partnership Incentives Program offers $1,000 in cash to new small businesses opening up in previously vacant storefronts in the city.
The businesses, which have to meet eligibility requirements, have to submit business plans and provide hiring and sales data to the city.
The program kicked off in the 2011-12 fiscal year, during which time it was used to help 10 businesses get off the ground, which added 33 new jobs to the area.
"There is a city north of us in another county that is asking about it (the program) and considering emulating ours," said Councilwoman Amy Bublak, who helped spearhead the creation and implementation of the program.
On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council also:
• Made several appointments to commissions and committees in the city and county.
- Councilmember Bill DeHart was selected as the city's Vice Mayor.
- Soraya Fregosi and Jeanine Bean were both reappointed to Turlock's Planning Commission.
- Mike Dowd and Richard Salinas were both reappointed to the city's Parks, Recreation and Community Programs Commission and Jeremy Rocha was selected to fill the vacant seat.
- Sergio Alvarado was selected to fill the vacant first alternate seat for Turlock's Arts Commission. One alternate seat remains open.
- Mayor John Lazar will continue representing the city with Stanislaus County's Alliance network.
- Councilman Forrest White was appointed to the Stanislaus Council of Governments and Councilman Steven Nascimento will serve as an alternate.
- Councilman Steven Nascimento was appointed to the executive committee of the League of California Cities, Central Valley Division. Councilman Bill DeHart will serve as the alternate.
- Councilman Forrest White was appointed to the Regional Surface Water Supply Project Advisory Committee and Councilwoman Amy Bublak will serve as the alternate.
- Councilman Forrest White will represent the city during joint meetings with the Turlock Unified School District.
- Housing Program Services Manager Maryn Pitt will represent the city as an alternate member of the Stanislaus County Economic Development Action Committee.
• Approved the purchase of rubber bark from tire-derived products with Rubber Bark, Inc. of Ballico, in an amount not to exceed $149,588.
• Approved the purchase of one replacement unmarked police vehicle for the Turlock Police Department for an amount not to exceed $30,379.03.