City of Novato

📣 Novato Business Owners: Tenant Improvement Grant Applications Now Open Citywide! The City of Novato is excited to relaunch its Tenant Improvement Grant Program and expand it to businesses citywide, continuing its investment in the success of Novato’s local business community. Previously available only to downtown businesses, the expanded program is now open to eligible businesses and commercial property owners throughout Novato. 🙌 The program provides matching grant reimbursements for permanent improvements that enhance the appearance of commercial buildings, with a focus on façades, signage, and other publicly visible upgrades. 🚪💡 As an added benefit, you’ll get expert guidance from Marin Small Business Development Center to help your business grow and thrive. With $100,000 in funding approved by the Novato City Council, the program will remain open until all grants are awarded. 🔗 Don’t wait – apply today: https://lnkd.in/g_PyJTWA Full press release: https://lnkd.in/gtDXJWJi

Novato businesses 📣 Have we had a chance to connect with you? We 💙 our local businesses, and we’d love the opportunity to get to know yours. Through the City’s Business Visitation Program, City staff and members of Novato’s Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC) are meeting with local businesses to hear about your experience operating in Novato, learn what’s working (and what’s not), and find ways we can better support you. Whether you’ve been in business for decades or just opened your doors, we’re here to listen, celebrate your successes, and connect you with resources that can help your business grow, including: ✅ Free marketing and promotion through the City’s Shop Local Novato initiative ✅ No-cost consulting services through the Marin Small Business Development Center ✅ Grant and funding opportunities like the Tenant Improvement Grant Program ✅ Direct support from the City’s Economic Development staff Over the past year, we’ve had the pleasure of visiting 20 businesses across a variety of industries throughout our community, with many more to come. These visits are an opportunity to build relationships, explore resources, share ideas, ask questions and help shape how the City supports Novato’s business community. 🫶 Interested in scheduling a visit? 📧 Email us at econdev@novato.gov. We look forward to collaborating with you and supporting your continued success in Novato! 🙌

What areas of Novato have the greatest potential to shape the City’s future? 💬   One of the key findings from Novato’s Economic Strategic Plan analysis is the identification of several Opportunity Areas—locations with strong potential to attract investment, support local businesses, and enhance quality of life.   🏙️ Downtown Novato – The plan highlights opportunities to build on its historic character and add the vitality our residents want more of by strengthening its mix of housing, local businesses, community events, and connections to the SMART station. 🚶 Redwood Boulevard – Identified as a key corridor with opportunities to improve walkability, safety, business activity, housing, and connections to destinations like the future Eames Institute. 🎨 Hamilton Field – Recognized for its potential to further support arts, culture, tourism, and economic activity while celebrating its unique history. 🏘️ Shopping centers and City-owned properties – The plan notes opportunities to support small businesses across town and better utilize key sites through a mix of businesses, housing, public spaces, and community amenities.   These areas already play an important role in Novato’s economy and community life. The Economic Strategic Plan process has identified them as places where strategic investment and thoughtful improvements could help support local businesses, enhance community spaces, and strengthen Novato’s economy over time.   The Economic Strategic Plan is expected to return to City Council for adoption this September.   🔗 Learn more: novato.gov/EconomicPlan

🎨 A group of artists. Eleven utility boxes. A whole lot of new color across Novato. Our 2025-2026 Utility Box Art Program, “Where Stories Grow,” is officially complete, and we’re so grateful to the artists who poured their creativity into it: • Freddie D. Coronado, “The Timekeeper Blooming” - Novato Blvd & Grant Ave • Kevin Akers, “Life at Olompali” - Redwood Blvd & San Marin Dr • Denise Garibaldi, “For the Love of Mt. Burdell” - E. Campus Dr & San Marin Dr • Tia Whitaker, “Novato Open Space” - Redwood Blvd & Lamont Ave • Dana Brewer, Kelsey Lombardi, Monika Murphy, Claire Tyler, & Rachel Tyler, “Bahia Marsh Sunset” - Redwood Blvd & Rowland Ave • Sara Paculdo, “The Ocean is a Living Library” - Novato Blvd & 7th St • Heather Phelps, “Wilding of Novato” - Redwood Blvd & Olive Ave • Diego Lemus, “Pollinators of Novato” - South Novato Blvd & Arthur St • Lynsey Vera, “Family Work” - Redwood Blvd & DeLong Ave • Trevor Coopersmith, “Golden Hills” - Redwood Blvd & DeLong Ave • Amy Wells, “The Hills That Raised Me” - Redwood Blvd & Landing Ct Every one of these started as a sketch and an idea, and grew into something you’ll stumble onto on a walk, a drive, or a slow roll through the neighborhood. Together they gave our everyday corners a little more color, a little more glow, and a few more reasons Novato’s our favorite place to call home. Big thanks to the Rotary Club of Novato for helping prep the boxes and to Pini Hardware for the primer! Go find them around town, and meet the artists behind each piece at novato.gov/utilityboxart 🖌️

The City recently completed a two-year transformation of its permit services, making it easier for residents, businesses, and contractors to navigate the permitting process.   We're excited to see the positive feedback from community members who are experiencing a faster, more transparent, and more accessible permitting process.   The Marin Independent Journal highlights the progress we've made so far, from streamlined workflows and expanded online services to enhanced customer support and shorter turnaround times. 🙌   Key improvements include:   💻 24/7 Online Permit Services – Novato Permits provides convenient online access to apply for permits, submit documents, track application status and communicate with City staff.   ⚡ Faster Permitting Process – Same Day Express Permits and 5-Day Quick Permits for common home improvement projects allow qualifying applications to receive prompt action and start projects sooner.   🏡 All-Agency Advice Center – Permit Connections brings together City staff and representatives from Novato Fire, North Marin Water and Novato Sanitary to provide in person guidance and help customers understand permit requirements before they apply.   👥 Expanded Customer Support and Accessibility – The City has filled 14 vacant positions, enhanced technology, expanded bilingual support, and created new online resources and videos to help customers navigate the permitting process.   While this work is ongoing, we're proud of what we've accomplished and remain committed to continuously improving our services to better serve the Novato community.   🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g2BHQYtt

The City of Novato is proud to announce that Finance Director Carla Carvalho-DeGraff has received the Recognition for Outstanding Public Service Award from the Government Finance Officers Association, a national organization representing 30,000+ public finance professionals across the U.S. and Canada. 🏆 The award honors her exceptional leadership, dedication to public service, and major contributions to strengthening Novato’s financial operations. Since joining the City in 2022 as Deputy Finance Director, Carvalho-DeGraff has helped guide the Finance Department through significant challenges, including staffing shortages and overdue audits. In just three years, she oversaw completion of six financial audits, bringing the City current on its reporting. She also built and mentored a strong Finance team, strengthened internal processes, and helped establish systems to support long-term fiscal health. “Carla’s leadership has been instrumental in restructuring the City’s financial operations and building a Finance Department prepared to meet the needs of our community well into the future,” said City Manager Amy Cunningham. “She led through difficult challenges with professionalism, determination and humility. She helped put the City on solid financial footing. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this national recognition and am delighted that she is receiving this distinguished honor from her peers." Carvalho-DeGraff’s national recognition is both a celebration of her extraordinary leadership and a reflection of the City’s commitment to responsible financial stewardship. We’re #NovatoProud to have her leading the way. 🙌 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gxA-7DWM

Thank you, Novato! More than 800 residents, workers and business owners took the time to share their ideas, priorities, and vision for Novato’s future through the City’s Economic Strategic Plan process. Over the past several months we’ve worked together to better understand Novato’s strengths, challenges and opportunities — and you showed up in a big way! Whether you took the survey, attended the community workshop or stopped by our farmers’ market booth, you told us what matters most to you: 🌁 A more active and connected Downtown 🛍️ Stronger support for local businesses 🎨 More arts, culture, and gathering spaces 🚉 Improved infrastructure and transportation 🤝 A City that is easier to work with for businesses and investment The economic data also highlighted Novato’s strengths as a growing regional job center with thriving healthcare, manufacturing and life sciences sectors, three SMART train stations, and a strong industrial base. At the same time, challenges remain, including vacant storefronts, office vacancies, and the need for more housing near jobs Together, these insights are helping create a roadmap for a thriving, inclusive and resilient local economy that supports businesses, creates opportunity, and reinforces what makes Novato unique. The draft Economic Strategic Plan is expected to return to the City Council for adoption later this fall. 🔗 Learn more: novato.gov/EconomicPlan

Happy Pride, Novato! 🌈 Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at Novato City Hall to stand together in recognition, inclusion, and unity. Each June, we raise the Pride flag to honor and celebrate our LGBTQ+ community and recognize Pride Month as a time for visibility, unity, and ongoing progress. 💖 This year’s ceremony was extra special — we were joined by Elin Zappelli, the winner of the 2026 Novato Pride Voices Contest, who shared their powerful winning entry “Heart of Pride” with the crowd. The Pride flag will fly proudly at both City Hall and the Novato Police Department all month long. And mark your calendars — on June 9, the City Council will officially proclaim June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Novato. Happy Pride, Novato! #NovatoProud #NovatoFun #PrideMonth

💧National Water Safety Month💧 Earlier this month, Novato City Council issued a proclamation recognizing May 2026 as National Water Safety Month in Novato. Water safety awareness and swim education are more important than ever. Learning water safety skills and participating in swim lessons can help prevent drowning and save lives, while giving people of all ages and abilities the confidence to safely enjoy the water. We are #NovatoProud to offer aquatic programs at the Hamilton Community Pool — now open for summer 2026 🙌 — for all ages and abilities, including swim lessons, adaptive swim lessons, lap swim, water exercise, Junior Lifeguard Camps and more! 👉 Sign up for aquatics programming at novato.gov/regforfun We also want to thank our dedicated lifeguards, swim instructors, and aquatics staff who help create a safe, welcoming, and fun environment for our community every day. 🏊☀️

A huge thank you to the incredible people behind Novato Public Works. 🦺💙 Every day, they care for the spaces our community depends on —maintaining 318 miles of roadway, 460 medians and 115 acres of parks. Whether repairing streets, maintaining landscaping, servicing city vehicles, or responding to daily needs across Novato, their impact is felt in every neighborhood, park, street, and shared community space. 🚧🌳 Thank you, Novato Public Works, for everything you do. 👏💙 #NationalPublicWorksWeek #NovatoProud