Residents of Brentwood and small-business representatives addressed the JSEB special committee on April 17 seeking clearer community access and input for a proposed entrepreneurship center in the neighborhood. Lydia Bell, president of the Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association in Brentwood, told the committee she and neighbors “knew nothing about JSEB coming out there” and asked the city to consider a site proposal she brought to the meeting for use as a community center.

JSEB administrator Gregory Grant explained the centers are designed to serve two purposes: entrepreneurship support and workforce development. “The purpose of these centers is twofold,” Grant said, adding that centers will host education programs, have a receptionist, and include reservable space for community use.

Small-business representatives urged programming that pairs capital with education. Tina Pham of the Asian Chamber and a JSEB member suggested more entrepreneurship education and staged financing so new owners build the business systems and credit profiles that make later larger loans viable. Pham proposed smaller startup loans and education that lead to eligibility for larger capital once a business matures.

Committee members acknowledged communication gaps and asked staff to continue community engagement in Brentwood. The committee encouraged JSEB staff to coordinate follow-up meetings with local residents to refine the center's programming and ensure it functions as both an entrepreneurship hub and a neighborhood community space.

Why it matters: The centers are intended to expand entrepreneurship supports and workforce training; residents want certainty that the facilities will be available for broader community activities, not solely programming for certified firms.