What is SUBA?

SUBA is the acronym for the Salinas United Business Association.  SUBA was established in 2004 as a private non-profit corporation.  SUBA is a 501c6, which means the IRS lumps it together with chambers of commerce and business associations.

As a private non-profit corporation which has as its mission to improve the east Salinas business community, SUBA takes on different roles and responsibilities throughout the day, including (but not limited to): Planner, Researcher, Advocate, Organizer, Convener, Coordinator, Facilitator, Resource Manager, Advisor, and Fund Raiser.

To be truly effective as a Champion for Change, SUBA must act as both a visionary and actionary.  That is, it must possess both the intellectual range that allows for thoughtful planning, and it must develop or secure the resources that provide the fuel for action that leads to sustained outcomes.  

SUBA is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of business owners who are licensed to operate a business within the boundaries of the SUBA Business Improvement District (BID).  The City of Salinas is represented on the Board through the participation of the Redevelopment Agency and three City Council Members.

What is a BID?

"A BID is a special benefit assessment district, which allows for an assessment on a property or business within a defined geographic area.  Revenues from this assessment are directed back to the defined area to finance a myriad of enhanced services, including security, maintenance, marketing, economic development, tourism, promotion, parking, and special events." 

The SUBA BID was established by the City of Salinas in 2004.  Although SUBA's Board of Directors has been designated to serve as the BID's Advisory Board, it is the City of Salinas that establishes the rules for the BID in accordance with State law, collects and allocates the annual BID assessment, and holds SUBA accountable for achieving the BID's goals and objectives.  

To learn more about BIDs in general, please take a few minutes to browse through The ABCs of California BIDs. 

The following documents contain information about the role the City Council, the City's Redevelopment Agency, and SUBA's founding members played in establishing the BID.

◊ January 13, 2004 - The City of Salinas Appoints SUBA's Board of Directors as the Advisory Board for Establishing a Business Improvement District

◊ June 22, 2004 - SUBA's Founding Members Submit a Request to the City of Salinas to Establish a BID

◊ August 17, 2004 - The City of Salinas Adopts an Ordinance to Establish the SUBA BID

◊ August 24, 2004 - The City of Salinas Approves SUBA's Annual Report and Passes a Resolution to Levy and Collect the BID Assessment

◊ October 5, 2004 - The City of Salinas Approves the Levy of an Assessment for the SUBA BID

◊ City of Salinas, California - Municipal Code for Parking and Business Improvement Areas, 2004

 Where does SUBA get its funding?

SUBA's total annual budget is roughly $150,000.  The majority of SUBA's funding comes from two sources: City of Salinas BID Assessment (approx. $90,000/year) and a grant from the City's Redevelopment Agency ($50,000/year).  SUBA also participates in the City's Weed & Seed Initiative which provides a reimbursement grant of $8,000 for basic beautification activities in certain areas within 93905.   Additional funding may come through fundraising events. 

How does the Board of Directors decide how to allocate the budget?

As with any business, the level and quality of services provided by SUBA in any given year are dictated by both the size and composition of the organization's annual budget.  In preparing the budget, the Board of Directors makes every effort possible to ensure the organization is able to address the BID's priorities in a manner that provides...well, the most bang for the buck.  Over the last two years, SUBA has become quite adept at leveraging its resources through collaboration with other organizations and by having staff take on many of the duties that were previously outsourced.  This has allowed SUBA to literally squeeze more out of every dollar that passes through the organization.  

An important aspect of the Board's priority-setting process involves gathering input from the membership throughout the year using various methods, including: large group meetings, one-to-one meetings, telephone interviews, community-based research projects, and through the Board's commitment to proactively learn something new about the BID every day.  With this information in hand, the Board returns to the budget table every year in late May and goes through the arduous process of assigning dollars to priorities.

The key to success in creating a budget that benefits the BID is the meaningful participation of the membership in the annual budget priority-setting process. 

What services does SUBA provide?

Who does the work?

What's my role and responsibility as a member of SUBA?