Toolkit Home | Defining Eligibility | Creating an Application Process
Creating a legacy business application process.
Once you have determined the eligibility metrics you will use for your legacy business program, you will need to consider how the businesses can become part of the program. You want to make the process as simple as possible while also being scaled to match the resources and capabilities of your team. If your program requires a more complex application process that involves multiple municipal organizations, such as historic preservation, planning, and economic development, you will need to examine program management roles and responsibilities, and possibly organizational change management, before launching. There are currently four main application processes being used in existing legacy business programs: automatic application, self-application, nomination, and a hybrid model that combines self-application and nomination.
Automatic Process
Automatic application is used when a city or community group seeks to establish a legacy business program or registry by predetermining all qualifying businesses and then notifying or recruiting them to join. Smaller programs (like the People & Places project I work with), smaller municipalities, or Main Street programs commonly use this process. This is one of the simplest ways to launch a pilot legacy business program and a good way to garner support from businesses and the community with minimal effort on their part. It does, however, require your team to have a good understanding of the businesses in your community and have the capacity to investigate and validate which businesses qualify as “legacy” using public records. It does not create the deeper understanding for businesses that are genuinely significant to the community that comes from engaging in qualitative community input.
Self Application
A self-application process allows businesses to apply directly to become part of a legacy business program. This is one of the best ways to make your program accessible to everyone. The process typically involves an online (or paper-based) submission, followed by a verification process to ensure the business meets the qualification criteria. This can be one of the simplest application processes to use for smaller programs. Atlanta and Long Beach are two examples of legacy business programs that have a self-application process.
A self-application process will require your team to get the information out to as many businesses as possible. This may require a significant outreach effort from your team to attract a large cross-section of businesses. Additionally, for the self-application process to be effective, you must establish clear eligibility guidelines and application steps so that each contributor knows what is required. Depending on the complexity of your program, you may need to allocate resources to assist businesses through the process and verify their eligibility metrics.
Long Beach Legacy Business Program | Long Beach, California
The Long Beach Legacy Business Program was initiated by the nonprofit Long Beach Heritage before it was transferred to the city’s economic development department. The original program included a self-application process for simplicity. That process continues to be used as the program grows.
Case in point.
Nomination
Another application model includes a nomination process. This allows residents, community groups, or public officials to nominate any local business that meets the eligibility criteria. Establishing a nomination process for a legacy business program introduces a level of vetting and quality control by requiring input from a third party, rather than self-application. The downside of this process is that it may require increased effort from your team to validate submissions. It may also exclude businesses that are not as well-known or connected but still meet the qualification criteria. This type of application process is generally used for legacy business programs that focus on business registries and promotions, rather than policy or financial incentives, as those programs typically require more vigorous vetting. The San Antonio Legacy Business Program provides an example of a community-nominated application process.
Hybrid Model
The hybrid application process combines nomination and application, requiring a business to be nominated by a public official or community group, followed by an application process for the business. This process provides the highest level of control and vetting for legacy businesses, discouraging frivolous or unsupported applications. This more complex process and higher level of vetting do, however, require more staff and resources to manage. This process is generally used by the more advanced or mature legacy business programs.
San Francisco Legacy Business Program | San Francisco, California
The San Francisco Legacy Business Program has created a local administrative code for legacy businesses, which requires a business to be nominated by a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors or the mayor. Once the nomination is reviewed and accepted, the business can apply to join the program. According to program staff I spoke with, this was done to create legitimacy for the nominations while also ensuring local accountability through the board members’ or the mayor’s office.