2021 Crown Communities Award winner: Benicia, Calif.’s ‘forward-thinking’ pandemic response

Two years ago, local governments confronted a scenario unprecedented in the last century: reports of a coronavirus spreading rapidly from Wuhan, China—the start of global a pandemic. The United States declared a public health emergency on Jan. 31, 2020, but the initial response was otherwise slow, at least from federal agencies. 

Many local governments pivoted quickly to address the ominously evolving situation. 

Among those communities, Benicia, Calif., began preparing for a worst-case-scenario “When we started hearing about a worldwide pandemic, before it was even declared in the United States,” according to Teri Davena, management analyst in the city’s Office of Economic Development. 

Included in those preparation plans was a then-novel COVID-19 Citizen’s Assistance Program, the first phase of which set aside $50,000 for those impacted by the pandemic. The program provides “temporary assistance for rent, utilities, food or gas,” Davena said. 

Initially, city administrators anticipated the program would only last a few months. But a second phase saw $75,000 distributed from municipal coffers, and $40,000 to $50,000 was donated soon after from citizens and businesses (the Travis Credit Union, United Way, Yocha Dehe, FEMA, First Five Solano, Soroptimist International of Benicia, Valero Benicia Refinery, Solano Community Foundation). 

A third round was initiated last week, according to Davena. 

From the assistance program to a small business loan program and an innovative community-driven vaccine clinic, Benicia’s forward-looking response to the pandemic is emblematic of the way many local governments have risen above the challenges of the past two years. And it has earned the city of just under 30,000 people American City & County’s 2021 Crown Communities Award, an annual merit-based award given to initiatives and projects that have a substantial positive impact on constituents.  

When the pandemic was first realized, Davena recalled the evolution that took place in city hall. 

“We closed city offices. I went home on St. Patrick’s Day, and I didn’t go back to the office for 15 months,” she said.  

Along with the assistance program, administrators implemented the BOOST Business Grants Program, which was funded with authorization from the City Council and the General Fund. So far, six rounds have awarded $266,500 to local businesses, supplementing any federal aid that’s been invested in the city. It’s had a positive impact on the business community. 

“For some businesses, it was a lifeline,” Davena said, noting that, having run out of other options, some entrepreneurs were considering investing their retirement savings to stay afloat. “A lot of businesses have survived. We’ve (not had) as many close as you would think. The ones that have closed were retirements, and they were picked up really quickly.” 

Over the past few years, Davena highlighted the “forward-thinking” leadership of Erik Upson, who was at first the city’s chief of police and has since moved into the city manager position.  

“It was really a joint effort of businesses and elected officials and city officials,” she said. 

A great example of this multi-organizational collaboration for the betterment of all can be seen in the city’s Vaccines for Seniors to Teens program, which cost about $50,000.  

Last year, “Vaccines were out there, but no one could get them,” she said. “We decided, ‘we’re not going to wait; we’re going to do it ourselves.’” 

A vaccine clinic for local seniors was held across the street from the senior center at the city’s gymnasium/civic center. Sign-ups were held next door at the library, and a transit company shuttled commuters from a nearby municipal lot. The school district provided golf carts that could transport seniors’ short distances, and adjacent streets were closed. 

“We even worked with our local amusement park to get wheelchairs,” Davena said. “Six Flags donated wheelchairs that people could borrow; we had ambulances standing by; we had local lunch donated from businesses to employees.” 

The community came together, and that first push, 1,500 people were vaccinated, including many seniors, she continued: “When I say ‘we did this’—we did nothing by ourselves. Everything was a community effort.”