A new economic recovery program from the city of Oakland began operation Thursday, aiming to use public space to help reopening businesses.

The Flex Streets Initiative repurposes sidewalks, parking lots and parking lanes for restaurants and other businesses to serve customers outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic. The program has offered a path for businesses to close some streets to create open-air environments they can use for operations.

Alameda County began allowing outdoor dining at restaurants and outdoor retail June 19, the same day Oakland announced its plans for Flex Streets to expand the space available to businesses.

“Our entrepreneurial bureaucrats wasted no time to be sure that our struggling small businesses could take full advantage of this new permission in a safe and responsible way,” Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said at a news conference Thursday outside La Frontera Mexican restaurant at International Boulevard and 45th Avenue.

Schaaf noted the alarming uptick in cases in Alameda County and the East Bay, imploring residents shopping, eating or otherwise spending time outdoors to wear face coverings and abide by social distancing guidelines.

La Frontera owner Valentino Carrillo said his restaurant opened in February, just before the coronavirus pandemic.

“We were able to survive the pandemic. We’re still surviving,” he said. “We’re doing great on takeout and with this opportunity to have outdoor (dining), I think it’s going to be great.”

Flex Streets mirrors San Francisco’s Shared Spaces Program across the bay, which the city announced in late May for takeout food and retail shopping, later adding outdoor dining.

The initiative, officials say, aims to streamline the permitting process and waive fees for businesses seeking to use public space as part of their operations.

Earlier in the pandemic, Oakland launched its Slow Streets campaign, closing some streets as traffic declined precipitously with many more people working from home. Several other cities followed Oakland in that initiative, which created more space for pedestrians and cyclists to make their way around town while social distancing.

The city has outlined a five-step plan for businesses interested in applying for a permit to use public space for their operations. For more information, head to the city’s website.