BioMarin Pharmaceutical is putting its employees' lunch money to work on Fourth Street.

The San Rafael-headquartered biotech company has partnered with the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce on a program called "BioMarin Dines Downtown," which gives employees dining credits redeemable at participating downtown restaurants. The credits, branded "BioBucks," aim to steer employee spending into the local restaurant economy rather than office cafeterias or chains outside the city.

The Chamber announced the program on Monday, Aug. 17, describing it as an effort to promote local spending and strengthen community ties between the company and the city. Neither the Chamber nor BioMarin has disclosed the dollar value of individual BioBucks credits or named the participating restaurants.

BioMarin employs roughly 3,249 people worldwide, with about 61% of its workforce based in North America, according to workforce data from early 2026. Not all of those North American employees work at the company's San Rafael campus at 770 Lindaro St. and 999 Third St.

The company, founded in 1997, reported $3.2 billion in revenue for 2025, a 13% increase over the prior year, according to its fourth-quarter earnings release. It is one of San Rafael's largest private employers.

The partnership comes as the Chamber, led by president and CEO Karen Strolia, has deepened its role as a go-between for businesses and the city. The California Chamber of Commerce named San Rafael's chamber its 2026 Chamber of the Year on June 10, citing its work on economic development and advocacy for local businesses. In that award profile, Jan Goldbert and Teresa Hammond, owners of Delicious Catering, said the Chamber "acts as a vital bridge to countywide leadership, successfully advocating for fee deferments and financial accommodations for food businesses."

The Chamber's announcement did not specify a program start date, an enrollment deadline for restaurants, or how businesses can sign up. Those details could determine whether the program reaches beyond a handful of eateries near BioMarin's campus or spreads across the broader downtown dining scene.