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Item # 14.
         
Council Meeting
Meeting Date: 10/27/2020  
Department: Economic Development  
Pillars: Innovation in Entrepreneurship & Business
Milestones: Leverage Addison's assets to grow and expand placemaking business programs and events that will set Addison apart to attract talent and businesses
AGENDA CAPTION:
Consider Action on a Resolution to Approve an Agreement for Funding Between the Town of Addison and the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement in an Amount Not to Exceed $35,000.
BACKGROUND:
For the last few years, the Town of Addison has provided grant funding to the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce.  This year, the agreement has transitioned from a grant funding agreement to a service agreement that will be managed by the Economic Development & Tourism Department.  The service agreement defines a work plan and quarterly reports as part of their deliverables to the Town.  The following is what they have proposed to achieve for the Town:
  1.  Economic Development Marketing:
    1. Provide marketing support to Addison Economic Development Department, including support and participation in the Annual Economic Development Luncheon (virtual/in-person).
    2. Conduct Business Expo in conjunction with Co-working in the Park with marketing targeted at Addison Businesses and provide educational sessions (virtual/in-person).
    3. Target Addison-based Chamber members to renew Business Registration.
    4. Conduct Economic Development Committee meetings with members, investors, local elected officials, and tri-city departments to advance the goals and mission of Addison Economic Development Department (virtual/in-person). 
    5. Collaborate on BREP (business retention and expansion program) targeted at Addison-based businesses and headquarters (virtual/in-person).
  2.  Entrepreneur Development Support: 
    1. Highlight local resources available to entrepreneurs (i.e. SBA, SBDCs, SCORE, etc.).
    2. Host at least one Chamber event at the TreeHouse.
    3. Provide complimentary one-year chamber membership to business start-ups officing and holding active membership with the Addison TreeHouse.
    4. Encourage Treehouse memberships amongst chamber members; locate Chamber office at the Treehouse to help bridge business community and entrepreneurs/start-ups in Addison.
    5. Encourage back to business small group meet-ups and opportunities to connect in Treehouse space; highlighting use of co-working space for business owners who have had to re-imagine office space due to COVID-19. 
  3. Addison Business Profile Support: 
    1. Organize and conduct annual Mayors’ Forum (virtual/in-person).
    2. Provide local leadership development opportunity via Leadership Metrocrest (virtual/in-person).
    3. Provide ribbon-cutting support for new Chamber members in the Addison area (virtual/in-person).
    4. Conduct annual educator appreciation programming for Bush Elementary (virtual/in-person). 
    5. Support Economic Development Department efforts in attracting and retaining businesses; conduct collaborative junctions when advantageous.  
  4. Develop Strategies to Connect the Addison Airport community and the Addison business community  
    1. Provide airport management, tenants, and users opportunities to attend and benefit from chamber events such as the Business Expo, Chairman’s Circle, etc.  (virtual/in-person).
    2. Increase awareness of airport, new customs facility, and third FBO to chamber members, work with key airport staff to development strategic community engagement.
    3. Work with airport staff to host at least one event at airport (virtual/in-person State of the Airport, Airport Appreciation program, etc.)
    4. Support the grand opening of the new customs facility once online (virtual/in-person) 
  5. Tourism Support: 
    1. Consistent brand awareness for the Town of Addison, special events, and business amenities.
    2. Work with Tourism Coordinator and Special Events Department to promote hotel packages for Addison’s special events amongst chamber members and business community.

This service agreement is valued at $35,000 which is the same level of funding as FY 2020.  The FY 2021 work plan is very similar to FY 2020.  The Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce successfully completed most of their requirements as highlighted in their FY 2020 Work Plan.  The unanticipated impacts of COVID-19 resulting in the closure of the Addison Conference and Theater Center, closure of nonessential businesses, and limited group gathering restrictions by the County obviously impacted some of the planned programs for the Chamber in FY 2020.  Despite this, the Chamber was able to pivot their work plan quickly by becoming more proactive in the dissemination of information to local businesses, offering support, and taking many of their in-person programs to virtual platforms.  Because of the lingering impacts of COVID-19 into FY 2021, the Chamber has modified this agreement to be allowed to host many of their events virtually, but will make a good faith effort to host in-person events as long as social distancing protocols can be adhered to to ensure the health and safety of participants.

Funding for this service agreement has been approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Administration recommends approval.
Attachments
Resolution - Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce Service Agreement

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