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Item # 8.

Council Meeting

Meeting Date:	11/09/2021
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 Approving 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. Last year, the agreement transitioned from a grant funding agreement to a service agreement managed by the Economic Development & Tourism Department. The attached service agreement is for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. 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:

Economic Development Marketing:
1. Provide marketing support to the Addison Economic Development Department, including support and participation in the Annual Economic Development Luncheon (virtual/in-person).
2. Conduct a Business Expo, in conjunction with Coworking in the Park, with targeted marketing for 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 the Addison Economic Development Department (virtual/in-person).
5. Collaborate on BREP (business retention and expansion program) targeting Addison-based businesses and headquarters (virtual/in-person).

Entrepreneur Development/Small Business Support:
1. Highlight local resources available to entrepreneurs (i.e. Small Business Association, The Dallas Metropolitan Small Business Development Center, Dallas SCORE, etc.).
2. Host at least one Chamber event at the Addison TreeHouse (the “TreeHouse”).
3. Provide complimentary one-year chamber membership to business start-ups officing and holding active membership with the TreeHouse.
4. Encourage Treehouse memberships amongst Chamber members; maintain 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 coworking space for business owners who have had to reimagine office space due to COVID-19.

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.
6. Develop Strategies to Connect the Addison Airport Community and the Addison Business Community.
7. 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).
8. Increase awareness of the Addison airport, its new customs facility, and its third fixed base operator to chamber members and work with key airport staff to develop strategic community engagement.
9. Work with airport staff to host at least one event at airport (virtual/in-person State of the Airport, Airport Appreciation program, etc.).
10. Support the grand opening of the new customs facility once online (virtual/in-person).

Tourism Support:
1. Consistent brand awareness for Addison, special events, and business amenities.
2. Work with Tourism Manager 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 2021. The FY 2022 work plan is very similar to FY 2021. The Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce successfully completed most of their requirements as highlighted in their FY 2021 Work Plan. The lingering impacts of COVID-19 impacted some of the planned programs at the start of FY 2021. 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 until the environment became more stable for in-person events. The Chamber was also challenged this year with the resignation of their past president and the search for a new one. Despite this, board members and volunteers continued to execute on essential programs and activities.

The proposed scope of services was shared with Council Member Kathryn Wheeler, who serves as the liaison to the group, for her review prior to the development of the agreement. The total annual funding amount was approved in the FY 2022 Budget as part of the Economic Development & Tourism Department annual budget paid out of the General Fund.

RECOMMENDATION:

Administration recommends approval.

Attachments
Resolution - Metrocrest Chamber Agreement for Funding