Submitted By: Marie Mesadieu
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Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve the annual agreement for business creation, retention, and attraction services with the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership in the amount of $190,000
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Economic Hub
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND: The Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) requested $190,000 from the City's Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to support business creation, retention, and attraction. The initial CEP request occurred in 2012 when the City agreed to a quarterly expenditure to promote and enhance its economic growth. There has been an agreement in each subsequent year. Before the creation of the CEP, agreements existed between the City and the Economic Development Council.
Starting in Fiscal Year 2019-20, the City Council recommended funding the CEP at $190,000 annually and requested that the City and CEP enter into a service agreement. Each year afterward, the City Council has included the requested $190,000 in the adopted budget. City staff and CEP representatives negotiate the requested agreement, including the following initiatives: NEXT working, which engages students with businesses in career development events, and IMPACT, which provides targeted assistance to entrepreneurs.
Staff recommends approval of the agreement to further establish Ocala as an economic hub. The proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 Business Creation, Retention, and Attraction Services Agreement (Agreement) is attached for the Council's action.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The CEP is Ocala/Marion County's designated representative to Florida Commerce (formerly Enterprise Florida, Inc.), the official economic development organization for the State of Florida. The CEP also represents the community as a Florida Commerce Stakeholders' Council member.
In Fiscal Year 2023-24, the City funded...
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