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: This agenda item was initially presented to the Ocala City Council at the November 5, 2024, meeting and was tabled per the Council's request. City staff and the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) have worked collaboratively to restructure the Agreement to capture the recommended changes and objectives the Ocala City Council raised.
The 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.
Summary of the changes in the annual CEP approved funding over the years:
Fiscal Year
Amount Approved Annually
2011-12 to 2014-15
$145,000.00
2015-16 to 2018-19
$165,000.00
2019-20 to 2023-24
$190,000.00
Beginning in Fiscal Year 2011-12 to Fiscal Year 2023-24, the City Council recommended funding the above annual amounts to the CEP 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. 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 represents the community as a Florida Commerce Stakeholders' Council member.
Staff recommends approval ...
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