DATE:
March 19, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Chadrick Smalley, Community Development Director
SUBJECT:
Economic Development Advisory Committee’s Annual Report On Committee Goals, Principles And Accomplishments For Calendar Year 2023; And Proposed Committee Priorities For Calendar Year 2024
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council accept this report on the Economic Development Advisory Committee’s accomplishments in 2023 and proposed priorities for 2024.
Committee Goals and Principles
The Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) provides input and recommendations regarding City policies and priorities related to the City’s economic development priorities and strategies.
Accomplishments for Calendar Year 2023
The EDAC’s highlighted priorities for 2023 were 1) to begin marketing program implementation activities including review of a Request for Proposals for consultant support; and 2) the development of a program to provide assistance in the form of a “Solutions Program” to help facilitate the location of beneficial businesses in Emeryville. Other priorities included additional industry-focused roundtable discussions, continued support of business networking events, continued support for the production of affordable housing, and continued monitoring of the City’s labor standards.
The EDAC’s work in 2023 focused on the implementation of the marketing program and the development of the Solutions Program. The EDAC also began work focused on support of Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (“BIPOC”) small businesses as a result of City Council priorities, as described in more detail below.
In January 2023, the EDAC discussed a rough outline of the Solutions Program, received a report on the City’s efforts to host an electric scooter championship race event, and received a presentation on the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program. Additionally, the EDAC reviewed its annual report to the City Council.
On March 22, 2023, a BizNexus networking event was held at Hilton Garden Inn and featuring a tour of newly remodeled facilities at this hotel.
In May 2023, the EDAC reviewed a draft Request for Proposals for marketing program implementation. The EDAC also participated in a discussion with Councilmember Priforce on the need for a business organization and progress made in this area.
On June 28, 2023, a BizNexus networking event was held at Sonesta Emeryville, featuring an update the hospitality industry trends.
In September 2023, the EDAC held an initial discussion on BIPOC small business support and received a presentation from the Alliance for Community Development on this topic. As part of this item, the EDAC reviewed reports and other information on BIPOC-focused support programs including “The People of Color Small Business Network 2021 Impact Report” by the Greenlining Institute, “Small Business Anti-Displacement Strategies and Tools: Supporting Local Small Businesses in Crenshaw” by Inclusive Action for the City and Destination Crenshaw, and “Minding My Black-Owned Business” by the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation. An early action step identified during this discussion was the need to collect demographic and organizational data using the City’s business license renewal process, and this was implemented for 2024 business license renewals.
At its September 2023 meeting, the EDAC also discussed further development of the Solutions Program, including a report on discussions with Pacific Community Ventures, a Community Development Finance Institution that provides support to small businesses. The EDAC also received an update on the marketing program RFP process, with eight proposals received by the RFP deadline of September 7, 2023, On September 27, 2023, a BizNexus networking event was held at Tipsy Putt’s Trophy Room at Bay Street, highlighting makers and artists in Emeryville.
In December 2023, the EDAC held a special meeting to provide input on the composition of the Art Center Advisory Group and to hold a discussion with the Rotten City Cultural District partners to learn about the proposed program and discuss opportunities for collaboration. The EDAC also received an update on business organization efforts, which included an announcement by Mary Lou Thiercof on the launch of the Emeryville Commerce Connection and its recent election of officers.
On December 13, 2023, the final BizNexus networking event of the year was held at Public Market. This event was the best-attended of any BizNexus event since the inception of the series which demonstrated the continued demand for business networking opportunities.
Top Priorities for Calendar Year 2023
First Highlighted Priority
BIPOC Small Business Support – On May 16, 2023, and as part of the development of the City’s Fiscal Year 2024 and 2024 Operating Budget, the City Council identified ten Goals for Fiscal Year 2024. One of the identified Goals is to “Create a Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Small Business support program”. As noted above, the EDAC began preliminary work on this topic in 2023 and has identified this as a priority for 2024. The EDAC plans to continue its support of small businesses with a central focus on the BIPOC small business community. The committee plans to identify the needs of BIPOC small businesses through robust engagement, evaluate best practices for support programs, identify potential partners for implementation, and develop and launch a program over the course of the calendar year.
Second Highlighted Priority
Marketing Program – With the recent conclusion of the RFP process for marketing implementation support, the EDAC expects implementation activities to begin in earnest in 2024, beginning with a recommendation to the City Council for a contract with a marketing firm for support. The contract scope is expected to include the development of a purpose-built website for hosting content to be developed by the consultant that tells the City’s story as a center of art and innovation, and social media marketing to drive traffic to the website.
Other Priorities
Other activities expected to involve the EDAC in 2024 include continued work on the Solutions Program, continued support of business networking events, collaboration with Emeryville Commerce Connection as it develops its membership and addresses the needs of the business community, collaboration with Rotten City Cultural District programs, and support of the Art Center Project.
Conclusion
The EDAC has remained an engaged and productive advisory body in 2023. The upcoming calendar year is expected to be significant for economic development activities in Emeryville with the launch of the marketing program, the Emeryville Commerce Connection, and the Rotten City Cultural District programs. These initiatives offer great opportunities for synergistic cooperation to the benefit of Emeryville’s economy and the EDAC is excited to be a part of this work.
PREPARED BY: Chadrick Smalley, Director of Community Development Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Economic Development Advisory Committee Annual Report
City Council Meeting | March 19, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM