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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.21.2008COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 21, 2008 4:00 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Hurley, Getty, Hart, Greenwood, Steve Schmitt, Welper, Reggie Schmitt. Absent: Cole. Moved by Reggie Schmitt, seconded by Greenwood that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. Mayor Hurley reviewed the city's relationship with the Cedar Valley MyEntreNet. The city council authorized to fund MyEntreNet, along with the City of Cedar Falls and the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance, $30,000.00 each per year for the next two years. Maureen Collins -Williams updated the council on the first six months of MyEntreNet. Ms. Collins -Williams explained the three focal areas. Building Community Capacity, Convening Service Delivery Partners and Gathering Entrepreneurs. The Cedar Valley MyEntreNet Task Force was created in February 2008. More than 40 leading residents of Waterloo and Cedar Falls have agreed to participate in bi-annual training, guide the process of entrepreneurial development in the Cedar Valley and provide referrals to entrepreneurs into the system. An image campaign was launched in February 2008. Direct mail, PSAs, CFU local programming, articles in the Courier and local print material were distributed to existing entrepreneurs, and just over 200 MyEntreNet business portfolios were distributed to regional business owners. Representatives from the area's leading public service providers supplied their individual calendars of training, technical assistance and networking events to the UNI Regional Business Center. From this information, a new comprehensive Master Calendar was created featuring the collective services and resources offered in the Cedar Valley through June 2008. The Cedar Valley MyEntreNet Task Force identified a core group of private business professionals from nine key areas of business expertise in the Cedar Valley, who will serve as on-line Navigators. The first Cedar Valley EntreNetBash held on March 13, 2008 was hosted at the UNI Gallagher- Bluedorn Performing Arts Center. Over 200 attended the Bash and more than 100 met with MyEntreNet intake team members to share their ideas, plans and learn more about upcoming events. The EntreBash Summer 2008 was scheduled for June 19, 2008, shortly after the great flood in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. After discussion with many Cedar Valley Task Force members, the decision as made to cancel the event and work instead with the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and the Greater Cedar Valley Chamber of Commerce to gather business owners affected by the flooding for a community meeting. On June 19, 2008, the UNI Regional Business Center hosted community meetings with small businesses affected by the flooding. Information was shared and the short term needs assessed. Ms. Collins -Williams explained that many small business owners on the west side were living hand to mouth. When the flood shut the businesses down, it created a financial hardship because they did not have additional funds available. Many were frustrated because no one could provide a solution other than a small business loan, and they were looking for grants. Noel Anderson, Community Planning & Development Director, explained that at that time, many business owners wanted the debris removed. These meetings were held prior to the city approving the debris removal contract. Many of the business owners wanted the city to carry the message to others with the ability to come up with grants, that grants were what the small businesses needed, not small business loans. Council Work Session July 21, 2008 Page 2 Ms. Collins -Williams noted that data suggests that 40 percent of the small businesses will reopen, of those 40 percent, 60 percent will close within a year. MyEntreNet was hearing that the owners needed a map to show them how to get back to normal. MyEntreNet is helping the owners know it will be a new normal. Councilperson Getty commented that he heard from the businesses and homeowners that decisions were not being made and they are not equal. They feel it's not the same help as what was given in the South. Ms. Collins -Williams stated that we need to work to put a pot of money aside for these kinds of disasters. Ms. Collins -Williams reported that during the first six months there were 31 new business starts/expansions, 27 jobs created and $813,950.00 new investment. Mayor Hurley suggested that as part of the regional image campaign information could be put on the city's public access channel. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Reggie Schmitt, seconded by Hart that the meeting be adjourned at 4:25 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • •