HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrow_Cedar_Valley_FY26-17_Contract_-_6.16.2025 Docusign Envelope ID: BC199373-9FCF-4483-8024-BFCA9F97456C
FY2026&FY 2027 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
WITH
GROW CEDAR VALLEY
This Agreement is entered as of June 16 2025, by and between the Grow Cedar
Valley("GCV"), and the City of Waterloo, Iowa("City").
WHEREAS,the GCV has proposed to be the City's business partner. GCV is the leader in bringing
business and community together to grow opportunities, reducing obstacles to business growth through
collaboration and advocacy for business attraction,retention,and expansion.Whereby GCV will engage in
economic development activities directly benefiting the City of Waterloo; and
WHEREAS, through the adoption of the FY2026 budget, the City Council of City has agreed in
principle to provide certain funding for said project on certain terms and conditions, including execution of
a formal agreement outlining the duties and responsibilities of the GCV and the City; and
WHEREAS GCV and City have reached agreement on the terms and conditions under which the
project will be undertaken,and the funding provided, and now desire to reduce their agreement to writing.
NOW,THEREFORE,in consideration of the mutual covenants exchanged herein,the parties agree
as follows:
1. Recipient_Status. GCV affirms that it is a private,non-profit corporation organized and existing under Iowa
law. GCV shall provide proof of tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Service Revenue Code prior
to receiving funding. GCV has also provided City with a copy of its mission statement and a detailed
summary from an officer or board member that specifies GCV's use of the funds,consistent with the concept
of "public purpose" as described in Iowa Code § 15A.1(2), (5) or otherwise by addendum to this
Agreement.
2. Recipient Documentation. Prior to receiving funding, GCV shall provide the following documentation to
the City:
a. Proof of business entity status, including a copy of by-laws and articles of incorporation if
applicable.
b. Complete information on the source and amount of funding received from all other sources,
including but not limited to non-governmental agencies, membership dues and fees, and
private contributions.
c. Names and addresses of directors and/or officers.
d. Line-item budget for the current fiscal year.
e. List of any additional pending applications for funding to include funding source and dollar
amount requested.
3. Description of Project. In consideration of the funding provided to GCV by the City, GCV shall represent
and advocate for the interests of business, industry and institutions operating in the City of Waterloo.
Failure to abide by this requirement shall result in a return of funds pursuant to this
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Agreement. GCV agrees to undertake and complete in the Cedar Valley project(the"Project"),to engage
in the following economic development activities:
a. Business expansion,retention and recruitment.
1. Execute Marketing(Domestic and Foreign Direct Investment)that will help
Waterloo to compete in the site selection process by highlighting location
differential.
2. Support initiatives of the TechWorks;
3. Identify and manage expansion and recruitment projects with the intent of
encouraging new developments that increase wages.
4. Prepare and be an advocate for funding businesses who wish to access state
incentive programs.
5. Maintain and provide data for the use of existing businesses and site
selectors considering the area.
6. Identify and meet with Waterloo existing businesses on an ongoing basis
and include but not limited to assistance with site selection, incentive
assistance, data support, and workforce assistance.
7. Input data/information from existing business meetings on customer
relationship management software to track data and individual information
on existing Waterloo businesses. This aggregated data will help both the
City and GCV adjust programming and advocacy for existing businesses
and their industry sector.
8. Respond and be proactive to assist an existing business, their employees,
Iowa Works with major layoffs or closings as needed.
b. Encouraging targeted business expansion/retention in Waterloo by partnering with the
University of Northern Iowa, CIRAS at Iowa State University, Hawkeye Community
College,Waterloo Career Center,Iowa Workforce Development,and the State of Iowa.
c. Innovation
1. Support and Execute initiatives to support innovation for Small and
Medium Size Manufacturers in the Cedar Valley along with UNI, CIRAS and
Hawkeye Community College and other partners.
d. Workforce Recruitment and Retention.
1. Live the Valley- Through print, digital and social media, GCV will
promote Living and Working in the City of Waterloo by collaborating with
the City and other entities to promote and share content on the City of
Waterloo showcasing the quality of life,people and businesses.
2. Host the Annual Opportunity Summit in collaboration with other private
and public sector entities.
e. Continue to provide support to existing Cedar Valley businesses on the best practices
for diversity,inclusion and equity in the workplace.
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f. Government Affairs advocate for the following: Advocacy for Cedar Valley
priorities which will be submitted to the Government Relations Committee and
the Board of Directors (therefore may be changed).
g. Waterloo Regional Airport Task Force-provide staffing support to this volunteer
group of Cedar Valley businesses who support the Airport Director,Airport Board,
Mayor and the City with retention and expansion of air services.
h. Improving the 'Brand".
1. A continuing priority is to communicate a brand message that positions Waterloo and the
Cedar Valley as an economy driven by technology and innovation led businesses,as well
as a superior Midwest quality of life through print, digital and social media platforms.
2. The mayor or designate will have an opportunity at the podium to provide City update
quarterly at Good Morning Cedar Valley events.Event attendance averages 200+/-.
4. Funding The city agrees to provide funding in an amount up to $114,650 for FY2026 and up to
$117,000 for FY 2027 for an amount total over the two fiscal years of up to $231,600 to support
implementation of the Project, upon Request for Payment as provided in this agreement, and upon receipt
of the Accounting required in this agreement, as follows:
■ FY 2026 -An amount up to$32,250 to be paid in two separate payments of up to$16,125 each by
December 31, 2025, and on or before June 30, 2026;
FY 2025 - An amount up to $32,900 to be paid in two separate payments of up to $16,450 each by
December 3155, 2026, and on or before June 30, 2027; and
■ An amount up to $59,800 in potential incentive funds for FY 2026 and up to $61,000 in potential
incentive funds for FY 2027 for a total of up to $120,800 for both FY 2026 and FY 2027, if earned as
follows in each of the two Fiscal Years:
a. $3,000 per acre of new development in an area of Waterloo officially designated by City during
the term of this Agreement as an urban renewal area, TIF district, or other area in which City,
provided that each acre must contain 10,000/sf of building structure on average, and/or
b. $3,000 per$250,000 of new taxable value added to a development area,and/or
c. $3,000 per new and/or retained FTE job created in a development area,provided the jobs have
an hourly starting wage of at least 100% of the average regional wage as determined by the
Iowa Economic Development (IEDA)or 100%of average regional wage as identified by Iowa
Economic Development Authority, and/or
■ GCV will provide the following information in writing to the City on a semiannual basis to
show all efforts made to promote Waterloo,broken down into categories for(a)companies solicited by
GCV to late in development area(b) companies GCV contacted to expand operations in development
area,and(c)inquires received by GCV from companies for marketing materials or availability sites or
buildings: number of initial calls,contacts,leads,prospects, conferences attended to present marketing
about Waterloo, databases organized and/or posted on websites for providing relevant
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information about Waterloo, other efforts made to network, form relationships and/or subscribe to
services, and material responses to requests for information. Based on the document submitted by
GCV,the City,at its sole discretion,can evaluate the semiannual performance of GCV and may provide
semiannual performance payment up to $11,175 to GCV,with a total maximum not to exceed$22,350
in FY 26 and semiannual performance payment up to $11,550 to GCV with a total maximum not to
exceed$23,100 in FY 27.
Semiannual means the periods in Fiscal Year 2026-June through November 2025;and December 2025
through May 2026 to allow program evaluation and payment to occur on or before June 30, 2026.
Semiannual means the periods in Fiscal Year 2027-June through November 2026;and December 2026
through May 2027 to allow program evaluation and payment to occur on or before June 30, 2027.
5. Documentation Regarding Accounting of Expenditure of City Funds. The GCV shall provide the City with
a detailed accounting of the expenditure of City funds and a written report outlining the GCV's performance
and accomplishments within the scope of work outlined in its application, upon submitting Requests for
Payment pursuant to this agreement.
6. SalaFlg& A portion of the City's grant, as outlined in Paragraph 4,may provide funding for a portion of the
salaries and employee benefits. City payment of a portion of the program's salary and benefit expenses shall
not make the City responsible or liable for any employee. All employment-related claims of any type or
nature whatsoever that are made by a GCV employee or against a GCV employee by others will be the sole
responsibility of GCV.
7. Request for Paym_e_nt All requests for payment or reimbursement shall be submitted by GCV to City on a
semi-annual basis, specifically, no later than December 1, 2025, and June 1, 2026, for Fiscal Year 2026
and no later than December 1, 2026, and June 1, 2027, for Fiscal Year 2027. All payments or
reimbursements are contingent upon receipt of the documentation required in this agreement above, and
upon receipt of the Report on Project Results required in this agreement. City shall have a period of up to
thirty (30) days from date of receipt of each request for payment and all necessary documentation,within
which to make payment or reimbursement under the Agreement.
8. Re ort on Pr 'ect Results-, GCV agrees to provide the city with a written summary documenting the results
of the Project on a semi-annual basis, specifically no later than December 1, 2025, and June 1, 2026, for
Fiscal Year 2026 and no later than December 1, 2026, and June 1, 2027, for Fiscal Year 2027. Such report
shall include without limitation:
a. Details of external marketing efforts, including, but not limited to the number of initial
calls, contacts,prospects, and material responses to requests for information.
b. Number of existing business calls and assistance provided to existing Waterloo
companies.
c. Statistics related to Live the Valley and Job Board that promotes the City of Waterloo
and supports existing Waterloo businesses.
d. Update on execution of initiatives as identified under Grow Cedar Valley
and related workforce programming and collaboration that benefits the City of Waterloo.
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e. Update on initiatives made by the Waterloo Airport Task Force Committee under Grow
Cedar Valley.
f. Update on government relations as it pertains to the City of Waterloo and Waterloo
businesses.
9. Return of Funds. In the event GCV does not use funds for the intended purpose(s)or in the event GCV does
not comply with the reporting requirements of Paragraph 8 above,the funds or any portion thereof shall be
returned to the City prior to the end of the current fiscal year, which is June 30, 2026 for Fiscal Year 2026
and is June 30, 2027 for Fiscal Year 2027.
10. Time Limitation of Funding, The parties hereby acknowledge that the City is not committed or obligated
to provide funds beyond the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and that any future project or program
requires a separate request and is subject to City Council approval and execution of a separate written
agreement. However, this Agreement does not prohibit GCV from requesting additional financial support
from the City for other activities associated with the Project in the Cedar Valley.
11. Recipient Board. The GCV Board of Directors will be charged with planning for the appropriate
expenditure of City grant funds in accordance with this Agreement. The mayor or his/her designee will
represent the City on the Board. The mayor will also represent the City on GCV's Executive Committee.
12. Termination. Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time if:
a. The other party materially breaches the terms of this Agreement; provided that the non-
breaching party shall have given the breaching, party written notice of such breach and the
breaching party shall have failed to cure the same within(30)days after receipt of such notice.
b. There is the loss or departure of key personnel that would jeopardize both the quality and time
of performance or would make performance impractical with respect to the budget
contemplated for this Agreement, and a mutually acceptable replacement cannot be found; or
c. Performance of any part of this Agreement by a party is prevented or delayed due to a factor
beyond the reasonable control of the party and cannot be overcome by reasonable diligence to
the satisfaction of either party.
d. The party desiring termination delivers no less than 60 days' advance written notice of
termination to the other party.
In the event of termination, immediate written notice shall be given by the authorized official of the party
requesting termination to the other party which should specify both the reason for and the effective date of
termination. Such notice shall be delivered by certified mail or in person to the authorized official of the
other party who executed this Agreement.
13. Liabi I ity. GCV and City agree that each party shall be responsible for its acts or omissions and the acts or
omissions of its employees, officers, directors, agents or volunteers,to the extent allowed by law. Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall vary or modify in any manner any governmental immunity which any
party to this Agreement, or its officers, directors, employees, agents or volunteers,
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may enjoy under any statute or rule of law,except to the extent provided in Iowa Code § 670.7,with respect
to the procurement of insurance, and then only to the extent stated in the insurance policy and only as to
those exceptions contained in Iowa Code § 670.4.
14. Legal Expenses. GCV agrees that all legal expenses incurred by the City in connection with the defense of
any claim made or brought against the City that is directly related to GCV's performance, or the
performance of GCV's employees, officers, directors, agents or volunteers, under this Agreement shall be
the sole responsibility of the GCV.
15. Terms of Agreement Control_ The parties acknowledge that the provisions of this Agreement are controlling
and shall define the duties,responsibilities,and conditions under which the Project shall be completed. All
persons who meet the eligibility requirements as defined in this Agreement shall be entitled to participate
in the Project, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual
orientation, gender identity, or any other criteria which by applicable law constitutes unlawful
discrimination.
16. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof. There are no other oral or written promises or understandings except as expressly
provided herein. This Agreement may be amended only by a written agreement signed by the parties
hereto.
17. Term of Agreement. This Agreement covers the period from July 1, 2025, through and including June
30,2026, for Fiscal Year 2026 the period from July 1,2026,through and including June 30,
2027 for Fiscal Year 2027.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement by their duly authorized
representatives as of the date stated above.
GROW CEDAR VALLEY City of Waterloo, Iowa
DocuSigned by:
By: By V, AAvf
Quentin Hart,Mayor
Katy ng, CEO DocuSigned by:
Attest: k� r
ful&
A826C1EE09A644F...
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk
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