Agenda Item Name:
Title
Approve Funding Source for EcoLoop Marketing Materials
End
Presenter:
Sean McLendon, 352 548 3765
Gus Olmos
Description:
Request that the Board authorize the use of Community Redevelopment Funds to finalize the remaining EcoLoop Marketing materials.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the use of $44,600 from Community Redevelopment Funds to finalize EcoLoop marketing materials. These funds will be utilized for Community Redevelopment in the Gainesville Metropolitan Area through economic development and the creation of job opportunities.
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Prior Board Motions:
At the February 8, 2022, regular meeting, the Board approved EcoLoop Request for Information, Business Screen Criteria, Branding & Logo.
At the September 28, 2021, meeting, the Board adopted the Zero Waste Strategy Report and Implementation Plan
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
$44,600 will be drawn from the Community Redevelopment Fund (GCRA step-down funds to meet parity between the City of Gainesville and Alachua County in TIF allocations) in account 001.17.1770.552.82.53. A budget amendment will move the funds to the appropriate account. Adequate resources exist in the fund to support the marketing document creation for the EcoLoop. In addition, the Community Redevelopment Fund guidance document anticipated the use of this funding source to develop the Board’s EcoLoop project as it is within the Gainesville Metropolitan Area. End
Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Social and Economic Opportunity
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Background:
Staff are reviewing the first round of business proposals for the EcoLoop since the Board’s approval of the Business Screening Criteria, Branding, and Logo in February. The first recommend businesses are coming soon for Board consideration.
To maximize the community’s opportunity to bring more high-quality, zero-waste industries to the EcoLoop, the County must finalize work with Frankel on marketing materials.
These materials will aid a national property broker (to be determined) in soliciting interest from national and international circular economy companies. The materials summarize the amenities and opportunities of the EcoLoop for these preferred industries.
This work is a continuation of an existing purchase order with Frankel that had several phases of work. Because of the extended development time due to COVID and the finalization of the Zero Waste Strategy, not every phase of the marketing effort had a dedicated funding source.
Materials to be Generated
The $44,600 in Community Redevelopment Funds will be used to develop a:
- Eco Loop microsite ($12,500) + ADA toolbar ($2,100 annually)
- Eco Loop Leasing Toolkit ($7,500)
- Eco Loop Brochure ($7,500)
- Community Engagement + Public Relations ($15,000)
The use of Community Redevelopment Funds for the EcoLoop marketing materials was recommended by the Economic Development Advisory Committee on May 26, 2022.
Policy Alignment
Per the April 2019 GCRA agreement, the funds will go toward the catalyzing redevelopment in service to areas of economic distress on the Eastside. Furthermore, by the Board’s June 2020 Community Redevelopment Fund Guidelines, the funds are supporting economic development and related vocational jobs that complement the GCRA agreement by encouraging manufacturing facilities to locate at the EcoLoop via the marketing documents. The use of funds also coordinates with over $110M in County investments on the Eastside to redevelop the Waldo Road Corridor in the Gainesville Metropolitan Area. These funds use also aligns with the County Commission’s desire to “promote the economic prosperity of all citizens, address economic equity, and diversify the tax base”, per Goal 1 of the Economic Element in the Comprehensive Plan. The Board’s adopted Economic Element desires the promotion of recycling businesses while addressing historic equity issues. The funds will help attract industry to the EcoLoop that will expand economic opportunities and help to reduce poverty.
Jobs generated by the EcoLoop will be in the target geography of the Gainesville Metropolitan Area and are manufacturing-related with skilled-vocational opportunities for low to moderate-income residents. Businesses located at the EcoLoop will increase this area’s economic prosperity, contribute to economic equity on the Eastside, and help to diversify the tax base.
Overall Economic Equity Outcomes
At site EcoLoop buildout, UF - IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program calculated an estimated
• 2,069 - 3,337 full-time and part-time jobs supported across the region.
• Direct employment for operation: 281-471 jobs.
• Average labor income per employee: ~ $50,800 - $57,600.
• $176.7 - $320.4 million per year in value-added (GSP) supported.
• $11.9 - $24.6 million per year in state and local tax revenue impacts.