04/14/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Mr. Long said that the four goals of the newly-formed Business Assistance Team (BAT) were: 1) to develop a consistent and coordinated information program; 2) to assist Eugene firms with maintaining, expanding, and, if need be, relocating their operations within the City, with an emphasis on face-to-face contact and referral to existing business resources; 3) to recruit outside firms; and 4) to improve Eugene's business image and make it more positive. Mr. Long anticipated that the types of firms which would be actively recruited would be smaller firms, with 50 or fewer employees. These firms would probably be in the process of rapid expansion and would work in areas isolated from the current recession. Mr. Long reported that the work of the BAT is proceeding according to the established time line. He said that public announcement of the participants on the team would be made on April 20, 1982. He then discussed the proposed reporting and organizational structure and the financial and service implications of the team. He said that staff members from City Personnel, Recreation, Planning, and Housing departments will be involved in staffing the BAT. He said that the Chamber of Commerce would be providing advisors and aiding in recruitment of volunteers and that the University of Oregon and Lane Community College would be helping with publicity, marketing research, and staff training--all through in-kind contributions. Mr. Long said that the support budget for the program included $20,000 in City funds and a $5,000 allocation from the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. He felt that the BAT would be requesting more support funds after it has more specifically defined its activities. Responding to a question from Councilor Wooten, Mr. Long said that the community liaison position on the BAT would be filled by a senior business person who will work with Mr. Long on the day-to-day operations of the team. Ms. Wooten said she believed that at the last meeting of the Council Subcommittee on Economic Development, members had agreed to the importance of having represen- tatives of neighborhood-based community development corporations involved in the work of the BAT. After some discussion, the members of the subcommittee agreed that there had been confusion over the previous discussion of this issue and that the item should be reconsidered at the next subcommittee meeting. Mr. Gleason suggested that if the council decides to refocus the efforts and composi- tion of the Joint City-Chamber Committee on Economic Development (JCED), this should be done in a broader context than the business assistance program. He said that community members would be able to work with the BAT. Ms. Wooten responded that she was pleased with the progress that had been made to date but believed that there was concern on the council that the base of economic divers- ification efforts be broadened to include a more diverse range of local talents, including representatives of neighborhood-based community development organiza- tlons. Ms. Wooten felt that such representatives should be included on the JCED, so that they could participate in development of policy. Mr. Obie noted that the Chamber of Commerce, Lane Community College, and the University of Oregon are community-based organizations. Mr. Gleason noted that the JCED is not a policy-making body. It reports to the City Manager. He suggested that the council address this concern at its semi-annual goals session. Mr. Obie MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 14, 1982 Page 10