HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 Update on the 'Big Look' for Regional Economic Development Organization (EDO) for Industrial Marketing and Investment AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/12/2014
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: John Tamulonis
Staff Phone No: (541)726-3656
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Encourage Economic
Development and
Revitalization through
Community Partnerships
ITEM TITLE: UPDATE ON THE ‘BIG LOOK’ FOR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATION (EDO) FOR INDUSTRIAL MARKETING AND INVESTMENT
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Discussion and check-in that the recent ‘Big Look’ process is heading in an acceptable
direction as outlined in draft form in Attachment 1. This draft grew out of work by
stakeholders from the Cities of Springfield and Eugene, Lane County and both the
Springfield and Eugene Chambers of Commerce. It has progressed to a point where
there is alignment on the form, mission, purpose, and key services for a newly
formulated non-profit Economic Development Organization (EDO) to market and
advocate for new industrial investments in our greater metropolitan area, and
especially in professionally handling Business Oregon’s leads of investing firms.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
Without full-time staff and a suitably funded organization to market our metropolitan
area and urban and rural industrial sites or to assist firms interested in expanding or
locating in here, stakeholders for the five organizations have been working on
formulating a new effort that can carry out the marketing and advocacy sought by all
the public and private partners. The stakeholder organizations, working through the
Eugene Chamber, have hired a firm—TadZo Associates—to assist the stakeholders in
evaluating a wide array of options for meeting these needs, funding, governing,
structuring, and implementing what emerges.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Draft Big Look: The Future of Economic Development in Lane County
2. Regional Economic Development Strategy (Phases I-III) October 15, 2015
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Attachment 2 provides an overview of the scope of work and strategy used over the
last several months for a stakeholder group of about 15 to work through several issues
for having a robust EDO to meet the Lane County area’s need, ensure regional
competitiveness relative to other areas nationally, and identifying and targeting ‘best
fit’ industries (where some of the information has emerged through the November
2013 Regional Prosperity Summit and Springfield Chamber efforts, for example).
Attachment 1 provides a two-page outline focused mission, organizational structure,
and the key services in draft form:
Regional information hub to provide updated information for attracting
businesses, marketing, and communications, and technical assistance;
Business recruitment and growth in attracting business and investments in
traded sector industries; and
Outreach and promotion in marketing a coordinated regional identity
emphasizing business opportunities and highlighting our natural and other
attractions.
The next step will be meeting with Business Oregon representatives to ensure the state
understands the changes the local area would like to make in its new EDO. Others will
follow including working with a large number of private firms interested in the EDO’s
efforts and direction for meeting regional needs.
Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2
Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2
Attachment 2, Page 1 of 3
Attachment 2, Page 2 of 3
Attachment 2, Page 3 of 3