Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the District Board of Trustees of Indian River State College to provide small business consulting services through the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Indian River State College.
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Submitted By: Elijah Wooten, Economic Development Administrator.
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a diverse local economy and employment opportunities.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: District Board of Trustees of Indian River State College.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and the District Board of Trustees of Indian River State College.
3. Purpose: The City will continue to provide funding for a full-time Port St. Lucie business consultant. Due to the increase in start-up business the Florida SBDC is also requesting funding for an additional part-time business consultant.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: Modified.
5. Duration: Three (3) consecutive one-year agreements.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: The Florida SBDC at Indian River State College will provide free business consulting services and entrepreneurial training to new and established small businesses in Port St. Lucie.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): The annual cost to continue the full-time business consultant is $35,000 and the new part-time business consultant is $36,000. The total annual cost is $71,000. The total cost for the three (3) year interlocal agreement for business consulting services is $213,000.
Presentation Information: Elijah Wooten, Economic Development Administrator will address any questions if the consent item is pulled for discussion by the City Council.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the interlocal agreement for small business consulting services between the City of Port St. Lucie and the District Board of Trustees of Indian River State College.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the interlocal agreement for small business consulting services between the City of Port St. Lucie and the District Board of Trustees of Indian River State College.
2. Move that the Council not approve the interlocal agreement for small business consulting services between the City of Port St. Lucie and the District Board of Trustees of Indian River State College and provide staff direction.
Background: In 2020 the City Council approved funding a full-time business consultant for the Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College’s Pruitt Campus to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Treasure Coast was home to 15,064 new businesses start-ups, creating a critical need for start-up support.
Issues/Analysis: In 2023, there was a surge of 158,088 new business start-ups in the State of Florida. In St. Lucie County, 6,407 new businesses started in 2023. Based on the demands of existing and new small businesses, the Florida SBDC is requesting funding for an additional part-time business consultant that will focus on start-up businesses in Port St. Lucie. The part-time start-up specialist consultant will lead and facilitate a cohort of small businesses. The services provided to start-up businesses will include business training, consulting and access to business planning, market research, industry analysis tools, and resources as well as business management and operational software.
Financial Information: The City Council approved funding the full-time and part-time Florida Small Business Development Center business consultants in the current fiscal year budget. The annual cost to continue the full-time business consultant is $35,000 and the new part-time business consultant is $36,000 (inclusive of an FTE, LivePlan, and resource materials). The total annual cost is $71,000. The total cost for the three (3) year interlocal agreement for business consulting services is $213,000.
Special Consideration: The funding of the additional part-time business consultant will provide additional support to start-up businesses. The existing full-time business consultant can focus on providing business consulting and training to our existing small businesses and assist in their expansion in Port St. Lucie.
Location of Project: Indian River State College, Pruitt Campus - 500 NW California Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34986.
Attachments:
1. Interlocal Agreement,
2. Pioneer Start Program Overview,
3. Florida Small Business Development Center State of Small Businesses Port St. Lucie Report (presented July 2023).
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 9928
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Carly Fabien, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, Interim City Attorney.