Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Approve the Service Agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. and Authorize the City Manager to Execute and Enter into the Agreement.
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Submitted By: Jennifer Davis, City Manager’s Office
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of a diverse local economy and employment opportunities.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Carly Fabien, Deputy City Attorney
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
3. Purpose: The City will continue to provide funding to the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce to facilitate small business support in Port St. Lucie.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: Renewal
5. Duration: The service agreement will ratify funds disbursed on October 1, 2025, through and including September 30, 2026.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: The Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Assistance Program assists Port St. Lucie businesses through the start-up process.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): The Chamber of Commerce is requesting $50,000 annually to fund the Small Business Assistance Program.
Presentation Information: City staff or Terissa Aronson (Chamber President) will address any questions if the consent item is pulled for discussion by the City Council.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce and authorize the City Manager to execute and enter into the agreement.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce and authorize the City Manager to execute and enter into the agreement.
2. Move that the Council not approve the agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce and provide staff direction.
Background: In 2021, the City approved a service agreement with the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce to provide funding for their Small Business Assistance Program. The Small Business Assistance Program provides free regulatory support for existing and new small businesses. The purpose of the program is to minimize the cost, risk and time delays when local businesses seek to purchase, build, expand, relocate or repurpose commercial space in Port St. Lucie. The term of the agreement is to ratify funds disbursed on October 1, 2025, through and including September 2026.
Issues/Analysis: The partnership with the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce has provided support to over one hundred (100) businesses, since the inception of the program. Since January 2025, the Chamber has had contact with forty-three unique visitors, with twenty-six unique visitors being in Port St. Lucie this calendar year.
Financial Information: The St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce is requesting $50,000 annually to administer the Small Business Assistance Program.
Special Consideration: The renewal of the service agreement would ratify funds disbursed on October 1, 2025, through and including September 30, 2026, which may be considered annually by the City.
Location of Project: The Small Business Assistance Program is available citywide to new and existing businesses.
Attachments:
1. Agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce
2. Small Business Assistance Program Report
3. November 20, 2025, Staff Memo on Small Business Support
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: 25252-02
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Carly Fabien, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.