Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Planning & Development Services
|
TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager |
|
CC: |
Scott McCullough, PDS Director |
|
FROM: |
Cyndi Hermocillo-Legg, Small Business Facilitator |
|
DATE: |
April 8, 2015 |
|
RE: |
BizFuel (SMEs Network) Public/Private Partnership |
Background
The City of Lawrence has established commitment to fostering support for Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) with the establishment of the Small Business Facilitator Position and other efforts aimed at creating efficient ways SMEs can get started and expand in the community. Several programs and resources have recently been created by the city to address SMEs’ needs, including a Business Resource Guide, GROWLawrence Road Construction notification program, facilitation through the building permit process, etc.
The Economic Development Corporation of Douglas County and Lawrence Chamber of Commerce have also turned their attention to enhancing their support for SMEs by developing metrics in their 2015-2016 Strategic Plan.
The entities below have worked to propose the formation of a local public/private partnership named “BizFuel” that will be dedicated to local SMEs and entrepreneurial growth through a collective impact approach method. In this method, the entities maintain their individual responsibilities and bring their resources to the table in an organized manner to meet shared goals.
The following describes the formation of a partnership to provide services to SMEs, which is outlined further in a Memorandum of Understanding proposed to be executed by each partner.
Identified Partners
Ø City of Lawrence
Ø Douglas County
Ø Economic Development Corporation of Lawrence & Douglas County
Ø Lawrence Chamber of Commerce
Ø KU Small Business Development Center
Ø Lawrence Public Library
Critical Issues & Initiatives
· Build a working definition for our local SMEs which categorizes SMEs according to size and stage;
· Build a listing of services that assist SMEs at all levels;
· Assess and inventory the real-time needs of local SMEs,
· Utilize the existing City/County Business Guide and continue to expand it according to additional resource opportunities,
· Build a minimum of two metrics within its respective organizational annual plan that measures the success of SMEs and the BizFuel’s partnership;
· Share resources and utilize a referral system to primary partners when helping SMEs advance through BizFuel (SME Network) Partners;
· Provide structure to assess and inventory SMEs real-time and future forecasts, address SMEs gaps locally, create events to spur innovation, deliver entrepreneurial/financial workshops, identify SME policy/regulatory gaps, and provide technical assistance;
· Expose BizFuel and SMEs to media outlets to provide positive press and/or show each BizFuel’s commitment to growing our local SME Community;
· Actively participate and or bring community leaders to BizFuel or SME events that will directly and indirectly support SMEs and/or provide business to business opportunities.
· Build a shared calendar to identify all SME activity and opportunities;
· Support, attend, and implement E-Accelerate Assessment steps and actions;
· Work together to assess a National grade or scorecard for Douglas County that will work to promote our community’s business climate and identify as “the” place to start and/or grow a business; and
· Meet with Partners quarterly and hold a fourth quarter strategic planning session that will direct BizFuel’s primary and secondary partner contributions and direction.
Activity Elements
Ø One on One Business Visitation Meetings:
Meet with existing businesses to assist in their growth and expansion by providing operational/regulatory resources as appropriate.
Ø Annual Douglas County and City of Lawrence Economic Outlook Forecast for Small To Medium Sized Businesses.
Ø 2015 GROWLawrence Road Construction -Small Business Notification Program
The public/private partnership provides small business and property owners with detailed project information surrounding upcoming road construction logistics that may affect their small business. The notification process gives small businesses the ability to plan effectively and stay informed about road construction projects that will help them adequately prepare their small business for the impacts of the construction. The following are small business supportive materials that will be communicated and shared through the notification program:
· Grow Lawrence: Road Construction Small Business Project Guide;
· Mailed and/or to share road construction details and refer the business to the Small Business Development Center to plan effectively for the construction;
· Detailed project information and contact resource; http://lawrenceks.org/construction/2014;
· City/County Business Resource Guide.
Ø SME Entrepreneurial Education Workshops
Deliver Small Business Workshops /Seminars that are 1.5 hours -3 Hours in length to assist small businesses and entrepreneurial growth efforts in City of Lawrence and Douglas County.
Ø SME Recognition Events
Create or provide referrals to SME recognition events/award ceremonies raise the community’s awareness about local companies.
Evaluative Efforts (Ongoing)
Ø Build to increase baseline data on SMEs to understand their real-time and future needs:
Staff & Budget
The Small Business Facilitator (SBF) will be the project lead for the City of Lawrence. Program of work aligns with previously approved (10/2013) ongoing SBF Strategic Plan, (Goal 4 and Goal 5).
There is no established city budget for these activities, though nominal expenses for room rental, printing, etc., will be drawn from Planning & Development Service’s (FY2015) Budget. The Economic Development Corporation of Douglas County and Lawrence Chamber of Commerce will designate funding for (FY2015) to afford workshops/seminars and The Economic Outlook Forecast event. The city will continue to seek in-kind services through city or partner resources when/where appropriate.