05-09-11 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council

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5. Coordinate representation of the City of La Porte at two trade shows per year, with Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership staff working separately with city staff on the best methods to promote the City of La Porte's economic development objectives. 6. Include the City of La Porte and local businesses in four business workshops, seminars or similar programs each year. 7. Continue to engage industry representatives from the industrial complex, City of La Porte and Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership to identify constraints and barriers to economic vitality of the petrochemical industry and determine appropriate resolution. 8. Along with an annual written report documenting progress, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership representatives will meet every six months with the Mayor of the City of La Porte and/or his designated representative(s). FUNDING REQUEST Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership is requesting a three -year funding partnership with the City of La Porte, at an investment level of $20,000 per year for several specific economic development services as outlined above, which will directly benefit the City of La Porte and its extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The funding will be paid in semi- annual installments per year. Optional Economic Development Service Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership is proposing to provide a service over and above the service level the City of La Porte is receiving with its membership. If the City of La Porte desires to expand its scope of work with Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, this economic development tool will be provided, for additional funding, as agreed upon by the City of La Porte and Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program Business Retention Tool - $2,500/year The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP) staff will assist La Porte's initiatives in business retention and expansion by participating in city - sponsored business visits and marketing the program to the city's small businesses. Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership will provide the services of SATOP to small businesses through free technical assistance from its Alliance Partner engineers. SATOP has assembled a unique network of engineers and scientists from NASA field centers, aerospace contractors, colleges and universities to provide up to 40 engineering hours of free technical assistance to provide solutions to technical problems. The program provides businesses with access to knowledge, skills and materials that were previously unknown or unavailable to the private sector.