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<br />REQUEST FOR LA PORTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AGENDA ITEM <br /> <br />Agenda Date Requested: 6/7/10 <br />Requested By: Stacey Osborne <br />Department: CMO <br />Report: _ Resolution: <br /> <br />Aoorooriation <br /> <br />Source of Funds: SOURCE <br /> <br />Account Number: 038-6030-565-50.07 <br /> <br />Ordinance: <br /> <br />Amount Budgeted: $20,000 <br />Amount Requested: <br />Budgeted Item: m NO <br /> <br />Exhibits: Proposal from Buxton Company <br />Exhibits: Proposal from Retail Coach <br />Exhibits: <br /> <br />SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION <br /> <br />In the 2009 Economic Development Strategic Plan, retail was identified as a major focus of our economic <br />development efforts. There are several companies that provide retail analyses that can be used to attract retail to <br />areas that are currently under-served. We did budget for such a study this year, but we have not yet pursued it. <br />This evening I would like to discuss the possibility of moving forward with a retail analysis study, and to get your <br />thoughts and guidance on whether or not a study is warranted and, if so, whether this is the right time to pursue it. I <br />would also like to tell you about two companies that have submitted proposals for consideration. <br /> <br />Buxton Company did a retail analysis study for the City of La Porte in 2006 that showed the City's retail potential <br />and gave recommendations for attracting retail to the area. Since the study was done, there have been numerous <br />changes, both in the overall economy and in the types of technologies available to cities and retail brokers. We have <br />since spoken with Buxton, and they have proposed to update the study they did before, providing Internet access to <br />what was previously available only as a hard copy, and providing additional services that they did not have available <br />when they did the original study. Buxton has been recommended by other cities in our area. <br /> <br />The Retail Coach submitted a proposal early last year, which we used as a basis for our budget. The Retail Coach <br />claims that their services are better and more accurate than the Buxton Study, and they also have been recommended <br />by other cities in the area. <br /> <br /> <br />oration: <br /> <br />, (, /to <br /> <br />Ron Bottoms, City Manager <br /> <br />date <br />