Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF $300,000 TO THE GREATER WICHITA PARTNERSHIP.
Presented by: Chris Chronis, Chief Financial Officer.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve the resolution and authorize the Chairman to sign.
Body
The Greater Wichita Partnership is a public-private partnership dedicated to:
1. promoting recruitment, retention, and expansion of targeted economic driver industries in Wichita/Sedgwick County;
2. facilitating the creation of diverse, quality jobs and capital investment which generate overall positive return on public investment; and
3. marketing the South Central Kansas region as an exceptional business location.
Founded in 2015, this broad-based coalition was created to align and focus economic development initiatives. The Greater Wichita Partnership is devoted to expanding Greater Wichita's commercial and industrial base through aggressive business retention, expansion, and recruitment activities and marketing the nine county region of South Central Kansas as fierce competitor in the global environment.
Since its founding in 2004, the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC) was funded in roughly equal shares with public funds provided pursuant to participation agreements with Sedgwick County and Wichita, and private funds provided pursuant to pledges made by local businesses. The most recent participation agreement was terminated by Sedgwick County last year due to uncertainty about the County's ability to continue providing funding support in the face of changing Commission priorities.
GWEDC now is overseen by the Greater Wichita Partnership. The proposed resolution declares that support of economic development initiatives is a public purpose, and authorizes the payment of $300,000 to the Greater Wichita Partnership for that purpose. The City of Wichita also is providing $300,000 of funding to the Greater Wichita Partnership in 2016, and the balance of the organization's $1.9-million budget is being funded with contributions from area businesses.
Alternatives: The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) could reject the resolution.
Financial Considerations: The 2016 budget includes an appropriation of $310,000 to fund economic development organizations or be otherwise used for economic development activities as directed by BOCC. In November 2015, the BOCC directed that $84,722 be paid as a 2016 County membership fee to the South Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD), leaving $225,728 unallocated. If this resolution is approved, $74,722 will be transferred from the Operating Reserve to the Economic Development program to be combined with the $225,728 and provide full budget authority for the payment. A transfer of that amount is within the authority delegated by BOCC to the County Manager in the County's budget transfer policy.
Legal Considerations: The resolution has been drafted and approved as to form by the County Counselor's office.
Policy Considerations: N/A
Outside Attendees: Jeff Fluhr, President, Greater Wichita Partnership
Multimedia Presentation: N/A