Agenda 07/07/2015 Item #10C7/7/2015 10.C.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to authorize the BCC Chairman
to send a letter to Governor Rick Scott requesting reinstatement of funding for the
Department of Economic Opportunity grant supporting the Collier County Business
Accelerator program.
OBJECTIVE: Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to authorize the BCC
Chairman to send a letter to Governor Rick Scott requesting reinstatement of funding for the
Department of Economic Opportunity grant supporting the Collier County Business Accelerator
program to ensure the continuation of economic development efforts and successes associated
with the initial grant.
CONSIDERATIONS: The Department of Economic Opportunity awarded a grant to Collier
County in the amount of $2,500,000 in support of Economic Accelerator projects in Collier
County. A Recommendation to approve a $2,500,000 Grant Agreement with the State of Florida
Department of Economic Opportunity for funding assistance for the County's Soft Landing
Business Accelerator Project and approve necessary budget amendments was approved
unanimously by the Board of County Commissioners at the November 18'h BCC Meeting under
Agenda Item 11B. Grant Agreement #SL007 was fully executed November 24, 2014. Funds
were to be provided in State Budget as Specific Appropriation Line Item 2256A of Chapter
2014 -51, Special Categories, Economic Development Projects from the State Economic
Enhancement and Development Trust Fund. The rollover funding Veto of June 23, 2015, page
84 of 85, indicates the reversion and re- appropriation of the unexpended balance of Grant funds
(Section 104, page 422).
FISCAL IMPACT: None
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: None
GROWTH MANAGEMENT EWPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to
authorize the BCC Chairman to send a letter to Governor Rick Scott requesting reinstatement of
funding for the Department of Economic Opportunity grant supporting the Collier County
Business Accelerator program.
PREPARED BY: Commissioner Tim Nance, Chairman of the Board of County
Commissioners
AGENDA DATE: July 7, 2015
Attachment: Draft 07 -07 -15 Letter
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7/7/2015 10.C.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.10.C.
Item Summary: Recommendation for the Board of County Commissioners to authorize
the BCC Chairman to send a letter to Governor Rick Scott requesting reinstatement of funding
for the Department of Economic Opportunity grant supporting the Collier County Business
Accelerator program. (Commissioner Nance)
Meeting Date: 7/7/2015
Prepared By
Name: BrockMaryJo
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager, County Managers Office
6/30/2015 1:55:52 PM
Submitted by
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager, County Managers Office
Name: BrockMaryJo
6/30/2015 1:55:54 PM
Approved By
Name: OchsLeo
Title: County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 6/30/2015 3:17:57 PM
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Donna Fiala
District 1
July 7, 2015
Board of Collier County Commissioners
Georgia A. Hiller, Esq. Tom Henning
District 2 District 3
The Honorable Rick Scott,
Governor, State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399 -0001
(850) 488 -7146
RickScoft@eog.myflorida.com
7/7/2015 10.C.
Penny Taylor Tim Nance
District 4 District 5
RE — Veto of Rollover Funding — Collier County Business Accelerator / Grant Agreement
#SL007 - $2.5MM (Veto: 6/23/15, page 84 of 85, Section 104, Page 422)
Governor Scott;
The Collier County Board of County Commissioners has noted with disappointment your veto of the n
revision and reappropriation funding for the Collier County Business Accelerator. While we understand
and support the need for conservative fiscal management, we would like to provide you with a brief
synopsis of our efforts and the progress on this worthy economic development program, to which we
remain fully committed, in the hope continued funding can be secured.
Western Collier County Accelerator to date:
• Management and Business Plan adopted and in place
• 13 fee paying businesses - 7 occupying office space / 6 participating virtually (6 of these firms
are international)
• Global contacts and relationships established with cooperating businesses in the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, and Finland, with anticipated addition of 2
Finnish businesses to the Accelerator within 60 days
• Accelerator inquiries at the rate of 2-4 weekly with full occupancy of permanent Accelerator
space expected prior to October 1, 2015.
• Strong five SW Florida County regional support and participation.
Immokalee Culinary Accelerator to date:
• Management and Business Plan adopted and in place
3299 Tamiami Trail East, Suite 303 • r packet Page -507 -' 239- 252 -8097 • FAX 239 - 252 -3602
7/7/2015 10.C.
Collaborative relationships and work plans established with the following cooperators:
• University of Florida — 2 meetings in Gainesville /Immokalee with Sr. Vice President Jack
Payne, Deans, and Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition faculty
establishing technology support and a OF supported Food Laboratory within the facility.
• OF /IFAS Southwest Florida Research and Education Center / Collier County Extension
- Faculty dedication and commitment
• Southwest Florida Ag Council — 5 County regional Agribusiness / Food Industry
Association: Collier, Hendry, Lee, Charlotte, Glades — to support Fresh from Florida and
agricultural business diversification.
• Collier District Schools / Immokalee Technical Center, Culinary Institute
• Naples /Collier County Blue Zone Working Group — fresh, healthy foods, nutrition
• Professional Culinary kitchen design plans completed ($128K) Responsive Bid received for
construction, commercial kitchen equipment, cold food storage, centered on a 290 sq. ft. Food
Laboratory. (Lab designed in collaboration with OF /Department of Food Science and Human
Nutrition)
• Contract Award suspended as of 6/23/15
As evidenced above, we believe that the Collier County Business Accelerator has made
excellent progress in the few short months since the execution of the Grant agreement with the
Department of Economic Opportunity in November 2014. This program, if allowed to develop, will
support economic diversification in Collier County, as well as SW Florida regional agribusiness,
currently pressured by Citrus Greening Disease and increasing market losses. Much needed job
creation in Immokalee is a priority. The Collier Business Accelerator is clearly able to complement local
and regional industry strengths, focus state level technology and expertise, and if supported to
completion, will generate a huge compound economic impact and be an excellent return on investment.
While the Collier BCC recognizes your responsibility to establish economic priorities and make hard
decisions, we respectfully request a meeting with your staff, and that of the Department of Economic
Opportunity, to discuss options for this worthy project to secure needed funding and be completed.
Sincerely,
Tim Nance
Chairman, Collier County Board of County Commissioners
CC:
Bruce C. Register, MPA, CEcD
Director, Collier County Business & Economic Development Dept.
2660 N. Horseshoe Dr., Suite 105, Naples, Florida 34104
Telephone (239) 252 -8358 Fax (239) 252 -6550
BruceReg istera- CollierGov. net
Tim Nance — Personal cell phone: 239 -784 -8545
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