Title
Discuss the City's Future Economic Development Business Attraction and Workforce Development Activities
Body
To: Members of the Mayor's Economic Development Advisory Panel
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Business attraction is a key component of the Economic Development strategy. Workforce Development is tied to both business attraction and retention since an available and prepared workforce is vital to companies looking to locate in Alameda as well as for existing Alameda companies that are looking to expand. The purpose of this item is to discuss the Economic Development attraction and workforce strategy over the upcoming year and receive feedback from EDAP members.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this staff report is to inform EDAP members of the planned Economic Development business attraction and workforce strategy to solicit discussion and feedback.
DISCUSSION
Business Attraction
The business attraction strategy is tied to the needs of the businesses, the size of the businesses and the business sectors that staff are trying to attract. The strategy is also tied to resource partners, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Development Board, East Bay EDA, East Bay SBDC and GoBiz. These partners provide programs and resources for the Alameda business community as well as provide attraction leads.
Businesses attraction strategies need to address the specific needs of the different business sectors that Alameda is trying to attract - Advanced Manufacturing, CleanTech/GreenTech, BioSciences, Downtown and Retail. In addition, the size of the business needs to be taken into consideration as the needs for large businesses differ from small businesses.
From a size perspective, attraction efforts for small and downtown businesses have typically been more reactive, responding to an outreach from either the business or our WABA/DABA partners. The attraction efforts typically revolve around finding a location and helping with the permitting approval...
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