June

REGULAR BOARD MEETING Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, June 16, 2020 8:30 AM VIA ZOOM WEBINAR: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84387534867 DIAL IN: 1-929-436-2866 US WEBINAR ID: 843 8753 4867

CALL TO ORDER

Robert Sanders

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT PRESENTATIONS •

RFP 2020 – 001 Landscaping Services

CONSENT CALENDAR (Action Required) •

Minutes of Regular Board Meeting May 19, 2020

•

Financial Statements of May 31, 2020

Catherine Ast Robert Sanders

OLD BUSINESS (Action Required) Teneka James-Feaman

•

Incentive Grants Update

•

Dining on the Spot Update

Raphael Clemente

NEW BUSINESS (Action Required) •

1909 Knight Foundation matching grant

ANNOUNCEMENTS •

Proposed Public Hearing Dates: First Public Hearing – Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 5:05pm Final Public Hearing – Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 5:05pm

ADJOURNMENT

Ph: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 www.downtownwpb.com

Raphael Clemente

MEMO TO:

DDA Board Bob Sanders, Chairman Rick Reikenis, Vice Chairman Lisa Gerard Mary Hurley Lane William Jacobson Cynthia Nalley Upendo Shabazz

FROM: Catherine Ast, FCP District Services Manager RE:

RFP 2020 – 001 - 1 Landscaping Services for Downtown West Palm Beach

DATE: Tuesday, June 16, 2020

_________________________________________________________________________________________

On March 3rd, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Landscaping Services for Downtown West Palm Beach, via DemandStar, the DDA website and advertised in the Palm Beach Post.

A Mandatory Pre-Proposal meeting and site walk was held on March 10th with nine companies in attendance. Initially, the RFP closure date was March 31st and then COVID arrived. The closure was extended until May 18th, and the RFP was reissued to qualified bidders requiring electronic submission.

The scope of the RFP includes, but is not limited to: (Full scope and RFP is available upon request) • Care and Maintenance includes; healthy, visually appealing, live plants. Fertilizer, pruning, trimming, cutting, mowing, hauling of debris, removal of trash and litter, proper disposal of all trimmings, trash and waste.

• Be able to properly provide all plants, materials, labor, equipment, vehicles and other items required to properly execute the services requested in this RFP. • Provide inspection, operation and care of the irrigation system parts that are above ground (timers, clocks, sprinklers, drip lines, etc.) to ensure proper irrigation of landscaping.

• FEMA First Pass services.

Areas of service include: (Map attached) • Clematis Street from Flagler Dr. to Tamarind Ave. Hanging baskets, plant beds, and trees.

• Plant beds on street corners and medians throughout the Downtown that are not County, State or private property.

• All Oak trees and plant beds on Rosemary Ave., from Clematis St. to Evernia St. • Landscaping services for the Seaboard Train Station (Tri-Rail) from the Edge of the east platform to Tamarind Ave. • Banyan, Evernia, Clematis and Police parking garages.

• Tent Site • City Hall Complex and garage beginning October 1, 2020.

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com

Selection Committee Members who reviewed this Proposal are: • Allison Justice, Interim Executive Director WPB CRA • Todd Snyder, City of WPB Parks Maintenance Operations Manager • Angela Biagi, Downtown Resident and Director of Urban and Community Planning at WGI • Joe Roskowski, Engineer - works Downtown, loves Downtown and has a passion for plants • Sherryl Muriente, DDA Staff We received three (3) qualified proposal from: • Scott Lewis’ Gardening and Trimming, Inc. • Superior Landscaping and Lawn Service, Inc. • V & S Landscaping, Inc. The Selection Committee scored each proposal based on the following: Evaluation Factors Factor Points Description Organizational Experience and understanding 1 35 Company and staff have experience with similar jobs and government agencies. Company understanding of the needs of this RFP Finance and Value 2 30 Overall price and value of services

Total

3

25

4

5

5

5 100

Ability Companies overall ability to properly provide services Local Preference Company with an established service office located within the City of West Palm Beach Environmentally Friendly / Sustainability Practices Extent to which company uses environmentally friendly, sustainable products, equipment and practices.

Evaluation Factor 1 – Organizational Experience and Understanding: • Provide a brief history of the firm, length of time in business, firm and staff qualifications, as it relates to the requirements of this solicitation.

• Summarize your experience working with government agencies as it relates to the requirements of this solicitation.

• Describe level of service that will be provided.

Evaluation Factor 2 – Price and Value: • State your proposed monthly fee to cover requirements as outlined in the Scope of Work and referenced in the Cost and Price section of this Request for Proposal.

• State fee on itemized list as requested.

• Services or items considered to be expenses outside the proposal should be listed and described in the Fee Information Section (e.g. plants, tree trimming, mulching).

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com

Evaluation Factor 3 – Ability to Provide Services: • Over-all workload of company.

• Proposed schedule to accommodate DDA needs.

• Staffing level, equipment and availability to provide service.

• FEMA First Pass Experience (Provide Documentation) Evaluation Factor 4 – Local Preference (5 points): • Company with established service office located within the City of West Palm Beach Evaluation Factor 5 - Environmentally / Sustainability Practices: • Describe steps your company takes to decrease environmental impacts.

The Selection Committee ranking meeting was held on June 2nd and the scoring was as follows:

All three proposers will be presenting to the Board for a final decision. Each will have 10 minutes to present followed by 3 minutes of Q & A, (not to exceed 13 minutes). The Board will be evaluating each company after each presentation.

At this meeting, staff is requesting that the DDA Board select a contractor for Landscaping Services for Downtown West Palm Beach, based on the scope of work detailed in the RFP. Also, give staff authority to move forward with final contract negotiations with a final contract with chosen company to be presented to the Board in July for approval.

Thank you.

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com

MINUTES Regular Board Meeting Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Via Zoom Webinar https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88228571730 DIAL IN: 1-929-436-2866 US WEBINAR ID: 882 2857 1730

ATTENDANCE Board Members in attendance included, Chairman Robert Sanders, Vice Chairman Rick Reikenis, Lisa Gerard, Mary Hurley Lane, William Jacobson, Cynthia Nalley, and Upendo Shabazz. DDA staff in attendance included Raphael Clemente, Teneka James, Shelly Williams, Samantha Moore, Catherine Ast, Michelle Barascout, Sherryl Muriente, Tiffany Faublas, and Max Lohman Esq. (Lohman Law Group). Guests in attendance included Allison Justice, Sharon Persaud, Carey O’Donnell, and Amiekay Richcrick.

CALL TO ORDER Chairman Sanders called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m.

PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT Clemente provided a status update of current projects staff is working on.

- Rebranding underway with a new tagline and logo to be launched at a later date - Website redesign is under construction - Updated Employee manual and policies and procedures completed - CREOS Impulse Seesaw installation successfully removed and sent back to Canada - Downtown WPB masks ordered and delivered to local businesses and will be delivered to board members; second order processing - $60,000 of $150,000 contributed to the City of WPB’s COVID-19 relief fund remaining - In partnership with Gunster law firm offer to provide up to 3 hours of legal assistance to businesses within the district and created a free webinar series to answer additional questions; first webinar focused on the paycheck protection program and the second will focus on return to work guidelines - Clean Team will return to work in the beginning of June - Wayfinding installation in progress - Sherryl accepted into the IDA ELF program; she is the 4th DDA staff member to be accepted into the program PRESENTATIONS Public Relations Update O’Donnell and Richcrick presented to the board an overview of public relation objectives and accomplishments this fiscal year. The presentation included a focus on the response to COVID-19 and the assistance the O’Donnell agency has provided to the DDA to promotion resources available for stakeholders. O’Donnell also shared some examples of Downtown WPB features in both national and local publications.

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833-8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com

CONSENT CALENDAR Minutes of Regular Board Meeting of April 21, 2020 Board Action: Reikenis made a motion to approve the Minutes of April 21, 2020 Regular Board Meeting. Gerard seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Financial Statements of April 30, 2020 Board Action: Reikenis made a motion to approve the Financial Statements of April 30, 2020. Gerard seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS Clematis Streetscape Update Clemente provided an update on the latest phase of the Clematis Streetscape project. The 400 and 500 block are under construction and Burkhardt is working an accelerated schedule. They expect to be completed in August.

NEW BUSINESS Dining on the Spot To help respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the DDA has created a program to assist restaurateurs as they reopen their businesses at the mandated reduced capacity of 25% occupancy. In response to this challenge, staff has worked hand in hand with business owners, City officials, and others to develop a simple plan to increase dining capacity by creating outdoor dining areas in locations adjacent to or nearby restaurant locations. The program is effectively a temporary extension of premises to allow for expanded dining capacity and increased business revenues.

The plan relies on the use of rented seating set on a grid to accommodate spacing requirements, a management and cleaning plan, and careful coordination with restaurant managers. Due to the urgent need to support local businesses as quickly as possible, staff worked on a compressed timeline to coordinate with City officials, obtain quotes for rentals and other necessary services, and to establish protocols for operation.

The costs for the rental of equipment, staffing, and miscellaneous items associated with this program as it is currently planned are approximately $45,000 per month. Staff is requesting board approval to allocate funding not to exceed $125,000 for the operations of this program for up to 2 months. Projected costs include equipment rentals, additional staffing to clean and manage dining areas, signage, and other miscellaneous costs.

The board asked for clarification on where the $125,000 funding would come from and if the contract was month to month or two months. Clemente explained that the carryforward budget approved at April’s board meeting included adjustments to accommodate potential plans to provide COVID-19 assistance. He also explained that the contract is month to month and the longer the equipment is leased the cost reduces. James added that advertising contracts with Radio and TV were temporarily put on hold and will now be used to promote the Dining on the Spot program.

Board Action: Shabazz made a motion to approve the Dining on the Spot proposal not to exceed $125,000. Hurley Lane seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Business Incentive Grant Applications The Business Incentive Grant program offered by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) provides funding to new businesses or existing businesses within the DDA District to 300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833-8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com

assist with significant, permanent modifications to existing Downtown buildings. Through this program, the DDA encourages major tenant improvements necessary for successful tenancy of commercial spaces. The goal of this program is to attract the desired mix of uses to the Downtown and assist with the rehabilitation of commercial properties.

The committee members are Allison Justice, CRA; Raphael Clemente, DDA Executive Director and Rick Reikenis, DDA Board Member and Downtown Business Owner - Reikenis &Associates, LLC. The committee met on Monday, May 11, 2020 to review two business incentive grant applications. James presented both application details and committee recommendations of to the board.

123 Datura – 123 Datura Street Board Action: Hurely Lane made a motion to award funding of $21,210.75 to 123 Datura.

Nalley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Anchor Wealth Management Group – 120 South Olive Ave, Ste. 404 Board Action: Gerard made a motion to approve $14,652.25 to Anchor Wealth Management for the business incentive grant. Reikenis seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Grant Program Overview James provided an overview of the Grant programs the DDA has offered since 2004. She explained that The DDA and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) entered an interlocal agreement in 2006 that addressed our Incentive grant process. The DDA and CRA agreed to phase out Business Incentive and Large Project grant programs in 2014.

In 2017 the CRA and DDA worked closely on reestablishing the grants program focused on business recruitment in Downtown West Palm Beach. Due to the current circumstances, we would like to review our current programs and discuss options post COVID-19 to better assist the business community.

James asked for direction from the board regarding keeping the incentive grants programs the same or consider changing to best assist the downtown.

The board directed James to assemble a meeting with downtown property owners to discuss what type of program would be most beneficial to potential tenants. As well as ask for feedback regarding current tenant status and if they are in need.

ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Sanders called for a motion to adjourn.

Board Action: Shabazz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:24 a.m.

Gerard seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833-8873|Fax: 561.833.5870| www.downtownwpb.com

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Balance Sheet May 31, 2020 ASSETS Current Assets

PNC Bank Operating Seacoast Bank - Money Market Petty Cash

4,772,332 158,927 50

Total Current Assets Other Assets Lease Security Deposit

4,931,309

23,000

Total Other Assets

23,000

Total Assets

4,954,309

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Due to Lincoln National Vision Premium Payable Flexible Spending Withholding Suppl Med Ins. Premium Payable

(1,279) 0 267 380 (632)

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority

Fund Balance Net Income

3,004,478 1,950,463

Total Fund Balance

4,954,941

Total Liabilities and Fund Balance

4,954,309

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Statement of Revenues And Expenditures May 31, 2020 Month

Current Year Revenues - Schedule 1 Expenditures Business Development - Schedule 2 Public Realm Maintenance - Schedule 3 Marketing/Public Relations- Schedule 4 Neighborhood Services - Schedule 5 General Office - Schedule 6 Operations - Schedule 7 Professional Services - Schedule 8 Total Personnel Expense Insurance Expense Rent Expense Tax Collection Travel and Training Reserves Total Expenditures

Current Year Surplus (Deficit) DDA Carryforward CRA Carryforward

Total Carry Forwards Net Total Surplus (Deficit)

Year-to-Date

Trolley Gross Annual

Budget

Work Plan

Services

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Budget

%

30,723

4,856,550

5,069,210

95.8%

2,570,285

60,901 43,555 34,614 56,165 2,405 1,284 5,280 69,355 0 11,031 3,878 15 0 288,483

409,680 531,119 363,116 697,061 41,818 16,925 122,657 565,074 30,390 107,901 13,985 6,362 0 2,906,088

1,301,533 1,495,590 1,461,033 1,711,224 150,500 35,300 306,867 890,000 27,000 150,000 16,500 20,000 265,123 7,830,670

31.5% 35.5% 24.9% 40.7% 27.8% 0.0% 40.0% 63.5% 112.6% 71.9% 84.8% 31.8% 0.0% 37.1%

278,150 531,119 0 61,386 41,818 16,925 122,657 565,074 30,390 107,901 13,985 6,362

(257,760)

1,950,462

(2,761,460)

3,289 66,598 69,887

188,698 1,161,473 1,350,171

536,612 2,224,848 2,761,460

(187,873)

3,300,633

0

35.2% 52.2% 0.0%

622,332

Marketing

Security

Incentives

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

465,369

150,000

1,048,564

131,530 363,116 315,688

319,987

1,775,767

315,688

363,116

319,987

131,530

794,518

306,644

685,448

145,382

18,470

86,133 622,719 708,852

75,000 75,000

102,565 82,224 184,789

0 250,000 250,000

0 131,530 131,530

1,503,370

381,644

870,237

395,382

150,000

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Supplemental Schedules

-

May 31, 2020 SCHEDULE 1 - CURRENT YEAR REVENUES Current Year Revenues Tax Revenues TIF DDA/City Interlocal Agreement DDA/CRA Interlocal CRA Project Funding Interest Income Virgin Trains USA Ticket Sales Sponsorships Fees and Services Grants and Contributions Total Reimbursements Other Miscellaneous Income Rosemary Square MOU Total Current Year Revenues

Gross

Month

Year-to-Date

Trolley

Annual

Budget

Budget

%

30,653 0 0 0 0 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2,196,102 (2,045,520) 20,698 4,273,025 409,500 1,373 1,133 0 239 0 0 0 0

2,227,505 (2,045,520) 68,600 4,273,025 409,500 100 1,000 0 0 0 0 0 135,000

30,723

4,856,550

5,069,210

98.6% 100.0% 30.2% 100.0% 100.0% 1373.0% 113.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 95.8%

Work Plan

Services

Marketing

Security

Incentives

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

432,332 190,000

963,564 85,000

450,369 15,000

150,000

1,048,564

465,369

150,000

2,196,102 (2,045,520) 20,698 2,276,760 119,500 1,373 1,133 0 239 0 0 0 0 2,570,285

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

0 622,332

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Supplemental Schedules May 31, 2020 Gross Month

Year-to-Date

SCHEDULE 2 - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Property and Buss Incentives 21,211 Facade Improvements 10,000 Leasing/Brokers Meeting 0 Total Business Training and Support 28,808 Business Partnerships 0 Grand Open/New Business 882

Trolley

Annual

Budget

Work Plan

Services

Marketing

Security

Incentives

Budget

%

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

131,530 13,485 0 222,990 37,100 4,575

500,000 155,000 16,000 536,276 76,257 18,000

26.3% 8.7% 0.0% 41.6% 48.7% 25.4%

13,485 0 222,990 37,100 4,575

60,901

409,680

1,301,533

31.5%

278,150

SCHEDULE 3 - PUBLIC REALM MAINTENANCE 13,691 Clean Team 5,961 Graffitti Maintenance 1,000 Landscape Maintenance 22,278 Holiday Lights 0 Signage & Pedestrial Wayfinding 625 Capital Projects/Alleys 0

204,618 31,265 9,530 130,928 119,659 35,119 0

423,500 110,000 35,000 420,100 139,973 217,017 150,000

48.3% 28.4% 27.2% 31.2% 85.5% 16.2% 0.0%

204,618 31,265 9,530 130,928 119,659 35,119 0

Total Physical Environment

531,119

1,495,590

35.5%

531,119

Total Business Development

Pressure Washing/Street Clean

43,555

131,530

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

0

0

0

131,530

0

0

0

0

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Supplemental Schedules May 31, 2020 Gross Month

SCHEDULE 4 - MARKETING/PR Collateral Materials

Year-to-Date

Trolley

Annual

Budget

Work Plan

Services

Marketing

Security

Incentives

Budget

%

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

2,329 6,350 0 0 1,362 4,072 20,501

11,969 58,910 4,493 42,528 125,364 39,224 80,628

183,873 185,000 60,000 135,000 522,160 175,000 200,000

6.5% 31.8% 7.5% 31.5% 24.0% 22.4% 40.3%

34,614

363,116

1,461,033

24.9%

0

9,000 315,688 319,987 31,547 8,714 12,125

85,000 775,855 715,369 70,000 34,000 31,000

10.6% 40.7% 44.7% 45.1% 25.6% 39.1%

9,000

Residential Programming

0 6,754 48,572 0 225 614

31,547 8,714 12,125

Total Res. Services/Quality of Life

56,165

697,061

1,711,224

40.7%

61,386

PR/Marketing

Retail Promotion Value Added Events Advertising and Promotion Marketing Programs

Community & Cultural Promotion Total Marketing/PR

11,969 58,910 4,493 42,528 125,364 39,224 80,628 0

363,116

0

0

SCHEDULE 5 -NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES Homeless Outreach

Transportation Security and Policing Public Space Programs Community Engagement

315,688 319,987

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

315,688

0

319,987

0

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Supplemental Schedules May 31, 2020 Gross Month

SCHEDULE 6 - GENERAL OFFICE General Office Expense

Year-to-Date

Trolley

Annual

Budget

Work Plan

Services

Marketing

Security

Incentives

Budget

%

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Equipment, Computers, Programs

430 0 1,975

4,086 484 37,248

50,000 22,500 78,000

8.2% 2.2% 47.8%

4,086 484 37,248

Total General Office

2,405

41,818

150,500

27.8%

41,818

Telephone Expense

500 190 16 103 0 475

4,000 4,348 3,234 485 200 4,658

0 16,000 7,000 3,000 300 9,000

0.0% 27.2% 46.2% 16.2% 66.7% 51.8%

4,000 4,348 3,234 485 200 4,658

Total Operations

1,284

16,925

35,300

47.9%

16,925

General Postage

SCHEDULE 7 - OPERATIONS Automobile Expense Dues Hospitality Board Meeting Publications

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority Supplemental Schedules May 31, 2020 Gross Month

SCHEDULE 8 - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Accounting Professional Service Audit Studies and Surveys Legal Total Professional Services

Year-to-Date

Trolley

Annual

Budget

Work Plan

Services

Marketing

Security

Incentives

Budget

%

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

Y-T-D

2,000 960 0 0 2,320

14,000 25,610 22,500 53,000 7,547

24,000 141,914 25,000 88,953 27,000

58.3% 18.0% 90.0% 59.6% 28.0%

14,000 25,610 22,500 53,000 7,547

5,280

122,657

306,867

40.0%

122,657

Some rounding error may occur.

No CPA provides any assurance on these financial statements.

0

0

0

0

MEMO To:

DDA Board

Bob Sanders, Chairman Rick Reikenis, Vice Chairman Lisa Gerard Mary Hurley Lane William Jacobson Cynthia Nalley Upendo Shabazz

FROM: Teneka James-Feaman RE:

Incentive Grants Update

DATE: Tuesday, June 16, 2020

_________________________________________________________________________________________

As a follow-up to the May board meeting, I reviewed the leasehold applications for the last 10 years, not including the façade grants. The façade grants on average have the most turnover rate, due to a new business opening they change the exterior sign and paint to represent their individual business.

Special Project: Based on new unique concepts.

Five (5) applicants from 2011 to 2013. Two (2) of the businesses have closed.

Retail Loan and Grant: Leasehold improvement program.

Two (2) applicants in 2012. Virginia Phillip Wine Shop and Academy closed 3 years ago and Café Sweets relocated from the 500 block. The former Café Sweets location is now the Annex, café attached to SubCulture Coffee.

Business Relocation Grant: Leasehold improvement program.

One (1) applicant in 2012. Palm Beach Dramaworks is open and operating.

Large Project Grant: Leasehold improvement program Fifteen (15) applicants from 2011 to 2020. One building received this Incentive grant twice – 332 Evernia Street in 2011 and 2018. The improvements on the remaining projects have been maintained.

Staff will be providing an update on the discussion with the property owners and brokers and next steps on how we can assist tenants downtown.

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Ph: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 * DowntownWPB.com

MEMO TO:

DDA Board Bob Sanders, Chairman Rick Reikenis, Vice Chairman Lisa Gerard Mary Hurley Lane William Jacobson Cynthia Nalley Upendo Shabazz

FROM: Raphael Clemente, Executive Director RE:

Project 1909 Matching Grant Request

DATE: Tuesday, June 16, 2020

_________________________________________________________________________________________

1909 is a non-profit coworking, business mentorship, and entrepreneurial support organization located at 313 Datura Street. In response to the dramatic impacts of Coronavirus on businesses in West Palm Beach, PROJECT 1909 was created to as a capacity building initiative to support local businesses.

PROJECT 1909 will assist local businesses by providing expertise for necessary changes to their operations, technology, marketing, or other elements of their business model. The work will be performed by local businesspeople that are affiliated with or sourced by 1909.

As part of 1909’s ongoing partnership with the Knight Foundation, Knight has agreed to match any funds 1909 raises, up to $25,000 for this project. The DDA support PROJECT 1909 will be matched dollar for dollar by the Knight Foundation to be allocated to help businesses in Downtown West Palm Beach.

A detailed description of the program has been provided by 1909 and is attached to this memo. Shana Ostrovitz, Executive Director for 1909, will join the meeting via Zoom.

300 Clematis Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: 561.833.8873 Fax: 561.833.5870 DowntownWPB.com

PROJECT 1909 Details: PROJECT-1909, is a capacity building initiative to increase the impact of each dollar given to the local small business community.

In partnership with the Knight Foundation, 1909 has the opportunity to raise and distribute $50,000 out to support our local business community. The Knight Foundation has agreed to match any funds 1909 raises, up to $25,000 for this project.

We are proposing that the DDA support PROJECT 1909 with $25,000 that will be matched dollar for dollar by the Knight Foundation to be allocated to help businesses in Downtown West Palm Beach.

What is PROJECT 1909: The current situation has resulted in small businesses everywhere having to adapt to a new paradigm in order to survive. Yet, few businesses possess the talent and know-how to identify and implement those necessary adaptations as the world acclimates to a “new normal.” And even fewer businesses have funds to hire the expertise to design and execute those necessary plans and tactics. PROJECT-1909 enables local businesses to expand their capacity to acquire the expertise they need, without having to pay from their own (impaired) pockets.

How it works example: ● ● ●

●

●

● ●

Local Coffee Shop submits their need and applies for help through PROJECT-1909 1909 verifies the coffee shop is in the DDA district and qualifies for program 1909 assigns a Project Manager to speak with the coffee shop and determine their needs and the best use of funds to achieve the highest impact for the business long term.

E.g. The team determines the Coffee Shop needs to set up an online ordering and delivery capability. They also want to start offering their bags of coffee for sale online, to be shipped anywhere in the world.

1909 appoints Freelancer Joe (also a local small business owner) who is an expert in e-commerce website development to complete this paid work, funded through the microgrant.

Freelancer Joe provides a report of the work completed to 1909 Coffee shop owner provides a report of the work they received and impact on the business

The Result: Local Coffee Shop receives the assistance they need to adapt and overcome; Freelancer Joe’s business is simultaneously supported. Both small businesses and the selfemployed survive and thrive; our community as a whole receives continued, even enhanced, access to the local businesses they know and love. Win-win-win.