Delray Beach commissioners seek clearer economic‑development policy, schedule follow‑up workshop

Delray Beach’s City Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 14, discussed a range of economic development topics — from business recruitment and workforce training to permitting assistance and use of limited commercial land — and directed staff to circulate a prior plan and return with updated analysis and an implementation framework.

The workshop was convened by Mayor Kearney and led by Assistant City Manager Jeff Orris, who summarized current economic development work including business attraction leads, small‑business assistance and seminars, workforce development partnerships, and permitting “hand‑holding” for businesses struggling to navigate the city process.

The discussion matters because Delray Beach officials said choices about organizational resources, incentives and land use will shape how the city attracts higher‑paying jobs, sustains local businesses and maintains the commercial tax base.

Commissioners repeatedly raised two linked concerns: limited supply of commercial land and how the city should focus its economic development effort. Commissioner Cassale said she remained skeptical that routine job fairs duplicate existing programs run by CareerSource and Palm Beach State College and urged more proactive recruitment to “get a seat at the table” with corporate relocations. Commissioner Casale and others asked for a clearer plan to target industries and use scarce commercial parcels rather than converting them to housing.

Several commissioners endorsed retaining a robust role for the city’s economic development manager and for stronger partnerships. Commissioner Markert urged targeting private equity‑backed tech firms, cybersecurity and AI startups — sectors that, he said, require relatively little floor space and could fit Delray’s market. Vice Mayor Long emphasized steps already taken to streamline development services and recommended a workshop with Development Services staff to identify additional operational improvements.

Commissioner Burns pushed for stronger links between workforce training, the upcoming Carver Technical Center Phase 2 and affordable housing so that newly attracted employers can hire locally. Multiple commissioners noted recent private moves into the city — including tenants at Sunday Village and a Vertical Bridge operation — as examples of mixed progress.

Orris and economic development staff described services the office now provides: limited job attraction work and broker outreach, a small‑business assistance program and one‑day business events, planned quarterly seminars with the CRA and Chamber to teach topics from legal needs to cybersecurity, assistance coordinating prospective tenants with Development Services, and workforce initiatives for post‑secondary and youth education partners. Orris cited a recent example in which staff helped a prospective BJ’s grocery concept address local design and permitting issues and change architectural consultants to keep a project on schedule.

After discussion the commission reached consensus for three near‑term steps: staff will circulate the Sept. 14, 2021 economic development plan to commissioners within a day; city staff will identify the metrics needed to update that plan and may retain external consulting support to perform an updated market/industry analysis; and staff will return with a draft implementation framework at a follow‑up workshop on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. (the city clerk was asked to place that session on the calendar). City staff said the economic development office is currently a single‑person operation and that resource needs and structure will be part of the follow‑up work.

No formal vote was taken on any ordinance or budget appropriation during the workshop. Commissioners described their remarks as guidance to staff; the manager said staff will return with a firm structure and timeline for any proposed organizational or budget changes before the commission considers them.

What’s next: staff will circulate the 2021 plan, define updated metrics and approach, and bring proposals — including whether to engage outside consultants and what budgetary resources would be required — to the Dec. 1 workshop. Commissioners who spoke repeatedly asked staff to include representatives from the Downtown Development Authority, Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, the CRA and key county partners in that follow‑up session.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke at the Oct. 14 workshop; quotations are attributed to their names and roles as recorded in the meeting transcript.