Wagner Economic Development Authority obligates $5,000 for countywide retail-recruitment contract with Retail Strategies

The Wagoner Economic Development Authority (WIDA) voted April 7 to obligate $5,000 as the City of Wagner's share of a countywide retail-recruitment contract with Retail Strategies, a private consulting firm that conducts market analyses and recruiter outreach for municipalities.

Darla Heller, who presented the item as a representative of Wagner County economic development, told WIDA members the overall contract would cost about $50,000 to $60,000 and that county and partner cities would share the expense. Darla said the county EDA and other partners would pay the bulk of the fee and that Wagner's $5,000 is meant to be a one-year trial contribution that would provide the city an inventory of available retail properties, traffic and consumer data and a set of retailer targets.

Darla said Retail Strategies would not share the firm's retailer contact lists beyond the city's designated point of contact; the firm would provide analysis and an inventory the city could use in recruitment.

Councilors and WIDA members asked whether the work could be done locally and whether the hire would advantage larger nearby cities. One councilor noted that larger centers such as Broken Arrow already have in-house retail development staff and may be 'low-hanging fruit' for retailers; Darla answered that the consultant's bank of national retail contacts and cellphone-based traffic analysis are expensive to replicate and that Retail Strategies provides a cost-effective way to 'try on' the service.

Some councilors said they needed more time to review the contract language and supporting materials. WIDA members were told the county board would vote on the full contract later that week and that Wagner had about 30 days to decide whether to participate. The presenter and staff emphasized that obligating funds at the meeting was an allocation only and not a signed contract; the city could still withdraw when the contract is presented for signature pending legal review.

At the end of the discussion the authority voted to obligate the $5,000. The roll call recorded councilors voting in favor.

Provenance

topicintro: block_id:668.97_local_start:0_local_end:120_evidence_excerpt:"Item number 3, consider obligating funds to join with Wagoner County Economic Development Authority for retail and commercial recruitment through retail strategies or take other action." tc_start:"00:11:08" reason_code:"topicintro"

topfinish: block_id:1821.755_local_start:0_local_end:100_evidence_excerpt:"I have a motion and second. Please call the roll... Wagoner? Yes. North? Yes. Wright? Yes. Thank you. Appreciate it, Darla." tc_end:"00:30:21" reason_code:"topicfinish"