Delray Beach staff to try $480/month property data service, return with plan after March update and April workshop

At a Feb. 3 workshop, Delray Beach city staff told commissioners they would test a commercial-property subscription service and return with more detailed business‑development recommendations after a brief March update and a fuller workshop in April.

Jeff Horace, assistant city manager, said staff is focusing on two priority sectors — financial services and technology — and that the city’s most effective tools may be reducing friction for new firms rather than relying primarily on cash incentives. "Incentives really don't make the deal," Horace said, adding that "concierge permitting and site assistance" could help companies get up and running faster.

Why it matters: Commissioners and members of the public said Delray must sharpen its pitch to compete with nearby cities such as Boca Raton, West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach. Commissioners voiced concern that the data in the current packet relied largely on regional statistics and is not sufficiently updated to show what land and spaces are actually available in Delray.

Staff outlined two immediate steps. Horace described a commercial-real-estate subscription service (used by brokers) that would list available commercial spaces, vacant land and contact information; he cited a subscription cost of about $480 per month. Commissioners also heard an estimated $64,000 price tag for a separate consultant-led marketing engagement; staff said that amount would fund marketing activities targeted at the sectors the commission has discussed.

Several commissioners urged a staged approach. One commissioner recommended buying the $480 subscription for a single month to produce a property inventory before committing to a consultant contract. Deputy Vice Mayor Burns pressed staff to produce a concise, action‑oriented strategy document with objectives, responsibilities and implementation steps so commissioners can track progress: "I would like to see us develop a strategy... something with objectives on it," Burns said.

Public commenters and local partners told the commission they are willing to help. A commenter suggested combining an economic development board with the education board to align workforce development and recruitment. Steve English urged staff to "memorialize what went right" in the city's recruitment of Vertical Bridge as a case study. "Barron's has to be a designated point of any money spent," English said about marketing to financial-sector decision makers. Stephanie Immelman of the Chamber of Commerce said the chamber, CRA, DDA and other local partners have met and are "ready to work" on a destination‑marketing plan.

Next steps: Staff said it will proceed with the subscription trial and return with a brief update at the regular March 9 meeting and a more complete workshop presentation at the second meeting in April. The commission reached consensus on those steps and closed the agenda item.

The packet and discussion raised additional data and scope questions that staff committed to answer in follow-up materials, including more Palm Beach‑specific statistics and an accounting of legacy UDAG funds and their current balance.