Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CRA approves three-year retail-strategy contract to support downtown small businesses
Summary
The Community Redevelopment Agency authorized a three-year engagement with Veil Strategies Inc. to provide marketplace studies, stakeholder workshops and small-business recruitment and training for downtown Winter Garden at $50,000 per year, using CRA funds and subject to annual review.
The commission convened as the Community Redevelopment Agency and approved a three-year agreement with Veil Strategies Inc. to provide retail-marketplace studies, business-mix analysis, stakeholder workshops and small-business support tailored to Winter Garden’s downtown.
Staff said the contract is intended to preserve the city’s small‑town character while offering targeted recruitment, retention tools and an online training platform for merchants. The engagement carries a $50,000 annual cost for three years; staff recommended CRA funding and proposed an annual review of the consultant’s effectiveness.
Members of the CRA advisory board and residents discussed the scope: the advisory board asked that the survey include the entire CRA boundary (including East Winter Garden) and recommended annual reviews to avoid repeating previous work. A motion to approve the three-year agreement with annual review language carried unanimously.
A resident at public comment asked whether the contract uses general-fund money; staff clarified the engagement will be funded from CRA funds.
