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Committee hears Innovation Plaza update; members vote to enter executive session on 2001 Taylor Street and related projects
Summary
Staff reported bids and an estimated $300,000–$350,000 upfit for Innovation Plaza/Innovation Alley, saying the Middleton family would cover roughly $200,000–$250,000 and that the city may need to provide about $100,000; committee then voted unanimously to enter executive session under SC code 34-7-85 to discuss site/expansion matters including 2001 Taylor Street.
A staff presenter updated the committee on plans for Innovation Plaza and Innovation Alley near Taylor Street and asked members to consider funding and partnership options to move an upfit forward.
The presenter said bids for the two buildings show a spread of about $185,000 and estimated an overall upfit budget in the range of $300,000–$350,000. He said representatives of the Middleton family indicated they would be willing to fund everything except roughly $100,000 of the upfit.
"We think we've got a pretty good budget of somewhere between 3 to 350 to upfit the building," the presenter said, adding that the Middletons would be willing to do "all but 100 .00 of the upfit themselves," language used in the meeting.
The presenter described expanding the initiative beyond city limits to a regional innovation-cluster approach to attract larger grants and partners. He reported discussions with the Andrews Institute, interest from AT&T in participating in cluster work and grant opportunities (including NSF/EDA/SBA programs), and a developing partnership with Palmetto College to roll out 10 mixed triage business centers across the Midlands.
Committee members questioned the funding status. Staff confirmed the city had been invoiced for a previously agreed $200,000 commitment and that the additional roughly $100,000 would be a one-time capital investment if the committee chose to provide it. The presenter said, if funding and permits proceed without major surprises, the building could be vacated and work completed in approximately two to two-and-a-half months.
Following the update, a member moved that the committee enter executive session "discussion of matters relating to proposed location expansion provision of services encouraging location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body pursuant to SC code 34-7-85 project bow tie project perimeter project WF project kick and 2001 Taylor Street." The motion was seconded and approved unanimously by Mr. Bailey, Mr. Brennan and Mr. Brown.
The committee did not disclose details discussed in executive session at the public meeting’s close.
