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Board presses staff on enterprise center outreach and MBE/DBE coordination; staff notes foundation vehicle
Summary
Members questioned outreach and marketing for the city's Enterprise Center and minority contracting programs; staff described using the Southwest Florida Enterprise Center Foundation to accept donations and pay for community projects and recommended clearer program definitions for incubator vs. commercial tenants.
Board members raised concerns about outreach and program participation at the Enterprise Center after a recent lunch‑and‑learn had low attendance. They asked staff why a regular newsletter had not been sent and whether the center has a dedicated marketing budget.
Economic development staff described a foundation already in place — the Southwest Florida Enterprise Center Foundation — that can accept donations and pay invoices for targeted projects without the funds hitting the city's books. Staff also said incubator funding rules tied to federal grants impose constraints: under current federal rules an EDA incubator program must prioritize incubator tenants and cannot include commercial tenants or certain nonprofits without risking federal recapture. Staff said leases are being revised to align with fiscal year cycles and to create turnover if tenants do not participate in incubator programming.
Board members asked staff to return with more detailed recommendations on marketing, on how to target MBE/DBE outreach, and whether the city should revisit a local ordinance referenced in background materials.
