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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 2551 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 2551 `61104,` To the MaW and Membom of dw City Council September 8, 1975 u�� •r1tx�� Subject: INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT In a budget review meeting the staff was requested to furnish a report of the activities of the Industrial Development Coordinator. The position of Industrial Development Coordinator was created October 1, 1972, in the Department of Community Development (now Development). The purpose was to promote new industrial development in Fort Worth and to assist existing industries in expansion. Toward these goals, the Coordinator works in cooperation with other agencies in this activity - Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Departments of banks, utilities, developers and others who are interested in locating new industries and creating jobs. The Indus- trial Development Coordinator has been responsible for guiding and developing the EDA grants programs after these grants became available to the City. A summary of his activities for the period October 1, 1974, to September 1, 1975, is reported as follows: 1. Industrial Development Following 18 months of meetings with Motorola representatives, formal announcement of their relocation decision in October, 1974, initiated the community facilities contract negotiations phase of the relocation activity. Approximately eight months of negotiations were required to create a workable contract. Motorola representatives have stated inten- tions of filing for a building permit in September 1975. During the preceding eleven months contacts with firms considering relocation severely diminished due to national economic pressures, although local industrial recruitment efforts continued at a level similar to the previous period. Of the numerous contacts made by all local efforts, most industrial growth was due.t-o local expansion efforts such as Westmoor Manufacturing. Westmoor is a western clothing manufacturer that had a distributorship here and due to a favorable business climate and the efforts of several local agencies chose to relocate its plant here from Omaha, Nebraska. The Industrial Development Coordinator is the staff contact person for prospective buyers for the GSIA property. During the State legislative session, the Fort Worth business community supported bills in both the House and Senate that would allow TWU to operate a Medical School on property donated from the Northstar Indus- trial Park for that purpose. The Coordinator's efforts were in logistics of attending House and Senate hearings, meeting with state officials and coordination of local community actions. The bills failed to be reported out of Committee but will be initiated next session. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER IFORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 2551 - Page 2 "OT14, September 8, 1975 o` UP To the Mayor and Members of the Cite Council 0 u i �rx�g Subject: INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 2. Federal Programs During the last eleven months, a significant amount of time was devoted to the redevelopment of the stockyards. All of the grants received from EDA since inception of the project plus focal matching funds total $1,833,333. EDA/Stockyards Projects Funded to Date 9/1/75 Title Federal City CD Local PWIP 1 400,000 100,000 PWIP 2 200,000 25,000 25,000 TA 75,000 19,375 5,625 IX 150,000 50,000 X 520,000 10,000 120,000 302 100,000 27,333 6,000 Total 1,445,000 231,708 145,000 11,625 Two of the grants funded during the last eleven months have provided staff in support of the Industrial Development Coordinator activity. 3. Title IX Economic Adjustment Assistance This grant is the first of a two phase action. Five personnel are employed to provide detailed construction and redevelopment plans. The budget totals $200,000. The $50,000 match is in-kind services. Over half of the funds are to be used hiring local consultants for provision of technical studies and construction plans. This activity is the coordination and public contact portion of the redevelopment. The office in the Livestock Exchange building serves as the major impetus for the activity. 4. Economic Development Planning (302) This grant was funded to provide staff assistance to the Industrial Development Coordinator. Five personnel will make contact individually with all of the Fort Worth Industrial community. The purpose of the contact is to provide communications with all of the job producing ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No 2551 - Page 3 Ot..1,, oi100 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 8, 1975 t!x►g. Subject: INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT industry in order to determine their short and long term plans. The dialogue will allow for city services to be more responsive to their needs and also allow industry to make long term growth plans in con- junction with public service plans. The federal cash of $100,000 is matched by $27,333 City in-kind ser- vices and $6,000 local business community in-kind services. 5. Construction The federal funds have allowed construction activities to take place that will significantly impact the future economic well being in the northside in addition to providing construction jobs for otherwise unemployed and underemployed. The Northside Coliseum is now an asset to the community and will be housing several new activities including rodeo for the first time in 18 years. The EDA grants that are providing short term construction employment and long term employment possibilities are a more recent responsibility of the Industrial Development Coordinator activity. If any additional information is desired, it will be supplied upon request. Respectfully submitted, leo4l R. N. Line City Manager RNL:ms ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS