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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2022-375 - 200 King Street West - Ground Floor - Lease Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: August 8, 2022 SUBMITTED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager Small Business, 519-741-2200 ext. 7294 PREPARED BY: Chris Farrell, Manager Small Business, 519-741-2200 ext. 7294 WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: July 18, 2022 REPORT NO.: DSD-2022-375 SUBJECT: 200 King Street West Ground Floor - Lease RECOMMENDATION: That the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to execute a lease agreement with Canadian Caribbean Association of Waterloo Region, within the Small Business Centre at City Hall municipally known as 200 King Street West; said agreement to be to the satisfaction of the City Solicitor. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of this report is to approve a short-term lease to the Canadian Caribbean Association of Waterloo Region, within the Small Business Centre. BACKGROUND: The Canadian Caribbean Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR) is a non-profit community-based organization focused on fostering collaborations to promote the social, cultural, and economic interests of, and advocate for, the Caribbean community in the Region of Waterloo. In 2021 the organization was awarded a three-year funded project to deliver the Liftoff Black Entrepreneurship Program. The program is designed to support Black entrepreneurs from the earliest stages of starting a business to innovating, growing, and scaling an existing business. The CCAWR Liftoff team requires temporary office space until they move into a new space in December 2022. REPORT: The Canadian Caribbean Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR) is interested in temporarily utilizing 350 square feet of currently vacant space on the ground floor of City Hall in the Small Business Centre. The Small Business Centre does not plan to use the area requested during the next four months. Staff feel this is an excellent interim use that will activate the space on a relatively short-term basis. CCAWR anticipates commencing occupancy on September 1, 2022, for approximately four months until their new office space is move-in ready. During this time, should the City require the space for alternate purposes, the lease would contain a 30 day notice clause to vacate the space. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. The mandate of the Liftoff Black Entrepreneurship Program aligns with the services and programs provided by the Small Business Centre. Both organizations have established a collaborative working relationship since the program's inception in the summer of 2021. The Small Business Centre currently refers clients and mentors to the program, attends Liftoff events, and promotes the program on its website and social media. Creating a co-working space with the program benefits the community by providing entrepreneurs direct access to resources that meet their needs at one location. CCAWR will pay the Common Area Maintenance (CAM) fee and taxes for the space. In lieu of rental payments, CCAWR is offering to provide in-kind services to the city at a value equivalent to fair market rent. In-kind services could include: assisting in creating guidelines for small companies to implement sustainable business practices; and, developing a framework for measuring a company's economic impact as it pertains to the sustainable development goals (such as reducing inequalities, decent work, and economic growth for equity-deserving entrepreneurs). STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: The City's Strategic Vision for a Vibrant Economy. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The tenant will be responsible for the Common Area Maintenance (CAM) and taxes. Both fees are subject to annual adjustments. A rental rate of $8.00/sq. Ft. will be payable through in-kind contributions to the City. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: COLLABORATE Waterloo Region Small Business Centre communicates, consults, and collaborates with a broad range of community groups, organizations, agencies, secondary and post-secondary institutes, and municipal, regional, and provincial governments to ensure the entrepreneurial services and programs address the needs of small businesses in the community. The Small Business Advisory Committee volunteers represent twelve industry sectors across the region. INFORM This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of the council/committee meeting. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter. APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager DSD