HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-17 EDAC Minutes
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Committee Minutes
April 17, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
Schmalz Room - Second Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Present: Chuck Howitt, Chair
Councillor A. Owodunni, Member
Councillor D. Schnider, Member
B. Whittaker, Member
L. Rodriguez Reyes, Member
J. Malfara, Member
M. Lam, Member
M. Krushack, Member
J. Curto, Member
M. Bingeman, Member
A. Akbar, Member
Margaret Johnston
Staff: K. Remus, Committee Admnistrator
Cory Bluhm
Brian Bennett
_____________________________________________________________________
1. Commencement
The meeting commenced at 11:06 a.m. Chaired by Laura Rodriguez Reyes.
2. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
3. Delegations
None.
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4. Minutes Review
March minutes were reviewed, no changes required.
5. Discussion Items
5.1 Communitech Partnership Renewal
Peter Lenardon, Director of Partnerships & Growth and Matthew Klassen, Vice
President External at Communitech shared a presentation with the committee
that spoke to the Communitech Partnership staff report and business case that is
going to Finance and Corporate Services Committee on April 22. The staff report
speaks to renewing the City of Kitchener's partnership with Communitech from
2024-2027 along with the need to supercharge the local startup ecosystem, with
a particular focus on Downtown Kitchener. Communitech is a key partner to
deliver supports to startups and scaling companies. The committee discussed
how the success of the partnership investment would be evaluated.
On motion by Joe Curto, it was resolved:
That City of Kitchener staff, in collaboration with Communitech, identify clear
metrics to evaluate the success of this partnership investment, to include:
- The total number of startups supported by the identified programs;
- The location as to where founders in the identified programs originated from
and where they eventually locate their business;
- The total number of new jobs created for the region through the programs
supported by the City; and,
- The total number of founders and startups that engaged in the identified
programs in-person at the Communitech Hub.
Where possible, that Communitech provide metrics on a program-by-program
basis.
Carried
5.2 EDAC Terms of Reference
Brian Bennett, City of Kitchener Manager of Business Development, presented
the revised Terms of Reference based on the committee's feedback from the
March meeting. The committee was in agreement with the revised Terms of
Reference. Katelyn Remus, Committee Administrator, will submit the updated
Terms of Reference to the City Clerks.
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5.3 Lunch
5.4 Sponsorship Strategy
Dylan Matthews, City of Kitchener Policy and Program Advisor, spoke to the
Sponsorship Strategy. In October 2023, the Sponsorship Strategy was presented
and approved by City Council. This included a refreshed inventory of assets and
revised revenue allocation within the policy. The current objectives of the
Sponsorship Strategy are a marking strategy, asset profiles and a relationship
development strategy. The committee will continue to discuss the Sponsorship
Strategy at the May committee meeting.
6. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
Katelyn Remus
Committee Administrator
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