Title
Small Business Week - 2005 (B)
Explanation
In June 2004, the City of Gainesville Economic Development Department and Gainesville Council for Economic Outreach (CEO) jointly sponsored an Economic Development Summit. The Summit addressed the existing economic landscape in Alachua County, provided comparisons with other communities and suggested proposals for improvement.
This year, in an effort to move the discussion further regarding the area's economic and business development potential, and in an effort to build bridges amongst all active area economic development entities, the City of Gainesville Economic Development Department has worked within the context of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council to jointly sponsor and host Small Business Week 2005. The dates of this event are April 25 - April 29, 2005.
Venues vary for the events and each has a slightly different focus. An Economic Development Strategy Summit will be held on April 27, 2005 at the Gainesville Country Club. This Summit is being jointly sponsored by a number of area entities including the Gainesville Area Innovation Network (GAIN) and Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and is being convened by the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI). The Summit will focus on building a Countywide Strategic Plan for Alachua County while also highlighting efforts that have gone into the growth and development of the North Carolina Research Triangle.
Fiscal Note
There will be some costs associated with the Economic Development Strategy Summit that will be absorbed by the City's existing Economic Development Department budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from staff regarding the Small Business Week 2005 schedule of events.