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Home My WebLink About(5) POST DUES CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS Date: 1/30/02 Reference No. Subject Page Authorization for payment of $12,000 to Partnership of 1 of 1 Southeast Texas (POST) RECOMMENDATION: Presented for City Council approval, is payment to the Partnership of Southeast Texas (POST) for fiscal 2002 in the amount of $12,000. BACKGROUND: POST has submitted an invoice for funding the 2001-2002 year. The City has contributed the following amount to POST the past seven years. Fisc~ Year POST 2001 $ 12,000.00 2000 12,000.00 1999 12,000.00 1998 12,000.00 1997 -0- 1996 1,000.00 1995 -0- Proposed 2002 $ 12,000.00 BUDGET/FISCAL EFFECT: Funding was provided in the 2001-2002 budget, under the administration account 001-1003- 512.59-00, Project M97902. Rebecca Underhill Director of Finance Prepared by: Approved by: Disposition by Council: ( ) Approve ( )Other(Describe) Processed: City Secretary Date: P rtnel;ship Of Southeast Texas A~ cC°~°a~ ,.k'vcbrmcn~, co,~z~ IINVOICEI POST Federal lC) NO: 76-0160511 October 8, 2001 Oscar Ortiz, Mayor City of Port Arthur P.O. Box 1089 Port Arthur, TX 77641-1089 Annual Investment Thank you for contributing to the efforts of working together to ensure the future of the City of Port Arthur and the surrounding area, Together, we have accomplished a great deal in expanding economic development efforts and making our voices heard on important regional issues. We thank you for continuing to assist in our efforts. Renewal of your annual October investment with the Partnership of Southeast Texas includes the quarterly POST Magazine subscription, a complimentary copy of the Big Nine Directory, and extends your membership for the year 2002. Invoice Amount: $12,000.00 Please make a copy of this statement and return with YOur remittance P. O. Box 3828, Beaumont, Texas 77704 (409) 838-6800 Fax (409) 835-2026 b,~p:l/ww~.setx.oro Parmership Of Southeast Texas an economlc development corpor&tlon ~,ECEiVED JAN 222002 CITY MANAGER OFFICE Januaw 18,2002 Steve Fi~gibbons City of Port Arthur P.O. Box1089 Port Arthur, TX 77641-1089 Dear Mr. Fitzgibbons: I am writing to you to follow up in regards to your annual October investment with the Partnership of Southeast Texas. The City of Beaumont has joined a host of other municipalities,(including Orange County, Jefferson County, City of Nederland, City of Port Neches...), in approving their membership renewal for 2001-2002. If the City of Port Arthur has not approved renewal of your POST membership for 2001-2002, we respectfully request your consideration. Enclosed please find POST's new Program of Work for 2002. The Partnership continues its work toward building our local economy and creating jobs for the City of Port Arthur and surrounding area. This means more sales tax dollars and larger assessments, which in turn means more funds to respond to citizen needs and a higher quality of life for everyone. Steve Buser, Laura Wilson, and I would appreciate the oppor[unity to appear before city council to provide an update of our most recent economic development activities and request membership renewal. We would also like to provide packets of information for Mayor Ortiz and your council members. ~ Thank you, Mr. Fitzgibbons, for your help. We appreciate your consideration of continued support. Sincerely, Vicki Fulk Partnership of Southeast Texas Post Office Box 3828 · Beaumont, Texas 77704 USA 409-838-6800 ' Fax: 409-83S-20Z6 ' 1-800-916-8080 http://www.setx.org Program of Work January t 1, 2002 Partnership Of Southeast Texas Mission Statement: POST shall pursue all avenues of economic development within the nine (9) county area comprised of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Tyler counties and the Bolivar Peninsula of Galveston county, all for the public purpose of promoting the economic well-being of the citizens of the ar,e? comprised by the nine counties. Program of Work 2002 1. Create jobs by marketing Southeast Texas to 80 new business attraction leads. POST responded to just over 75 prospect leads during 2001, POST will continue these efforts. POST will follow up on more than 35 active prospects from 2000 and 2001. > POST will attend two additional tradeshows during 2002 for a total of 6 tradeshows ideal for the SETX region. Planned are: · World of Concrete - January 8-12, New Orleans, Louisiana · National Association of Truck Stop Operators- February 13-15, Nashville, Tennessee · International Intermodal Exposition - November 17-20, Anaheim, California · Powder & Bulk Solids - May 7-9, Rosemont, Illinois (Chicago) · PlasTEC East - June 5-7, New York, New York · Chem Show- August 9-11, Boston, Massachusetts Retain and/or create jobs by assisting 50 existing Southeast Texas businesses. POST assisted just under 40 existing businesses last year. POST anticipates an increase in existing business assistance. Sponsor and provide administrative support for the following regional programs, Leadership Southeast Texas (LSET) - LSET provides community leaders an opportunity to examine the region's strengths, weaknesses, obstacles and opportunities for economic development, regional unity and quality of life. Year 2002 marks the 9th anniversary. Fifty community leaders are hopeful graduates with an alumni of 389. Southeast Texas Workforce Innovation Network (SETWIN) - SETWIN is in the middle of a two-year $150,000 study of the workforce in Southeast Texas of which $100,000 is granted to POST. SETWIN will complete a series of focus groups in the first quarter and then design survey instruments to continue that study. The final phase of the project is the development a workforce map that is scheduled to start in the 4th quarter of 2002 Southeast Texas Opportunities for Contractors (STOC) - Work on this program slowed because of 9/11. We will pick back up on the effort to market the capabilities of local contractors to the companies with major plants in the area or those likely to locate here. Publications ~. POST Quarterly Newsletter (via email/fax) - We will continue our newsletter - trying to maintain a bi-monthly schedule. ~* Brag N' Writes -- We are reviewing POST capabilities to publish Brag N' Writes. > Industry Maps --A new publication is a series of maps of the major plants in Southeast Texas -- a version of this is included in the Big 9 Directory. A scaled down version will be on the intemet and POST will sell a color version for $10. ~* Economic Roundup -- We have postponed our Economic Roundup because of the effects of 9/11 but will try to produce a version by Summer. > POST Annual Report - The POST annual report is an opportunity to give a general synopsis of all the activities POST has been involved in during the year. >. POST- Assist POST magazine. POST will continue to write stories for the POST magazine. In addition, POST assists the magazine by sending out their mailing list. > Regional Marketing Brochurss - Assist communities, et.al., in developing marketing literature. (i.e.: ports, airports, intermodel facilities, manufacturers, etc.) Big 9 Directory - POST will continue the popular Big 9 Directory in print - - the next version will be published in 2003 but work on the document will begin in September of 2002 5. Funding Development Funding Development Goals for 2002 will be focused on the following: 2002 Annual Meeting - Target $10,000 2002 Big 9 Big Day - Target $15,000 2002 Golf Tournament- Target $10,000 Continue to seek In-kind membemhips of value to POST. Nine new in-kind memberships( total $26,000 in memberships valued at $100,000) were negotiated in 2001, (advertising and promotion, ~ * cleaning of silk napkins, Hilton hotel and food, service to copier and permanent loan of Risograph). Continue to develop and target Top Prospect Lists. -- Seek 95 percent retention and 50 new members. Community Development Assistance --.POST will continue to assist allies on community development projects.. Projects may include, but are not limited to, infrastructure expansion, revitalization, zoning, etc. 6. POST will continue regional networking Quarterly Southeast Texas Tourism meetings - Participation in the Tourism Talkarounds has grown to 40. We hope to increase that to 60 by year's end. Regional Meetings -- Our goal will be to conduct 6 of these meetings Regional Summit -- Support the annual Regional Summit sponsored by Deep East Texas Council of Governments and the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission. Project Lobbying - POST will lobby for Southeast Texas economic projects by promoting them to state and national officials: EDA conferences, TEDC meetings, Visits to Austin, At least one visit to Washington D.C. Market Economic Development Administration (EDA) services.. POST does much of the local work for the EDA for this region. As part of the agreement, POST helps communities and businesses understand how the EDA's service can make a positive impact on their projects. POST will continue to promote Southeast Texas globally with current and meaningful data. 11. 12. WWW.SETX.ORG · Update community and regional profiles -- · Update available buildings and sites · Update About POST services · Maintain web pages about POST programs (LSET, SE'I'WIN, STOC, etc.) · Work to get better ties with POST Magazine · Add Big 9 Directory · Continue to feature members WWW, FUN365DAYS.COM · Add geobase section · Feature members · We will explore possibilities to sell advertising. Update POST Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). As part of our contract with the EDA, POST will update the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy that was developed in 2000. POST receives a grant of $42,000 each year to work on projects such as the CEDS for the EDA. This update will include more public input and special strategic planning sessions. Particular focus will go to the section of the report "Barrier to Economic Development." Publicity - Continue to seek publicity about the activities of POST · Maintain publicity on events using in-kind memberships with media. · Continue to seek opportunities for press appearances