HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item - 2020-05-05 - Number 5.3 - COVID-19 Business Assistance Services 5.3
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Subject: COVID-19 Business Assistance Services by the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce
Meeting Date: May 5, 2020 Staff Member: Scot Siegel, Planning and Building
Services Director
Department: Planning and Building Services
Action Required Advisory Board/Commission Recommendation
❑X Motion ❑ Approval
❑ Public Hearing ❑ Denial
❑ Ordinance ❑ None Forwarded
❑ Resolution ❑X Not Applicable
❑ Information Only Comments:
❑ Council Direction
❑ Consent Agenda
Staff Recommendation: Direct City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Lake
Owego Chamber of Commerce for business assistance.
Recommended Language for Motion: Move to direct the City Manager to enter into an
agreement with the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce for COVID-19 Business Assistance.
Project/ Issue Relates To:
❑X Council Goals/Priorities ❑Adopted Master Plan(s) ❑Not Applicable
Business Retention
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 2, 2020, the City Council directed staff to develop and implement a Business Assistance
Plan aimed at assisting Lake Oswego's small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. The plan
included direct assistance to local businesses in the form of$250,000 in grants to small
businesses, marketing and promotions of businesses that are open during the crisis, and
business networking and counseling.
The City's marketing and promotions efforts have been underway since early April with the
"We're Open" campaign produced jointly by the City and the Lake Oswego Chamber of
503.635.0215 380 A Avenue PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.lakeoswego.city
Page 2
Commerce (Chamber). The City is now developing a mapping tool/app that the public can use
to locate businesses that are open. The Small Business Assistance Grant Program was
implemented successfully, as well, with 118 grants awarded to Lake Oswego small businesses
earlier this month. Additionally, thanks to a generous donation from NW Natural, the City will
be awarding one more grant of$1,000 to a local business that was next in line before the City's
funds ran out.
The remaining elements of the City's COVID-19 Business Assistance Plan relate to business
networking and one-on-one business counseling. These are services that the City does not have
in-house expertise or staff resources to carry out on its own and therefore has reached out to
the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce for assistance.
DISCUSSION
In consultation with City Manager Bennett and Chamber Executive Director Liz Hartman, staff
has prepared the attached scope of work for the Chamber to provide business networking and
counseling services for Lake Oswego businesses. Our goal is to help the local businesses prepare
for reopening and become more resilient to future disruptions such as COVID-19.
This work will be performed for a fee of$22,000, with five monthly installments of$4,000 each,
with the first payment on May 15, and a final payment of$2,000 upon completion of all tasks.
The attached scope of work provides for:
1. Strategic input to the City's Economic Development Rapid Response Team.
2. Establishing business support networks; at least one would be for retail, restaurant, and
personal service establishments.
3. Creating an online virtual network and peer counseling forum (listserv)for businesses.
4. Coordinating one-on-one business counseling for business owners, matching available
experts in business management and finance with local business owners.
5. Exploring the feasibility of producing an online business symposium for Lake Oswego.
FISCAL IMPACT/ALTERNATIVES
The City does not have the inhouse expertise or staff resources to deliver these services on its
own. The cost of outsourcing to the Chamber is less than it would be for the City to hire a
private firm, and the Chamber is uniquely prepared to deliver the aforementioned services.
RECOMMENDATION
Direct the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Chamber for business assistance.
ATTACHMENT
1. Scope of work for Chamber's COVID-19 Business Assistance
503.635.0215 380 A Avenue PO BOX 369 Lake Oswego, OR 97034 www.lakeoswego.city
ATTACHMENT 1
SCOPE OF WORK
Personal Services Contract
City of Lake Oswego/Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce
1. Rapid Response Team (Economic Development Team)
Assist the Mayor's Economic Development Rapid Response Team (RRT) during and after
the COVID-19 crisis; provide strategic input to the City on its business assistance efforts.
Deliverables: Participate in up to 4 RRT meetings.
Schedule: Spring 2020—Winter 2021 (4 quarterly meetings)
2. Strategic Business Networks
Organize local business support networks to leverage business development
opportunities and promote resiliency among Lake Oswego businesses. At least one of
the networks should focus on retail, restaurant, and personal service establishments.
Deliverables: Establish three business support networks, and host two meetings of
each group in coordination with City staff.
Schedule: Summer 2020—Winter 2021
3. Business Owners' Listserve
Create a virtual networking and peer counseling forum as a social outlet for business
owners; this effort will focus on developing strategies to promote business resiliency
during and after the COVID-19 crisis, reinforcing the idea that "we're all in this together
and we'll get through it together." The success of the virtual network will be based in
part on the number of email posts by businesses, and responses to posts.
Deliverables: Design, host, and moderate an online listserve for Lake Oswego
businesses focusing on economic resiliency and the personal wellbeing
of business owners and their employees.
Schedule: Spring 2020—Winter 2021
4. Business Counseling
Coordinate one-on-one business counseling (match willing/able business advisors with
business owners) to provide them with professional and emotional support. The City's
Citizen and Business Information Center will assist the grantee in recruiting volunteer
counselors to serve and businesses seeking assistance.
Deliverables: Create a directory of financial and business management experts who
are willing to provide pro bono or discounted assistance to Lake
Oswego business owners during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
Schedule: Spring 2020—Winter 2021
5. Online Business Consortium
Research and make recommendations about whether an online business symposium
would be a desirable way to provide information and support to local businesses.
Design and conduct a symposium if the City determines that the symposium is feasible.
Content may include identifying available resources and informing the community of
what they can do to help local businesses.
Deliverables: A recommendation about the feasibility, design, and utility of an
online business symposium. (If a symposium is determined to be
feasible, the Chamber will produce the symposium, and the City will
cover the cost of providing TVCT coverage, as needed.)
Schedule: Summer/Fall 2020