Economic Development Approved Minutes from 11-10-20

Economic Development Committee Minutes November 10, 2020- 4:00 p.m. The Economic Development Committee Meeting was held by video conference on November 10, 2020 at 4:04 p.m. with Mayor Robin R. Christiansen presiding. Committee Members present via video or telephone were Councilman David Anderson, Kim Adams, Clayton E Hammond II, Dave Hugg, and Diane Laird. Matt Harline Acting City Manager sat in Donna Mitchell’s vacant position. Councilman Roy Sudler was not present. Mayor Christiansen stated, the meeting will not be called to order at this time due to lack of quorum. There are no action items that require a vote; proceed to Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce update from Judy Diogo. CENTRAL DELAWARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - UPDATE JUDY DIOGO. The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce (CDCC) – has been in existence for 101 years. The Essential Resource for the Development of Businesses in Central Delaware. As Kent Economic Partnership (KEP) brings in the businesses CDCC is the resource that helps them develop and grow their business by making sure they have the right connections, vendors, and services they need to support their product or service. CDCC is the only accredited chamber in the State of Delaware. 5 Star Accredited Chamber by the US Chamber two times: 2013 and 2018.There are 7,779 chambers in America, the 5-star accreditation puts Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce in the top 1% of chambers in the United States of America. The accreditation is the internal audit for how CDCC looks at all programs and opportunities that they offer, they are graded by other chambers in the United States. CDCC operates under four pillars: • Education - includes Coffee Coaching, Leadership Central Delaware, Young Professional • Legislation - monitor at Federal, State, County and School level. Heads up, this morning received draft legislation that will be presented in January to increase minimum wage. Discussions on legalization of recreational marijuana is something to watch. Both have extremely negative impacts on business community. • Marketing - resource guide - everything happening in Central Delaware schools, medical facilities, restaurants, hotels, retail market, taxes, demographics, information for people new to area on how to get driver’s license, what is your tax structure, provides a lot of

Economic Development Meeting of November 10, 2020 PAGE 2 information for current and new residents. Kent County Dover Map and Chamber Connection Newspaper monthly, and variety of enews publications especially for Covid. • Networking - CDCC hosts 74 plus events and programs a year. Currently have a staff of 5 individuals, budget is just over $600,000 and CDCC raised every dollar. CDCC does not receive funding from the state or county; revenue is derived from membership, events/programs and publications. A Snap-Shot of the organization - From January 2020 to now. . . • 21 Ribbon cuttings, five scheduled for Nov. and Dec. • 2 Groundbreakings • 5 Star Journey Maps - 95 individuals/65 companies (2019 July to current) • 97 New Members • 90% Retention Rate • Total Members: 844 (which represents over 32,000 individuals) • Lost 19 Members since April and all are Covid related losses due to financial reasons or deciding to close their business. Member Outreach: • New Members: 537 businesses contacted/ visited (2019 July to current) • Current Members: 1,380 contacted/visited (2019 July to current) New Initiatives in 2020: • Emerging Employee Expo (E3) was held in February 2020. Is a traveling job fair, job shadowing and internships is an effective and efficient way for employers and potential employees to connect! Held 3 programs at Wilmington University, Wesley College, and Delaware State University total of246 students attended, and 16 businesses participated. Plan was to coordinate this in the fall of 2020 at the high schools in the fall and colleges in the spring of 2021; has been pushed to 2021 due to Covid. • Started Home & Garden Show at Harrington Raceway & Casio, in February 2020 there were 50 vendors and over 500 attendees. CDCC is hoping to do this again next February; working on a plan to submit to the Governor for approval. COVID: GOAL – to provide the most up to date information to our members and provide them with the programs, products they need to remain in business! • Increased our publications – added 5 new enews publications (bulletin every day 11 a.m. contains everything COVID, Governor’s orders/grants/PPE, specialty publications, restaurants, hotels, non-profits, banks, and retail – purpose to keep our members in front of people – so many changes to hours and days of operations) • Produced a Getting Back to Business Covid Guide • Established a Task Force that includes representatives from each industry sector.

Economic Development Meeting of November 10, 2020 PAGE 3 • Created and distributed 100 Getting Back to Business Starter Kits valued at $350.00 each - City of Dover (Thank you) Kent County Levy Court, Calpine, State Janitorial, Procter & Gamble, W.B. Mason, Staples, and Chesapeake Utilities • Coordinated the efforts of the Association of Chambers of Commerce in Delaware – an association comprised of the 14 chambers in the State. Weekly meetings with the Governor – then his staff – occasionally he will join us now. Goal to get our businesses open! • Created a new educational series: Real Help in Real Time – experts sharing necessary information for to get through COVID – resources, tools, etc. • # of Businesses in Kent County who have applied for Relief Grant – 604 applied/212 approved/$6.3M • # received PPP – for the State – 9,490 applied/ $502M received • # received Help Grants – Kent County 61 received funding $737K Chamber Pivot – we had to reschedule some events and cancel others. Use the COVID guidelines – screenings, temperature checks, health questionnaires. • Have hosted Legislative Luncheon – live on Facebook – reached over 16,000 people. • Held Awards for Excellence Celebration had 150 people attend. • Held our Holiday Gift Auction (to promote shopping locally) –a completely virtual format with the Live Auction – Live Streamed. • Host Sunset Business Mixers outside as much as possible. Now with colder weather will have to move back inside. • Coffee Coaching – Young Professionals Program – in person and via Zoom • State of the Base Briefing – November 23rd – in person w/restricted numbers. Will also be on FACEBOOK LIVE. • Holiday Party in December – The entire restaurant – restricted numbers. • Capital Briefing – in person – restricted numbers. • Economic Forecast Breakfast – in person - restricted numbers. • As for larger events, not certain what 2021 will bring. CDCC will have to make a call in January on all of those. Diane Laird congratulated the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce on their accreditation. Linda Parkowski stated the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce has been doing an amazing job. She wanted to commend the Chamber on the job they are doing, and it is an honor to know and work together. At 4:21 p.m. Councilman Anderson noted we had quorum. Mayor Robin R. Christiansen called the meeting to order. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

Economic Development Meeting of November 10, 2020 PAGE 4 Mayor Robin R. Christiansen called for a motion to adopt agenda. Councilman David Anderson moved for adoption of agenda, seconded by Diane Laird, unanimously carried. (Councilman Roy Sudler absent) KENT ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP- UPDATE GIVEN BY LINDA PARKOWSKI Kent Economic Partnership (KEP) changes its outward name to Choose Central Delaware to match the theme of the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce; this has proven to be beneficial. Thank you to the City for their contribution, without it KEP could not provide the programs they have now. Kent Economic Partnership is a Public Private Partnership between the Kent County Levy Court, Municipalities in Kent County, Greater Kent Committee, and Business leaders. Central Delaware covers all of Kent County from Smyrna to Milford. Economic Update: GKC Commission Economic Analysis Study of Kent County has been the blueprint for Kent Economic Partnership (KEP). KEP follows the date received from the study, it tells them what to do and they follow it. KEP is targeting small to medium manufacturers, distribution-logistics, and health care. KEP is targeting these industries through a complete rebuild of their website with identified ready sites, target marketing, and site selectors. KEP is out in the community throughout central Delaware. They have attended 9 conferences and trade shoes. KEP is putting advertisements in site selector magazine. Have attended Deal Makers Conference in DC and Philadelphia; the largest retail commercial conference on the east coast. 2020 Economic Profile- everything businesses doing business need to know • Shannon Heal has been with KEP for 2 months, she has a degree in business development, and provides updates from communities. • Through the new website KEP is getting calls every day. Website is bringing results allowing to search parameters and create reports. This week alone Linda has created 4 reports each containing 20 + sites and is touring with a company tomorrow. To target business outside of Delaware, KEP is using site selector. To update locals on what is going on they are using social media. • Marketing Materials for web and print: o All contain pictures of sites per each category, opportunities, incentives, and contact information  Warehousing & Distributing Opportunities in Central Delaware  Shovel Ready Sites  Opportunity Zones in Central Delaware  Central Delaware Downtown Development Districts • Town Managers/Brokers Meeting- Meeting with Commercial Real Estate to find out what everyone can do better and how to assist brokers in marketing central Delaware. • Hosted Planners meetings-standardize forms and procedures between municipalities. Promote more communication between the County and Municipalities. • Dover Town Manager Quarterly Meetings

Economic Development Meeting of November 10, 2020 PAGE 5 • Business Retention and Expansion through planned site visits with existing companies to asses needs and identify potential suppliers that may be able to target. • Horsepond-Lafferty Land Industrial Area- Shannon is compiling list of businesses in industrial parks and composing a letter to introduce businesses to the Kent Economic Partnership/City of Dover. • Touring Sears Building with Dave Hugg and Mayor Robin R. Christiansen. • Kent County Broadband Committee- looking at affordability and accessibility. KEP has heard from all major companies will make recommendations to Kent County Levy Court and State Legislatures by year end 2020. • Conducting Transportation Study- East West Freight Route and Dover Freight Study • Rockport 2.0 analysis of County and Milford, Smyrna, and Dover. Current analysis does not include workforce, this analysis will account workforce in selection of Target Industries. • Since Covid KEP has started doing Virtual Tours of Dover Playtex Site, Maxim Site in Dover, and Harris Manufacturing Site in Smyrna. Will be setting up more virtual tours of other properties. Included testimonials of Edgewell and Kraft Heinz • Site Selector o November-December 2020- Food Processing Site Selector host RFI-eligibility for food processing. o Early 2021 Site Selector will visit for 3 days, will be coaching seminars, touring municipalities, and industrial areas to help decide who to target. • Sites submitted for projects: o Garrison Oak Business and Technology Center, Former Reichold, Tudor Properties, 1250 W. North Street, Mast Warehousing, Lafferty Lane behind storage, Blue Hen Pad Sites, and Empire Dover Center. • Civil Air Terminal Updates- Market analysis has been completed and will be out January 2021. • Businesses gained: o Independent Metal Strap, NVP Shoreline, USA Fulfillment, Avalon and Project Cape. Judy Diogo states that we have come such a long way in the matter of a year. People, businesses, and the whole team are bringing in is very good for Kent County. Things are happening here other counties and states are not even near us. Linda Parkowski contributes this to everyone working together the municipalities, Chamber of Commerce, Greater Kent Committee, and town officials. CITY OF DOVER PLANNING- UPDATE GIVEN BY DAVE HUGG, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT • Key word is Partnership, various levels of government working closely together with each other. Secondly developing close, trusting relationship with commercial brokers, realtors, and property owners. When one of person gets a phone call, we are all communicating to make a concerted approach. The two freight studies going on are

Economic Development Meeting of November 10, 2020 PAGE 6 critical to solve transportation issues in Kent County both in east west improvement to get goods and services and to the 301 corridor and bay bridge. Ability to move traffic, employees, freight through route 1 corridor between garrison oak and air base on east side. Will need state to help build necessary road improvements. Garrison oak connector is the City number one priority. City’s phones are ringing every day. Need to start thinking about other industrial parks, spec buildings, things that make Dover more ready when people call, they need a site and need it quickly. • U.S. Corrugated - leading in the country. A lot of high-profile business operation, a lot of research and development, leader in technology. Located in New Jersey and coming to Delaware. 450,000 sq. feet 150 160 jobs, 80 million plus investment. Dover had rezoned Kesselring site to industrial site, 30 plus acres access designed and on the railway. Rail access directly into building. Planning commission approval preliminary site plan on October 19, 2020. Worked through identifying codes and effective dates including 2 that will change at state level to get application in. Today they are looking for confirmation letters from city to supply water sewer and electric. The City is working on getting those to them. Hoped to break ground this month, will by the end of the year start work on foundations and set up erosional control. Operation to Mid to 3rd quarter of next year. This is big win for Dover. Still getting inquires about Garrison Oak as well. • Councilman Anderson thanked Mr. Hugg for presenting and asked if there are inquiries in the corridor including Garrison Oak? Dave Hugg stated that we are getting regular inquiries for distribution, Logistics particularly interested in Lafferty, Horsepond, Route 1 corridor trying to promote old Ridgley street Playtex location underutilized industrial location with rail access and utilities. Commercial standpoint inquiries, restraint is in turmoil loose one gain one, route 13 corridor doing well, office building on the books Bay Road, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, Montblanc Drive off College Road, McKee, new facilities around Eden hill including residential. Interest is seen across the board. • Mayor Christiansen stated new family court in planning, new post office on queen street those two projects plus rehabilitation family court building to house homeland security. 3 anchors downtown area to assist in revitalization and upgrade the downtown development district. A lot of project in the works that will add to the city the number of people making inquiries are moving in the right direction with the help of the people on this call. • Linda Parkowski thanked the Mayor; extremely Economic Development friendly. Want to thank him for positive attitude, out of the box thinking, and letting them do their jobs. • Mayor Christiansen stated part of the job of Mayor and Council is to be extensible to constituents and people who want to come here. For such a long time we sat on the side lines, particularly all of Kent County, and hid that shining light of opportunity under a basket. We are in business to do business and we are moving dirt in Kent County and the City of Dover. We have been the stepchild for to long, we have a lot to offer, ideal location, and our best days are yet to come. • Dave Hugg called on Diane Laird for Downtown Updates. • Diane Laird responded with 33 West closing; Brandon wanted to expand his wings for some time. There is a struggle of getting enough seats to be able to fill them. Brandon has

Economic Development Meeting of November 10, 2020 PAGE 7 food truck that is operating well, will participate in the First Friday event in December. Working with Dave Hugg to find a replacement quickly for 33 West. Inspections even between same category business need a full round of inspections. Tina of Tina’s Time of Treasures won an award, she is the only one in the state. Received Hart Beat of America Grant. Allows her to build ecommerce platform and website. She is selling clothing and some gowns and pocketbooks over $1,000.00. Architectural for Artisan Market by Biard Pharmacy has been vacant for 7 years. Strong primary tenant for signed agreement, architectural going to Dave Hugg tomorrow. Have 10 sub letters on board, will be one cohesive store, no stalls, a high class market. Like to see open by early to mid-December. o Shops that have not opened, the pizza parlor. o Parking MOU signed- 6-month process to develop and implement paid parking. Good and steady parking comprehensive smart solution that city and towns across the country benefit from. MAYOR’S ANNOUNCMENTS NEXT MEETING DATE: December 15, 2020 at 4:00 PM via ZOOM Mayor Robin R. Christiansen called for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Anderson moved for adjournment, seconded by Diane Laird, unanimously carried Meeting adjourned 5:21 p.m.