Downtown Economic Vitality - August

CITY OF HENDERSONVILLE DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC VITALITY - AUGUST Downtown Program Office | 125 Fifth Avenue West, Suite 200 | Hendersonville NC 28792 Tuesday, August 03, 2021 – 4:00 PM MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Present: Caroline Gunther, Ben Smith, John Ryan, Jerry Fitzgerald, Ralph Miller 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. June Economic Vitality Minutes John Ryan made a motion to approve the minutes. Caroline Seconded. Ben Smith, John Ryan and Caroline Gunther approved. 3. OLD BUSINESS 1. Small Scale Manufacturing Update, Jamie Carpenter, Downtown Manager J. Carpenter reviewed the Small Scale Manufacturing update. The zoning definition is currently working through public hearings to be approved. Next step and conversations from this committee should include recruitment for small scale manufacturing. 4. NEW BUSINESS 1. Downtown Employee Census J. Carpenter included the preliminary report of the employee census. The team provided feedback including conducting the census twice per year and some updated questions. There will be a small business job fair at the end of September with Blue Ridge Community College. We discussed employee recruitment and downtown training efforts and creative solutions for downtown businesses and employment: Telemedicine, health benefits, retirement, training, recruitment from fast food restaurants, sign on plans. Next steps: a marketing plan for downtown businesses in coordination with the small business job fair. 5. ADJOURNMENT The City of Hendersonville is committed to providing accessible facilities, programs and services for all people in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Should you need assistance or an DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC VITALITY - AUGUST – August 03, 2021 Page | 1 accommodation for this meeting please contact the City Clerk no later than 24 hours prior to the meeting at 697-3005. DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC VITALITY - AUGUST – August 03, 2021 Page | 2