Odessa Development Corporation

s ODESSA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PLANNING MEETING MINUTES January 25, 2024 The Odessa Development Corporation (ODC) planning retreat was held on Thursday January 25, 2024, at 11:50 a.m. in UTPB Multi-Purpose Room, 2nd Floor Mesa Building at the University of Texas Permian Basin, 4901 E. University Boulevard, Odessa, Texas. Members present: David Boutin, Melanie Hollmann, Kris Crow, Larry Robinson, James Kirk, and Jeff Russell. Member absent: Ismael “Mikky” Navarrete. Others present: Dan Jones, City Attorney; Christina Buhnerkempe, Legal Assistant; Jeff Moore, Attorney; Naira Enriquez, City Legal; Rebecca Muniz, City Legal; Elizabeth Prieto, Downtown Executive Director; Kaylie Banda, Director of Finance; Renee Earls, Chamber of Commerce; Tom Manskey, Office of Economic Development; Kathi Vaughn, Office of Economic Development; Tracy Jones, Office of Economic Development; Lindsey Simpkins, Office of Economic Development; James Beauchamp, MOTRAN, Christi Callicoatte, Current Media Partners; Tyler Patton, UTPB-America’s SBDC; and Black Chamber of Commerce Representatives including Chris Walker, Bill Cleaver, Junell Jones, Kaleigh Pride, and Dr. Joanna Hadjiconstandi Jacqui Gore, UTPB’s VP of Community Engagement and Partnerships gave a warm welcome in the absence of Dr. Sandra Woodley. Mrs. Gore thanked everyone for investing in the work the university is doing. UTPB hopes to continue to expand ways to help with quality of life and workforce development needs. A quorum being present, Mr. Crow called the planning meeting to order at 11:50 a.m. Larry Robinson gave the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge were recited. Mr. Crow welcomed everyone attending the retreat. Citizens comments on non-agenda items. No comments. Mr. Crow discussed the direction he would like to see the ODC take for the new year. He would like to see a shift in some of the things ODC funds. He would like to focus on workforce training, workforce housing, and infrastructure type projects that help the city grow. He would like to see ODC introduce the position of Ombudsman. Mr. Crow discussed having a person who can navigate new businesses or people coming to Odessa. Someone who has knowledge of the city can direct them to the proper place or person and can introduce them to the City Council or Ector County Commissioners. ODC Minutes January 25, 2024 Page 2 Mr. Manskey thanked UTPB for hosting the Odessa Planning Retreat. Brief introduction of Attendees’ Mr. Manskey presented a brief history of the Odessa Development Corporation formed in 1997. Brief update from each ODC Contractor. Mr. Patton with UTPB’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) stated they have started the Profit Lab Program. This is a hybrid learning experience, a 14-week program they are testing it and hoping to grow. They will start with 5 to 8 businesses. Mr. Patton will provide additional information in the future. Ms. Banda with City Finance Department is following up on CD’s that will be maturing in February, looking at options. No other contractor updates. Mr. Manskey introduced Attorney, Jeff Moore. Mr. Moore provided a PowerPoint on type A Sales Tax versus Type B. Cities must hold a sales tax election to implement sales tax. Type B is more quality-of-life projects. Type A is manufacturing and industrial development and must have a performance agreement, payroll or jobs and capital expenditure. EDC’s can spend up to 10% of revenue on promotional or advertising annually. Type A consists of at least five board members, Type B seven members. Board members are not to exceed six years; one term as President/Officer. By Laws can be amended, must be approved by the city council. The City Council approves every expenditure. Roundtable discussion on what the ODC can legally support. Type A revenue can be used to fund land, buildings, equipment, targeted infrastructure, and improvements for projects that create and retain primary jobs. Open discussion to see where the ODC should be focusing their efforts. Mr. Boutin stated that by 2030 there is a potential to grow 60,000 jobs. Focus on workforce development/training. Grow our own with the skills they need. Growing local talent, recruiting younger people with new technology. Mr. Russell discussed issues with language barriers and suggested training in a second language. Mr. Manskey stated what they are finding in BR&E visits, the number one issue is workforce. BRE visits in the future will be requesting the HR person to join in the meeting. Mrs. Callicoatte stated the Target Industry Survey will be beneficial in identifying industries to go after. The survey should be available in March. Mr. Boutin stated there are two things ODC needs to work on regarding workforce development and training. One is the quantity of the workforce, where are workers going to come from and how can ODC assist. How can we grow our own with the skills needed in the areas that we need workers? Look at funding infrastructure a little different than ODC has in the past. We are already behind on roads, water, sewer, and utilities. Look at how ODC can assist with infrastructure. Mrs. Callicoatte stated the top industries that are responding to campaigns have been directed to advanced manufacturing. There is a lot of service industry coming through lead forensics, but most are advanced manufacturing and general. Current Media has ODC Minutes January 25, 2024 Page 3 been promoting advanced manufacturing, workforce and BRE. Mrs. Callicoatte is sharing those lead forensics company names with Mr. Manskey and Mrs. Jones. Mr. Manskey discussed the possibilities of a spec building. Mr. Crow discussed wind turbines and the need for workers to service them. Mr. Manskey discussed investing in your own. Growing up in Odessa and living here are two different things. We need to recruit younger workers using new technology. How do we have a program where the Chamber, City, County, ODC etc. work together to have an orientation quarterly to welcome new people? Mr. Crow discussed childcare issues and possible tax exemptions for housing/property taxes. Mr. Crow discussed direct flights and requested that Mr. Beauchamp look into what direct flights Midland International has. Mr. Boutin stated we need to look at educational opportunities. What kind of education is being offered through OC, UTPB and TTUHSC and do they need to be changing, adding, or enhancing programs? Mr. Russell stated UTPB is working on a curriculum redesign per Dr. Woodley. They are dropping some programs and adding other programs that are needed in our area. UTPB is trying to get funding to put together a broad analysis of industry workforce needs and projections for the next twenty years. Mr. Manskey discussed a meeting with TTUHSC. TTUHSC’s concern is out of sixty students per semester approximately sixty percent leave. Ms. Banda discussed the Young Professionals Organization, YPO. Mr. Manskey stated YPO might consider coming up with some type of orientation for new people moving to our area. Mrs. Earls stated that a new member, House Warmers, has joined the Chamber and might be a group that could assist with newcomer orientation. Mr. Russell discussed the need for second language training. Mrs. Jones stated that Odessa College has programs to assist with different languages. Mr. Boutin stated that Catholic Charities can help as well. Mr. Manskey stated that when he and Mrs. Jones do a BR&E visit workforce is their number one issue, skills, and training number two, and then housing availability. Mrs. Callicoatte stated that when the results come in from the Target Industry study it’s going to be great for external marketing trying to bring people in. The study should show what is working and what is not working. The report should be available in March. Mr. Russell suggested changing the focus when doing BR&E visits. Instead of the CEO, CFO maybe meet with HR. The HR person would have valuable information regarding workforce. Mr. Manskey will reach out to SHRM. Mr. Crow discussed downtown Odessa. Mr. Moore discussed façade grants and infrastructure grants. Mr. Russell would like to see something expanded down the south Grant corridor. Mr. Walker stated there are businesses that are ready to go but need a facility. The businesses are medical equipment and restaurants. This is due to a lack of being able to find a facility and affordability. Per Mr. Moore, ODC can help with infrastructure to the building or façade to existing and new businesses. Mr. Boutin suggested visiting with recent grantees regarding businesses that would be beneficial to them that we could target. Mr. Manskey stated that is one of the questions asked during a BR&E visit. Wrap-up what’s the plan moving forward. Mr. Manskey requested that each attendee write down the top three issues that need to be addressed in the community by ODC. Mr. Russell stated the challenge now is to come up with actual actionable items and get to work on those items. Upcoming dates for future ODC Board meetings. ODC Special called board meeting Monday, January 29, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned at 3:49 p.m. ODC Minutes January 25, 2024 Page 4 MINUTES PREPARED BY: Kathi Vaughn, Economic Development Specialist ATTEST: APPROVED: Norma Aguilar-Grimaldo, TRMC, CMC Kris Crow City Secretary President