Local Development Finance Authority

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS Regular Meeting of the LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights 586-884-9322 VELOCITY BUILDING August 16, 2022 8:00 AM MEETING CALLED TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA A. June 21, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes B. To approve the International Landing Zone (ILZ) Lease Agreement between Akimbo Technologies, Inc. and the Local Development Finance Authority (LDFA). NEW BUSINESS 1. Introduction of Rachele Downs, of Down’s Diversity Initiatives, LLC, the new consultant for the Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) program at Velocity. 2. Sterling Innovation District Update OLD BUSINESS PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT  CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AUTHORITY Draft MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING June 21, 2022 – 8:00 a.m. 6633 18 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314 586-884-9322 Velocity Building Phil Hunsberger called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. Pledge of Allegiance Members present at roll call: Josephine Attisha, Dr. Michael Balsamo, Bill Holbrook, Phil Hunsberger, Laurel Johnson, Dominic Patrus, Steve Pomaville, Jeanne Schabath-Lewis, Howard Sizemore, Jill Tomyn Members absent: Ellanore Evans, Josh Hundt, John Lettang, Camille Silda Also in attendance: Luke Bonner, CEO Bonner Advisory Group, Senior Economic Development Advisor – City of Sterling Heights; Jason Castor, City Development Director – City of Sterling Heights; Kathryn Quell, Management Services Specialist – City of Sterling Heights; April Boyle, Senior Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Becky Davenport - Strategiz Motion to Approve the Agenda Moved by Balsamo, supported by Pomaville, to approve the agenda as presented. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. Motion to Approve the CONSENT AGENDA as presented Moved by Patrus, supported by Schabath-Lewis, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. A. To approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 19, 2022. B. To approve a budget of $11,000 for Tedesco Building Services (42752 Mound Rad, Sterling Heights, MI 48314) – Cleaning Services for the 2021/22 fiscal year. C. To approve a budget of $10,527.00 for BCN Telecom (5000 T-Rex Ave, Boca Raton, FL 33431) – Internet/Phone service for Velocity 2021/22 fiscal year. D. To approve the proposal by Nordicom Technologies (43155 Main Street, Suite 2208, Novi, MI 48375) for Managed Infrastructure of Velocity in the amount of $36,000 for fiscal year 2022/23. E. To approve a 2022/23 Budget Amendment to reallocate approved funding and a Budget increase of $11,000. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. New Business To approve the Velocity Center Strategic Plan. Ms. Davenport and Ms. Boyle presented the Velocity Center Strategic Plan to the LDFA Board for adoption. Moved by Pomaville, supported by Patrus, to adopt the Velocity Center Strategic Plan. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. To approve Strategiz Phase 2 Contract in the amount of $9,000. Ms. Boyle presented to the Strategiz Phase 2 Contract to the LDFA Board. The scope of work is to continue developing the infrastructure of Velocity in accordance with the Velocity Center Strategic Plan. Moved by Johnson, supported by Schabath-Lewis to approve the Strategiz Phase 2 Contract in the amount of $9,000. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. Old Business Public Comment None Adjournment Moved by Balsamo, supported by Patrus to adjourn. Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:52am Velocity Innovation Center is pleased to announce that Rachele Downs has joined the team as Entrepreneur in Residence, “EIR”. Downs will be available to meet 1:1 with aspiring, growing, and mature business owners to support their access to local and statewide entrepreneurial programs, resources, and access to capital. Starting June 9th, 2022 Downs will be available to meet via Zoom, or in person at Velocity Innovation Center on Thursdays between 1-4pm, or Fridays by appointment. Macomb County business owners and residents can book up to three 45-minute EIR coaching/support sessions at no charge via Velocity EIR Meeting Schedule Link Who: Macomb County Businesses What: Support for Startup, Growing, and Mature Business Velocity Innovation Services Available: Program & Resource Navigation including: Organizational Development Strategic Planning Sales & Marketing, Manufacturing Technical Assistance Technology: Infrastructure, Cybersecurity Access to Capital: Grants, Debt, Angel & Venture Capital Business succession planning & exits How: Via zoom and in-person meetings at Velocity Innovation Center Rachele Downs Entrepreneur in Residence Velocity Innovation Center 6633 Eighteen Mile Road Sterling Heights, MI 48314 586.353.5828 Macomb County business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs can schedule a 45-minute EIR coaching/support session via EIR Meeting Schedule ____________________________________________________________________________________ Rachele Downs is the founder of Downs Diversity Initiatives, an economic and community development consultancy specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion in real estate, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. An innovative business owner and executive with 20+ years of representing institutional, corporate, government, and philanthropic entities, Downs previously led inGAGE™, the MEDC’s strategy to position Michigan as the Midwest hub for high-growth women entrepreneurs where she designed, developed, and directed this comprehensive entrepreneurial support platform to support women who have gone on incorporate thirty-eight (38) new companies, create more than 250 new jobs and receive twenty-nine (29) new patents. During her tenure, inGAGE™ entrepreneurs raised over $36M in new capital. Rachele is a veteran commercial real estate broker with Dominion Real Estate Advisors, a past president of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Detroit, and was the founding Program Manager for Wayne State University’s Detroit Revitalization Fellows, where she designed, developed, and directed this innovative $3M pilot program to increase the capacity of economic and community development organizations at the forefront of Detroit’s revitalization. Passionate about strengthening community access to resources in community and economic development, Rachele utilizes her skills, experience, and sphere of influence to help others realize their full potential through professional and personal mentoring, coaching and connections. Downs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and Community Development, and a Master of Arts in Professional and School Counseling from Central Michigan University.  IM PACT REPO RT IMPACT REPORT | June 2022  IMPACT REPORT | Year 4 - Purpose A. Continued underwriting: Year 4 of Sterling Heights content will start in July and run through June 2022. Have been running dedicated coverage on Sterling Heights in Metromode since 2018 A. Purpose of partnership: To Identify and capture the story of talent, investment, innovation and emerging assets that are shaping the future of Sterling Heights. A. Weekly content about Sterling Heights is published in Metromode  IMPACT REPORT | Innovation District - Purpose To develop a brand and communications platform for the launch of a Sterling Heights Innovation district. A. Define the Story and Capture The Vision B. Develop overall project vision statement for the innovation district C. Define the Brand / Brand Essence Statement D. Develop Sterling Heights Innovation District Logo E. Develop a 6-Part editorial series  IMPACT REPORT | At a Glance Year 4 Partner City Innovation District 35 Stories published to-date 7 Features published Logo developed - 23 News Hits Brand defined - 4 Profiles Vision statement drafted - 8 Features Recommendations drafted IMPACT REPORT | Readership 295,633 Total Reach 9,257 Total * Pageviews + Social reach = Engagements Total Reach Source: Google Analytic and Crowdtangle  IMPACT REPORT | Top 3 Stories- Year 4 TO P 3 STO RIES Dodge Park Ice Rink, A Sterling Adaptive re-use project will Christmas event return to Sterling Three must-visit independent Heights convert Sterling Heights hotel coffee shops in Sterling Heights 12/2/21 into residential housing 2/17/22 7/8/21 37,661 REACH 38,773 REACH 37,816 REACH 276 ENGAGEMENT 1,093 ENGAGEMENT 1,057 ENGAGEMENT  IMPACT REPORT | Innovation District TO P 3 STO RIES ‘Hustling for the hustlers’: Meet the MacLean Additive brings 3D New research and development woman uplifting innovative talent in Sterling Heights printing to Sterling Heights center in Sterling Heights Innovation District expanding defense innovation 5/5/22 1/27/22 4/21/22 31,527 REACH 26,128 REACH 13,711 REACH 70 ENGAGEMENT 125 ENGAGEMENT 294 ENGAGEMENT  IMPACT REPORT | Social Shares ● All About Animals Rescue ● Detroit Developments ● Paradise Animal Rescue ● Macomb County Planning & Economic Development ● Lost or Found Pets of Livingston ● Sterling Heights City Hall ● Oakland and Macomb Counties in Michigan ● DCS Corps ● SEMCOG ● Sterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce, ● Southeast Michigan Council of Governments ● Detroit Women Entrepreneuers ● Association of Black Anthropologists ● Sterling Heights Michigan Residents Group ● Anthropological Psychology ● Macomb County Residents ● Militant Constitutionalist DEMOCRATS for Majority ● OneMacomb Rule ● Michigan Moms ● Michael Radtke, Sterling Heights Councilman ● Make Macomb Your Home ● Ventimiglia's Italian Foods Co, ● Macomb County P lanning & Economic Development ● Michigan Municipal League,Detroit Community ● S terling Heights S canner ● We Are One Macomb ● Michigan Moms ● Sterling Heights City Politics ● Macomb County Michigan S mall Bus ines s es ● Detroit Community ● New Baltimore Farmers Market Fan P age ● Shelby Township & Utica Michigan Residents Group ● VIT AC ● Disability Network Oakland & Macomb