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Home My WebLink About12 Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce Grant UpdateSTAFF REPORT CITY OF PALM DESERT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MEETING DATE: January 28, 2021 PREPARED BY: Deborah Glickman, Business Advocate REQUEST: Update on the $25,000 Unite Palm Desert Community Partners grant to the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce. Recommendation Receive and file staff report. Strategic Plan Objective The approval of the proposed use of funds aligns with the City's Envision Palm Desert Strategic Plan and Economic Development Strategic Plan in the following areas: • Economic Development Priority 1: Expand job and business creation opportunities, • Economic Development Strategic Plan (2018), High Priority (HPI) 2: Business Retention and Expansion Program, (HPI) 3: Revitalization of Key Commercial Districts and (HPI) Executive Summary In May of 2020, the City Council approved the re -allocation of the funds associated with the Invest Palm Desert Economic Development Incentive Program to the Unite Palm Desert Business Support Program, allocating $2 million in five (5) Five Focus Areas to assist the Palm Desert community and its businesses during the COVID-19 health crisis. On September 24, 2020, as part of Focus Area 5, - Community Partners Funding, the City Council allocated $25,000 for a grant to the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce (PDACC) for assistance to Palm Desert businesses. Background The $25,000 grant to the PDACC has been earmarked for the development of a "Shop Palm Desert" advertising campaign, the disbursement of free personal protection equipment (PPE) to Palm Desert businesses, and the development and implementation of a Palm Desert restaurant association. Discussion The City's contract with PDACC requires that the $25,000 grant must be expended in the following manner: W:\Staff Reports - Shared 2\Staff Reports 01-28-2021\4-City Clerk - 01-28-2021\13 Econ Dev\01 01-28-21 SR PDACC Grant Update.docx January 28, 2021 — Staff Report Community Partners Grants — PDACC Page 2 of 3 • $10,000 — "Shop Palm Desert" marketing campaign • $5,000 — Free PPE for Palm Desert businesses • $2,500 — Management of PPE disbursement • $5,000 — Free banners to Palm Desert businesses • $2,500 — Development and implementation of a Palm Desert Restaurant Association The PDACC has contracted with Stephanie Greene of CV Strategies to brand the "Shop Palm Desert" campaign and create a marketing plan. The marketing plan includes the following: • Development of branding graphics • Social media posting and boosting on Facebook and Instagram • Four (4) weeks of outdoor digital billboard advertising • Radio ads through a partnership with Alpha Media Group • Banners for distribution to Palm Desert businesses, which are being designed by the City to complement the campaign and be distributed by the PDACC The social media portion of the campaign rolled out in mid -December and the billboards will begin in January and run into February. The design of the banners has been completed and distribution will begin in late January. The PDACC has also created a Palm Desert Yiftee eGift Card program that offers businesses in Palm Desert an opportunity to be part of a Citywide gift card free of cost. To be included in the card, businesses sign up with the Yiftee company. Once the card is purchased, it can be used at participating businesses in the same way that a credit card can. The PDACC has earmarked part of the grant funding for the advertising of the card to businesses and the community. The Yiftee cards are already being advertised and are available for purchase at the PDACC website. Currently, there are eighteen participating businesses, and the PDACC continues to seek out new businesses to participate. The PDACC's PPE distribution program complements the City's portion of CVEP's Million Mask Giveaway program. The PDACC's program includes the distribution of hand sanitizer wall dispensers and disinfectant spray, both of which are not part of the Million Mask Giveaway. Additionally, the PDACC's program includes gel sanitizer and face shields, both of which are included in the Million Mask Giveaway program. The PDACC's PPE disbursement began in February and will continue until the supplies are depleted. For the final area of the grant, the PDACC staff and board members have been calling all of the restaurants in Palm Desert to inform them of the formation of the program. Additionally, the PDACC is working on programing around the association. The PDACC has officially established the Restaurant Association and is actively working on programming. The PDACC continues to work on implementing all elements of the grant to the Palm Desert business community, and City staff continues to monitor its progress. W:\Staff Reports - Shared 2\Staff Reports 01-28-2021\4-City Clerk - 01-28-2021\13 Econ Dev\01 01-28-21 SR PDACC Grant Update.docx January 28, 2021 — Staff Report Community Partners Grants — PDACC Page 3 of 3 Fiscal Analysis Funds for the Unite Palm Desert Community Partner's PDACC grant were approved by the City Council on September 24, 2020. No further allocation is being requested with this report. LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW FINANCIAL ASSISTANT REVIEW CITY MANAGER Ma-rI- ' ALwwe.z Andy Firestine N/A Robert W. Hargreaves City Attorney Martin Alvarez Director of Economic Development Interim City Manager: Randy Synder CITY COUNCIL ACTION APPROVED DENIED RECEIVED OTHER MEETING DATE iT?limo AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: VERIFIED BY: Original on File with City C 's Office girrer� 147. 11100u Janet M. Moore Director of Finance Andy Firestine Assistant City Manager W,\Staff Reports - Shared 2\Staff Reports 01.28-2021\4-City Clerk - 01-28-2021\13 Econ Dev101 01-28-21 SR PDACC Grant Update docx