Economic Vitality Committee Agenda and Packet 2020 01 22

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1 City of Golden Economic Development Commission 2019 Work Plan Cultivate and Innovate The Golden Economic Development Commission (EDComm) provides leadership, education, and the tools necessary for the Golden community to optimize economic opportunities. By focusing on the growth and retention of existing employers and cultivating an environment that attracts additional employers, including startups, EDComm supports Golden’s vision of a prosperous, sustainable community that generates the best possible quality of life for its citizens. Since 2016, EDComm has encouraged innovation and entrepreneurialism as the organizing principle of this work program. Growing both the existing employment and small business sectors is the most direct and impactful way of growing the local economy. As this approach has proven successful, EDComm will continue with implementation in 2019. The Golden Cultivate and Innovate Program The Golden Cultivate and Innovate Program is a comprehensive collaboration between EDComm City staff and strategic partners, focusing on the growth and health of local small businesses, the sustained health and growth of primary employers, entrepreneurial startups and expansion, and the overall business environment. Support for our existing small business community, innovation and entrepreneurialism are key for Golden, especially given the City’s on-going levels of success in retaining and growing established primary employers and the limits that Golden’s near build-out condition places on the supply of land and available building space for larger expansions or relocations. Within this overall theme, EDComm will continue to pursue the following program areas: 1. Support the Work Force of Today and the Future EDComm recognizes that the need for a readily available workforce, with skills commensurate with business needs is the biggest challenge facing many businesses big and small. EDComm has identified this challenge as an area for significant collaboration with partner organizations directly involved in this sector, to the benefit of local businesses and the labor force. Goals: x Provide high quality useful information to businesses and job seekers alike regarding resources available to support internships, apprenticeships, mentoring, and matching skills to employment opportunities. These efforts may include promotion of business to business (B2B) networking opportunities, employer resources, training opportunities, etc. through posting of information on the City website and other channels. Packet p. 13