03-25-10 Community & Economic Development Committee

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---~~~' ~ .r<~ ~~r ~ ~ COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MARCH 25, 2010 Committee Members Present: Timothy Rouse, Chairperson; Ann Puzzello, Karen White; Other Council Members Present: Derek Dieter, David Varner, Oliver Davis, Tom LaFountain, AI "Buddy" Kirsits, Henry Davis (Late) Others Present: Mayor Stephen Luecke, Rita Kopala, Jeff Gibney, Don Inks, Gregg Zientara, Catherine Toppel Chairperson Rouse called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the following agenda items: Agenda Summary of TIF Areas Councilmember Tim Rouse, Chairperson, Community & Economic Development Committee began his scheduled special meeting by providing an agenda (attached) outlining what was to be accomplished. The two main items were: 1. A philosophical discussion of the goals and objectives of the City of South Bend related to job training. 2. Discussion of Common Council priorities for potential Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects for calendar year 2010. Holding to the agenda, with all Councilmember's save Henry Davis in attendance, Chairperson Rouse thanked those attending briefly mentioning Bill No. 10-12 which designated South Bend as a "Recovery Zone" allowing the development tool "recovery bonds" to be added to the city's economic development arsenal. Mr. Rouse also referenced the recent funding discussion at a Redevelopment Commission meeting concerning "Project Impact." This is a Hardie Blake conceived program for ex-offenders geared to assisting them in acquiring the social acclimation and job training necessary to become productive members of the community. Chairperson Rouse ten introduced Jeff Gibney, Director of Community & Economic Development to describe the city's history with job training. Jeff said the city does not have a long history of involvement with job training. Most job training are either federally funded such as those that go back to the "Model Cities" programs of the 1960's as a part of the "Great Society" programs or even before that the post-WWII Veterans GI bill benefits. State programs have tended to provide tax breaks for business' that locate in Urban Enterprise Zones providing training and employment for UEZ residents. Nonetheless, Jeff recalled meeting with Hardie Blake back in 2009 about funding for his "SCARS" program. This idea now morphed into "Project Impact" still run by Hardie Blake is typical of local initiatives tenuously funded especially on along-term basis. Jeff went on to say that the city is now looking for ways to fund job training from the pool of TIF money available to the city. Typically, TIF funds have been spent on eligible bricks and mortar projects, seldom soft-cost loaded programs like job training. However, Jeff sees two ways TlF money could be used for job