Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Sandy-Michael McDonald
Department: Economic and Small Business Development
Information
Requested Action
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A. MOTION TO APPROVE one-year extension to the duration of the job creation schedule for Project BLAZE, a project previously recommended for approval by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners (“Board”) on December 1, 2015 (Item No. 34) as a qualified applicant for participation in the State of Florida Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program (“QTI”), and approved by the Board for participation in the Broward County Direct Cash/Job Creation Incentive Grant Program. (Commission District 1)
ACTION: (T-10:43 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen was out of the room during the vote.
B. MOTION TO AUTHORIZE County Administrator to approve and execute: (1) an amendment to the Project Blaze Agreement and all other necessary documents to effectuate the one-year extension to the job creation schedule; and (2) any other amendments necessary to effectuate future extensions to the job creation schedule as may be approved by the County Administrator; provided there is no increase in the County’s financial obligations or any decrease in the total number of jobs to be created under the schedule, with all such amendments subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney.
ACTION: (T-10:43 AM) Approved.
VOTE: 8-0. Commissioner Bogen was out of the room during the vote.
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Why Action is Necessary
A. Board approval of Requests for County participation in economic business development incentive programs is required pursuant to Broward County Administrative Code, Section 19.37.1.
B. Board approval is required to authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to execute any request for changes to previously approved economic development incentives.
What Action Accomplishes
A. This action responds to the request of Project BLAZE for the County’s approval of a change to the job creation schedule (with no increase to the amount of monetary local financial support or decrease in the total number of jobs to be created) for Project BLAZE, which was previously recommended for approval by the Board on December 1, 2015 (Item No. 34) as a qualified applicant for participation in the QTI Program and approved by the Board for participation in the Broward County Direct Cash/Job Creation Incentive Grant Program.
B. This action authorizes the County Administrator to execute all the necessary documents, reviewed for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, to effectuate the requested extension and any future requested changes to the Project BLAZE job creation schedule, subject to the specified limitations and restrictions.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
Project BLAZE was recommended for approval by the Board on December 1, 2015 (Item No. 34) as a qualified applicant for participation in the QTI Program and approved by the Board for participation in the Broward County Direct Cash/Job Creation Incentive Grant Program.
On August 16, 2016 (Item No. 92) the Board authorized the County Administrator, or designee, to execute all necessary documents approved by the Office of the County Attorney to effectuate the request to change the job creation schedule for Project Blaze in response to a request from the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (“DEO”).
Summary Explanation/Background
THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
The above Motions support the Board of County Commissioners' Vision of “A vibrant economy with a diverse, skilled workforce, in a County offering unique advantages that attract all types of businesses to create equitable, countywide prosperity.” Value A: “Ensuring economic opportunities for Broward’s diverse population and businesses.” Goal 1: “Attract and retain all types of business, especially high-wage industries that offer employee benefits, through partnerships with the Alliance, chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, CareerSource, and any other available avenues.”
On December 1, 2015, the Board recommended Project BLAZE (Item No. 34) for approval as a qualified applicant for participation in the QTI and the QTI High Impact Sector Bonus Tax Refund Program. Upon finalization of the QTI agreement between DEO and Project BLAZE, DEO requested a modification of the job creation schedule for Project BLAZE which the Board approved on August 16, 2016. In light of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business operations, Project BLAZE consulted with DEO regarding exercising an option to extend the company’s job creation schedule by one year. Board approval is required to effectuate the one-year extension option. The Office of Economic and Small Business Development requests that the Board authorize the County Administrator to execute all necessary documents, subject to review for legal sufficiency by the Office of the County Attorney, to effectuate this and any future changes to the job creation schedule for Project BLAZE’s job creation schedule (with no change to the monetary amount of local financial support and no decrease in the total number of jobs to be created).
Source of Additional Information
Steven Tinsley, Economic Development Manager, (954) 357-8075
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact associated with these actions.