AGENDA Committee Meeting March 1, 2012

Transcription

1 AGENDA Committee Meeting March 1, 2012 Milford City Hall Joseph Ronnie Rogers Council Chamber 201 South Walnut Street Milford, Delaware ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 5:00 p.m. Call to Order-Chairman Garrett L. Grier III Presentation/EDAP Member Bill Pilecki Adjourn This agenda shall be subject to change to include additional items including executive sessions or the deletion of items including executive sessions which arise at the time of the public body's meeting Late Information Received

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5 Notes for E. D. Committee I would like say thank you for the creation of the Workforce Development Commission. The E.D.A.P. has voted to have the Milford Aquarium project handled by Councilman Grier and myself with the support of a fact finding committee. A fact finding committee made up of E.D.A.P. members and other interested citizens was created to gather additional information regarding costs and available funding sources. I would like to introduce the members of the Milford Aquarium Committee, Fred Rohm, Sharon Kanter, Brian Warnock, and myself are E.D.A.P. members. Lisa Fitzgerald (U.S.D.A.) & Christopher Weeks (Becker Morgan Group) have joined us from the community. I would like to start by sharing some history regarding this project. Over a year ago I discussed the benefits of an aquarium with Councilman Grier and Economic Development Director Richard Carmean. They agreed to visit the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium in New York. This is a regional sized aquarium in a small river town on the East end of Long Island. This aquarium is in the Shadow of the New York Aquarium located less than 85 miles away. It is located on the east end of main St. in Riverhead. It is not on a major highway, but it is 18 miles from a beach destination (South Hampton NY). During the tour the General Manager Brian Deluca explained how they compensated for the fact that Aquarium gate receipts generally did not cover the operating costs of the facility. They added other low cost venues such as educational programs, Corporate Sponsorships, a Gourmet Cafe and ice cream parlor, a submarine simulator, sleep overs, annual memberships, special events, wedding receptions and corp. meetings, Bay cruises, birthday parties, children s rides, inter active tank and pool events, and a family arcade. In 2011 they opened a national chain hotel and exhibition center attached to the aquarium. This is to be used primarily to house wedding parties and corp. events. Before it opened, the hotel was booked two years in advance for wedding parties. They also have a Marine Wildlife rescue hospital and several research grant programs operating. This aquarium is a good example of how an Aquarium can succeed in an area of low population and a large nearby tourist destination. Based on this experience, Mr. Carmean contacted Mr. John Rhodes and requested an Aquarium Feasibility study be prepared. This was completed and received in October Since then several possibilities were discussed. The basic business models are as follows: 1. Owned and operated by the city 2. Owned by the city and operated by a non-profit corp. 3. Owned and operated by a non-profit corp. (possible land donation) 4. Owned privately and operated by a non-profit corp. 5. Owned and operated privately

6 I would like to present our findings. Funding resources have been identified as follows: 1. Hugh Leahy of the Delaware Community Foundation is willing to introduce us to major donors affiliated with the DCF. 2. Lisa Fitzgerald from the USDA (committee member) is researching available grants. Lisa has shared information on low cost government loans and government guaranteed loans through local banks. 3. Fred Rohm (committee member) has discussed the Aquarium project with United States Senator Thomas Carper. A letter of support has been received from Senator Carper. It includes a note on the availability of his Federal Grant Specialist assisting us in identifying appropriate grants. 4. Fred Rohm has had experience with several members of the DuPont family and is willing to contact them when we have a concept design available. 5. I have received an from Brian Warnock A.V. P. of WSFS Bank Milford (committee member). He has indicated that the bank will support fund raising events and sponsorships for the project. He also said the bank is prepared to offer us loans through the SBA. Mayor Rogers, Fred Rohm, and I discussed the Aquarium project with John McMahon Delaware Secy. of Labor. Fred has received a letter of support from Secretary McMahon. I have identified the U. D. Center for Community Research & Service as a resource to help us develop a business plan. Sharon Kanter (committee member) has indicated she will be contacting the Delaware Department of Education to seek their support in participating in the development and utilization of educational programs at the Milford Aquarium. I have been in contact with Andrew Hearn of Marinescape. Marinescape has designed and developed 24 Aquariums in the last 25 years. The Greater Cleveland Aquarium opened at the end of January and we have been invited to visit. He has submitted an offer to do a feasibility study and concept design for $125,000. He has suggested a 30,000 sq. ft. design with the ability to expand. I have discussed this offer with Christopher Weeks of Becker Morgan Group (committee member) and I sent him a copy of the aquarium feasibility study. He has submitted a similar offer for $100,000. We need to generate funds and develop community support for the Milford Aquarium. The committee suggests we do the following: 1. Create a non-profit Corp. (The Milford Aquarium Inc.) 2. Request interested members of the City Council and other elected officials to sit on the board. 3. Build a website for the distribution of information on upcoming events and project status information. 4. Build a multilevel membership database to show interest and support from the Community and Corp. Sponsors.

7 5. Create a logo/mascot (Millie & Ford the homeless Penguins). A story of how they came to Milford is in the process of being written. 6. Sell buttons showing Millie & Ford and the following phrase I support the Milford Aquarium. 7. Seek support from local businesses and request them to display a flyer and sell the Buttons. 8. Organize a series of events in the down town area to: a. raise funds, b. gauge the impact of increased foot traffic in down town Milford c. demonstrate our drawing power from the highway. 9. We need to advertise the events: a. on the website b. in the local media c. handout flyers at the Smyrna Rest Area WSFS Bank has indicated their willingness to help sponsor fund raising events. We can also seek support from local businesses to sponsor these events. I can put together a two band, 4 hr. Blue Grass Concert for $2, We can sell tickets, have a 50/50 raffle and sell the Millie & Ford buttons. There is the potential to raise $6,000-8,000 for each event. I can also bring the Philadelphia German Brass Band and the Milford Community German Band in for about the same price. I also have access to several other bands. We can add names to our data base from interested people in the audience. In conclusion, we believe there is significant funding available to build and staff the Aquarium. It is likely that with the addition of low cost venues the Aquarium will be sustainable. This project will create many opportunities for the Milford community, such as: Increased foot traffic for retail businesses in downtown Milford, Increased demand for housing, and local services, Construction jobs and 100+ permanent jobs, Several dozen volunteer, Intern and summer positions We are therefore requesting the Economic Development Committee of the City Council recommend to the City Council that they support this project. Limited funds would be needed to have a business plan prepared and to contract for the concept and design model. A donation of a parcel of land by the City would also be most helpful in reducing initial costs and the value of the land could be used for matching funds grants.