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Discussion Regarding Economic Development Work Program Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 and Work Plan Priorities for Fiscal Year 2025 - 2026.
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Meeting Date: April 11, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Elaine Warner/ Economic and Cultural Development Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5777
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [x] General Fund: Yes [] No [x]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [x] Attachments: []
Public Notification: GovDelivery (04/8/25)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager(04/07/2025)
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Economic Development works to strategically implement projects and programs to facilitate business attraction and retention as well as long term reinvestment and economic vitality in our community.
Core functions include supporting new and existing business with permitting/other issues, encouraging visitation to retail, restaurants and services, supervising and producing City and community events, progressing partnerships and development of former Successor Agency assets, liaising with Business Improvement Districts, supervising City Parking Facilities and a weekly Farmers Market, convening industry clusters and tracking regional economic trends to ensure that the City is responsive and resilient.
The Economic Development Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 include the development of a new Jazz Nites series, continuation of the successful Summer Sunset Concert Series, supervision of City-sponsored events and grants, production of Love Local and Vibes after Five programming, convening Creative Economy Mixer and industry roundtable, small business spotlights, overseeing parking elevator enhancements for City’s Parking Authority, hosting Olympic Games viewing party, launching Visit Culver City branding development, implementing special projects to include interactive kiosks, Culver Steps Monument Signage, Media Park Lighting and progressing development projects for Culver Public Market, Rethink Mixed Use Project, Icon West, West Washington AIP Phase III and IV medians.
The proposed Fiscal Year 2025 - 2024 Economic Development Work Plan focuses on progressing existing projects and programs, facilitating completion of tourism brand and website, supporting small business with relevant workshops and networking opportunities, developing event/screening opportunities in collaboration with international sporting events, working with BIDs on innovative programming and physical maintenance, exploration of a downtown valet program and progressing improvement and rehabilitation projects along commercial corridors.
Priorities include:
• Produce and promote high quality events, including the Summer Music Concert Series, Jazz Series, and other activations throughout the City to support local businesses and encourage visitation. Execute events related to regional sporting events to include an Olympic event and tailgate/screening event.
• Collaborate with property owners/brokers, and BIDs to attract/retain new businesses. Provide assistance and resources to new and existing business through dedicated concierge program, educational workshops and monthly newsletter. Continue to promote new openings with ribbon cuttings and highlight small businesses through Love Local programming and spotlights.
• Collaborate with property owners/brokers, and BIDs to attract/retain new businesses. Provide assistance and resources to new and existing business through dedicated concierge program, educational workshops and monthly newsletter. Continue to promote new openings with ribbon cuttings and highlight small businesses through Love Local programming and spotlights.
• Launch focused tourism campaign to include website, City-wide banners, and strategic promotions relative to upcoming regional events. Collaborate with hospitality cluster to coordinate cohesive messaging. Explore development of capital campaign relative to Rose Parade float submission for 2028 in advance of Olympic Games.
• Expand Workforce Development with local colleges/other organizations to facilitate internships and resources relative to talent retention/development. Facilitate resources/workshops to support staffing onboarding and retention.
• Implement strategic capital Improvements to enhance commercial corridors. Collaborate with adjacent property owners in West Town Plaza to assess potential improvements such as lighting, landscaping and performances. Replant/revitalize Art District Median at La Cienega and Fairfax Avenues and install new banner pole system to expand awareness of City programs/events. Oversee construction activity relative to West Washington Phase IV Medians in coordination with Public Works.
• Facilitate Schedule of Performance of Disposition and Developer Agreements for 9814 Washington Boulevard (Rethink) and 3735 Robertson Boulevard to bring affordable housing units on-line and amend Developer Construction Contract for Culver Public Market. Oversee construction initiation for Culver Public Market and Rethink Development Projects in Fall 2025.