The Fulton City Council adopted two resolutions at Tuesday's meeting that aim to improve the city's economic development by attracting potential retail investors and retaining downtown businesses.
The council first passed a resolution to execute a contract with The Retail Coach, a retail consultant firm, for a retail recruitment strategy plan that involves a Holts Summit-Fulton partnership. In recent months, Holts Summit and Fulton city officials attended presentations from several retail recruitment firms and discussed partnering together for a three-year contract. They agreed that The Retail Coach was the best option to attract economic growth.
Fulton Director of Administration Bill Johnson said the total contract cost between the two cities will be approximately $35,000 for the first year plus an estimated $2,000. The resolution states that Fulton's share will not exceed $20,000. Johnson reassured council members that Holts Summit and Fulton will split the cost equally.
Johnson said the resolution is contingent upon the Holts Summit Board of Aldermen passing its resolution. He expects the board to approve the second reading of the resolution at its first January meeting.
The council also passed a resolution to enter into an agreement with the Callaway Chamber of Commerce. Tamara Fitzpatrick, the executive director of the Callaway Chamber of Commerce, discussed the proposed agreement earlier in the meeting. The contract lists 16 services the chamber will provide the city. It states the chamber will be the primary contact for the city's retail recruitment plan, but will remain an independent contractor.
Fitzpatrick updated the council on the activities happening at the chamber since its recent merge with the Fulton Area Development Corporation, and discussed new programs it will be offering in 2016.
In the new year, the chamber will focus on promoting communitywide revitalization and stability, continuing to encourage people to shop locally and helping small business owners and new businesses be more successful.
"We really have to maintain the businesses that we have here in the community and foster the economic growth for those businesses and the ones that are coming in," Fitzpatrick emphasized to the council.
The chamber designed a new logo and a committee will be working on putting up new signage with the logo in front of its building, she said. Fitzpatrick said she has planned three sessions in January with the goal of informing chamber members and perspective members on how to better utilize the benefits of their membership and the chamber's website.
"We want to be able to help them understand the ability that they can use the Chamber for their networking needs, their marketing needs for the economic development growth of their business," Fitzpatrick said.
She anticipates that the sessions will provide valuable feedback on assessing the needs of local businesses that will better assist the Chamber in creating additional opportunities for them to market their business.
Last week, Fitzpatrick met with Johnson to discuss the expectations of the agreement and to highlight specific items of importance.
"Moving forward, I think you guys are really going to see the process and the progress we're making at the Chamber," Fitzpatrick told the council. Johnson told Fitzpatrick he is glad she is encouraging non-Chamber members to attend upcoming sessions.
"I'm really glad to see that you're reaching out to non-Chamber members - that you're providing them with some opportunity for learning and improving themselves and their business," he said.
Fulton Mayor LeRoy Benton expressed his enthusiasm for Fitzpatrick's efforts and the progress she's made in her six weeks as executive director.
"I appreciate your information and for all your hard work," he said. "You've really hit the ground running."