DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Approval of consulting agreement with Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS)
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance approving an agreement for up to $100,000 with Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS) for development of an Inclusive Growth Framework within the 2019-2020 Tax Abatement Guidelines.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The mission of the City of San Antonio's Economic Development Department (EDD) is to support continuous improvement towards a highly competitive, diverse and sustainable economy that supports prosperity and increases the quality of life for all residents.
Overall, San Antonio's local economy has been resilient and strong - a key driver in the surging population and economic growth that has garnered attention from business publications such as Forbes and national think tanks such as the Kauffman Foundation, Brookings, Pew, and the Milken Institute. San Antonio's local unemployment has dropped to record lows in recent quarters, and the City weathered the most recent economic recession with less dramatic shifts in local unemployment than experienced in other American cities. The City has also exceeded its goals for job creation in targeted industries, based on those set by the community visioning process SA2020.
While the City has created opportunities and supported an attractive environment for business formation, relocation, and expansion, city-wide educational attainment rates and wage levels remain below state and national averages. Additionally, when elements such as unemployment are disaggregated along lines of geography, race, and educational attainment, the seemingly broad pathway to prosperity appears to narrow for large portions of San Antonio's population. According to the Economic Innovation Group's 2017 Distressed Communities Index (DCI), Bexar County had an estimated 412,000 people or 22.6% of its population living in distre...
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