DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All Districts
SUBJECT: Caf? Commerce Update
SUMMARY: An update on services offered and outcomes achieved through Caf? Commerce.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2012, former Mayor Juli?n Castro convened a taskforce of business owners and business advocacy organizations for the purpose of brainstorming methods and strategies for promoting small and new business growth in San Antonio. Business participants represented a wide array of industries, including retail, food and dining, engineering, technology, public relations, trade services, and private investors. Business advocacy organizations included various chambers of commerce, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), ACCION Texas, the Westside Development Corporation (WDC), and San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE).
The taskforce identified the need to establish a culture of entrepreneurship throughout the community (for both adults and youth, but specifically engaging a young population) and increase coaching, mentoring and apprenticeship opportunities for future and existing small business owners. The taskforce also highlighted the value of existing business development resources in San Antonio and identified the need to increase marketing of these resources.
The taskforce recommended the establishment of an entity, ultimately named "Caf? Commerce," to provide entrepreneurship education and mentoring, as well as to serve as a resource and referral clearinghouse or a one-stop for business information. It further recommended the outsourcing of operations and management of Caf? Commerce to promote an organic and innovation-focused approach to service delivery. Thus, the City solicited proposals to identify a partner to further develop, implement and manage Caf? Commerce.
In November 2013, City Council approved the execution of an agreement with ACCION Texas, now LiftFund, in ...
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