DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
This ordinance authorizes a funding agreement with the San Antonio Economic Development Corporation (SAEDC) (1) to establish the San Antonio Military Medical Innovation (SAMMI) Director position; (2) to hire someone as a contract employee to fill this position; and (3) an EDIF grant of $300,000 to the SAEDC to help fund the SAMMI Director Position. Funding in the amount of $300,000 is available in the Economic Development Incentive Fund FY 2019 Adopted Budget.
SUMMARY:
In 2017, the City, through the Economic Development Department and the SAEDC, formed a Military Life Science Research Working Group to focus on how the community could better partner with the military to help meet their medical mission requirements and leverage military medical research to create community commercialization opportunities. With the Working Group's guidance, a consultant study was commissioned, resulting in the development of the SA Military Life Science Commercialization Action Plan ("Action Plan"), which was completed in 2018. The Action Plan recommends a phased implementation approach, with the first Phase involving the development of a Charter, Alliance, and the SAMMI Director position. Staff is requesting City Council consideration for a funding agreement with SAEDC to establish the SAMMI Director as a contract employee of the SAEDC to help facilitate the implementation of the Action Plan and Charter through an Economic Development Incentive Fund Grant (EDIF) from the City in the amount of $300,000 over three years.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
San Antonio is home to significant military medical research missions focused on developing new trauma/critical care technologies and products to treat wounded warriors. These military units include the U.S. Army Institute for Surgical Research, the Navy Medical Research Unit San Antonio (both at Fort Sam Houston), and...
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