New recruitment funds OK'd
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Thursday, June 26, 2008 | 
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By SCOTT SCHWEBKE
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
OGDEN — A new $200,000 city program will provide funding to help small outdoor recreation companies relocate to Ogden.
Money for the Outdoor Recreation Company Assistance program was approved Tuesday night by the city council.
Funding for ORCA was earmarked from a $2.7 million budget amendment that uses fiscal 2007 carryover money and Business Depot Ogden lease revenues for a variety of city projects.
Allocations from the budget amendment include $100,000 for construction of a proposed ice-climbing tower and $1.5 million to cover debt at The Junction development downtown.
The ORCA program is vital because of a lack of state and local funding available to help small outdoor recreation companies relocate to Ogden, according to a report from the city’s Community and Economic Development Department.
City Councilwoman Dorrene Jeske said she would like to see ORCA funds provided to new retail businesses downtown and not just high-adventure recreation companies.
“We need stores and businesses downtown that people can shop at,” she said. “The biggest negative comment that people make is that downtown Ogden has no shops.”
Mayor Matthew Godfrey said high-adventure companies are being targeted for ORCA funds because those are the types of businesses the city has had success in recruiting.
“We are not going to turn any business away,” he said. “We are being strategic in how we spend our money and time so that we are effective.”
Over the last four months, the city has been in contact with several outdoor recreation and ski companies that would likely move to Ogden if relocation funds were provided, says the Community and Economic Development Department report.
Companies will apply to the city’s Business Information Center loan committee for ORCA funds.
The committee, made up of representatives from the city’s Community and Economic Development, Management Services and Legal departments, will review applications and make final determinations for funding.
Businesses must create or retain at least one full-time employee for each $10,000 provided through the program.
The maximum amount awarded to a company will be $50,000, unless approved otherwise by the city council.
The ORCA funds are first issued as loanS and then become a free grant if the company remains in Ogden for at least five years.
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