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Recommendation to receive and file the 2019 Everyone In Economic Inclusion Implementation Plan, adopt recommendations, and request City Manager to work with the appropriate departments to report back with a timeline for implementation within 120 days for the five recommended policy areas: (1) Housing and Homeownership; (2) Small Business, Diverse Entrepreneurship; (3) Procurement; (4) Workforce and Youth Development; and (5) Connectedness (Economic Resilience); and
Request City Manager provide on-going implementation plan updates every 6 months thereafter until a workplan and funding source for each of the policy goals has been approved by City Council.
DISCUSSION
Launched in November 2017, the 'Everyone In' Economic Inclusion Initiative follows the City Council's adoption of the Blueprint for Economic Development. The Blueprint is a ten-year framework that outlines policy recommendations and focus areas to drive the City's economic growth; strategies include strengthening established and emerging industries, workforce development, business assistance, quality of life, and leadership. The Blueprint also uplifts economic inclusion as a core focus area to increase access to economic opportunities in low-income communities.
While greater economic inclusion corresponds with more robust economic growth, 'Everyone In' sets out to design policy solutions that deliver economic opportunity to those being left behind in Long Beach's booming economy. 'Everyone In' has engaged underrepresented segments of the community to understand their experiences, and the policies and programs that have either helped or posed as barriers to opportunity. The Economic Inclusion Plan is the summation of five key strategies informed and designed by the community through comprehensive outreach.
The 'Everyone In' Economic Inclusion Initiative began with three essential steps, focusing on data collection, learning, and understanding the strengths and challenges of the Long Beach community. First, City Council commissioned a listening tour, conducted by the Department of Economic Development. The 'Everyone In' Listening Tour engaged over 100 residents from underrepresented sectors of the Long Beach community, using ten focus groups to co-design twelve solutions" that would create economic opportunity for all.
Everyone In listening Tour
Community Solutions
1. Multilingual financial literacy
2. More respectable financial institutions
3. Establish diverse workforce development strategies
4. Youth workforce development programs
5. Partnerships with local schools
6. Creation of community hubs and resource centers
7. Provide small business development support
8. Develop internships and apprenticeships
9. Support wage increases
10. Affordable child care
11. Homebuyer support
12. Bring back a "Community Redevelopment Agency" approach
Next, Councilmember Richardson partnered with the Los Angeles Local Initiative Support Corporation (LA L1SC) to convene five Policy Roundtable Discussions, exploring best economic inclusion practices around the country. From December 2017 to April 2017, a multidisciplinary think tank of Long Beach leaders engaged in robust dialogues on the following topics:
• Pathways to Homeownership
• Addressing Barriers to Small Business Ownership & Entrepreneurs
• Future of Banking in Low-Income Communities of Color
• Strategies to Increase Local, Inclusive Procurement and Contracting
• Workforce Development: Creating Pathways to Living Wage Careers
Last, the City Council commissioned a comprehensive data analysis to determine how well Long Beach is doing to ensure its diverse residents can participate in the City's economy, The Equitable Growth Profile of Long Beach was conducted by PolicyLink and USC's Program for Environmental and Regional Equity, as the study applies a racial equity lens to four economic indicators (demographics, economic vitality, readiness, and connectedness) to identify the pertinent challenges and opportunities facing Long Beach communities.
The information gathered from the Listening Tour, Policy Roundtables, and Equitable Growth Profile were used to outline the 2019 Economic Inclusion Objectives", which Councilmember Richardson presented during a joint-meeting of the Economic Development and Finance Committee and the Economic Development Commission. Altogether, the lessons learned, and objectives informed a working group of Long Beach community partners and stakeholders to develop localized policy and program recommendations that will expand economic opportunity.
Creating Solutions for Economic Inclusion
Beginning in January 2019, Councilmember Rex Richardson and LA L1SC convened an Implementation Committee, of 40 stakeholders to create five economic inclusion recommendations for the City of Long Beach.
The Implementation Committee
The Implementation Committee included participation from the following:
Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association
California Endowment
California State University, Long Beach Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Centro CHA
Century Villages at Cabrillo
City of Long Beach Economic Development Commissioners
City of Long Beach Office of Equity Downtown Long Beach Business Alliance
Economic Policy and Impact Center
F&M Bank
Foundation for Economic Democracy IBEW Local 11
Khmer Girls in Action
Latinos in Action
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles L1NC Housing
Long Beach City College Workforce Development
Long Beach Community Foundation Long Beach Forward
Long Beach Transit
Long Beach Unified School District Los Angeles Food Policy Council
Pacific Gateway Workforce
Investment Network
Pride Real Estate Professional Association
Port of Long Beach
United Cambodian Community University of Southern California, Small Business Diversity Office
Wells Fargo Bank
YMCA Youth Institute
The Implementation Committee convened three, two-hour intensive meetings to determine the most feasible and impactful approaches to expanding opportunity in the following policy areas:
Housing & Homeownership - Access to stable, affordable housing, and pathways to homeownership,
Small Business, Diverse Entrepreneurship, and Procurement - Local policies and programs that support and sustain small businesses, and furthermore, incentivize business diversity,
Workforce & Youth Development - Public-private partnerships that aid in skills development and future workforce readiness, and
Connectedness (Economic Resiliency) - Access to services, information, policies, and programs that strengthen a community's ability to foresee, adapt to, and leverage changing economic conditions.
The Committee used an equity-framed, Proposal Analysis Tool to determine the .desired outcomes, opportunities for: alignment, risks, and future demands; communities most in need; timeline, funding (start-up and sustainability), and prospective partners; and, indicators of success for each recommendation. On April 24, 2019, the Implementation Committee finalized five recommendations, key strategies for economic inclusion.
To introduce the proposed strategies to the community, Councilmember Richardson partnered with Councilmembers Gonzalez (District 1), Pearce (District 2), and Uranga (District 7), and local organizations to host nine 'Everyone In' Community Conversations.
The Community Conversations examined key findings from the Equitable Growth Profile; after which, attendees participated in a dialogue exploring what their community needs to economically thrive. Next, a panel of Implementation Committee members introduced the economic inclusion strategies and led small group discussions allowing participants to inquire in further depth and make suggestions on how to improve the strategies. Additional community feedback was gathered through an Evaluation Form, available in English, Spanish, and Khmer, allowing participants to provide input on each strategy.
A full summary of the Community Conversations Series' Feedback is included in the Implementation Plan.
Next Steps
The 'Everyone In' Implementation Plan (Plan) outlines five economic inclusion strategies for the City Council's consideration. The Plan lists each recommendation by policy area, as follows:
1) Small Business, Diverse Entrepreneurship,
2) Procurement,
3) Workforce & youth Development
4) Economic Resiliency (Connectedness)
5) Housing & Homeownership.
Additionally, the Plan includes individual sections for Background, Timing Considerations, and Community Feedback. As such, City Council support is requested to continue advancement of the economic inclusion policy goals identified in the Blueprint for Economic Development, and to request the City Manager to evaluate and assess resources needed to implement recommendations defined by the 'Everyone In' community conversations. City Council is requesting a report back with a timeline, prospective costs, and steps necessary for the implementation of each recommendation.
This matter has been reviewed by Budget Manager Grace H. Yoon on June 3, 2019.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation requests the City Manager to work with appropriate departments to report back within 120 days with a proposed timeline for the implementation and ongoing reporting plan of the recommendations from the 2019 'Everyone In' Economic Inclusion Implementation Plan in the five recommended policy areas: (1) housing and homeownership; (2) small business, diverse entrepreneurship; (3) procurement; (4) workforce and youth development; and (5) connectedness (economic resilience). The report will identify an initial estimate of costs, level of effort, and any major potential issues in implementation. Preparing this report is anticipated to result in a moderate impact to staff hours beyond normal budgeted scope of duties and a moderate impact on City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
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Respectfully Submitted,
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT