TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute documents necessary to enter into a partnership agreement with MAPLE, the Canadian-U.S. Business Council of Southern California, a non-profit organization in Tustin, CA, to assist with promoting bilateral economic activity between Canada and Long Beach. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
As part of its Blueprint for Economic Development, the City of Long Beach (City) has identified specific objectives for economic leadership and cooperation. These include expanding regional and international market opportunities for local products and services and increasing foreign direct investment, and international trade. Canada is a key market opportunity for Long Beach given its status as the second largest export market for California, and as the third largest source of foreign direct investment in Los Angeles County. Consistent with Long Beach’s recommendations to partner with regional agencies to promote trade and foreign direct investment, the City would like to facilitate more bilateral economic activity with Canada, with the help of MAPLE.
MAPLE is a California non-profit mutual-benefit corporation, which organizes its membership base to promote trade, investment, and entrepreneurship between Southern California and Canada. MAPLE has a growing membership of executives, entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers in Southern California and Canada, and is uniquely qualified to organize this membership by promoting Southern California to Canadian businesses, and Canada to Southern California businesses.
City Council approval is requested to execute a partnership agreement to allow the City to establish a partnership with MAPLE to enhance market opportunities for local products and services. Upon approval, the City and MAPLE will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the scope of work for this partnership.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony on October 18, 20...
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