2018-015 Economic Development SponsorshipsDate: February 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-015
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Economic Development sponsorship of community events
BACKGROUND:
Each year, the Department of Economic Development receives requests from local charitable
and educational organizations to help support various events and programs. For the past several
fiscal years, $7,500 has been set aside in the department’s budget to fund these requests.
The events supported by the department are those hosted by workforce development or
educational organizations, economic development partners, or community development groups –
in other words, organizations with missions that directly tie to the City’s goals for economic and
community development.
The department’s current policy is to consider sponsorships only for 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or
educational organizations and to limit its sponsorships to no more than $1,000 per event. The
department does not sponsor other City departments’ events, golf tournaments, or music
festivals.
Procedurally, the department will purchase a table (or tables) at an event and make the tickets
available to City Council members, City management/executive staff, and departmental staff, in
that order.
In FY 2016-17, the department spent a total of $3,240 on event sponsorships:
Denton Public School Foundation gala -- $1,000
TWU Founders Day Scholarship Banquet -- $750
United Way of Denton County Tribute event -- $650
Denton Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet -- $600
North Central Texas College Foundation Scholarship Banquet -- $240
CONCLUSION:
To be consistent with the sponsorship changes related to Denton Municipal Electric and Solid
Waste, we will bring forward a resolution on February 20 for Council’s consideration regarding
guidelines for Economic Development sponsorships. The guidelines will include the following:
The organization must be a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or educational entity.
The organization must be nonsectarian, nondiscriminatory, and nonpolitical.
The sponsored organization’s mission must have a tie to the City’s goals for economic or
community development.
No funds will be given to internal City departments or organizations.
Date: February 9, 2018 Report No. 2018-015
Sponsorships will be limited to no more than $1,500 per event.
STAFF CONTACT:
Caroline Booth, Director of Economic Development
940-349-7751
Caroline.Booth@cityofdenton.com