The Business and Economic Development work group

The Business and Economic Development work group is reviewing the strategic plan recommendations for this topic area and is in the process of revising and adding recommendations to present to the city.

 Revised Recommendations

Being presented to City Council on July 19, 2021

Enhance the Small Business Ecosystem 

  1. Require developers of new mixed-use buildings to put up a bond per square foot of commercial space to be released when those funds are spent/needed for an actual build-out of that space. (Suggested amount equal to at least $50/square foot)

  2. Incentivize property owners to fill vacant commercial space by establishing a vacant storefront registration requirement and fee that includes a means to identify vacant spaces from the street and through a database or spreadsheet maintained by City staff.

  3. Establish a Business Improvement District (BID) to work with other organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, to support business retention, marketing, and recruitment efforts throughout the city. Create a way to involve business owners outside of the downtown corridor in the BID and in city-wide business and economic development decisions.

  4. Establish a community-based incubator or other entity to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship. Partner with local Universities, nearby municipalities, counties, and other relevant local agencies to ensure participation opportunities are created for residents, students, staff, researchers, and entrepreneurs.

  5. Consider creating a role within the City Staff that would help fulfill the recommendations above, working with the vacant registration database; Business Improvement District, and incubator.

  6. Conduct a tax equity evaluation on mixed use commercial space in the downtown corridor. 



 Original Recommendations

Enhance the Small Business Ecosystem

  1. Establish a vacant storefront registration requirement and fee to incentivize property owners with vacant space to fill it. 

  2. Establish a Business Improvement District (BID) to support Downtown business retention, marketing, and recruitment efforts. 

  3. Establish a community-based incubator or other entity to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship. (work with economic and business workgroup)

Expand Capacity and Foster Collaboration

  1. Hire a part-time Small Business Liaison to strengthen partnerships between the small business community, the City, and the University.

 Meetings

The Business and Economic Development work group meets every other Thursday from 10-11am in the upper conference room at City Hall and via zoom. For more information on joining those meetings, email ClemsonNext.