2024 Business Appreciation Day Wrap Up and Selection of 2025 Date and Location

The purpose of this case to provide an event summary of the 2024 Business Appreciation Day to the EDA. The event was held at the Links at Northfork on August 20, 2024. The event was full with 144 registered golfers and an additional 16 people just attended the prime rib dinner and awards ceremony.  The event was within budget ($5,500 EDA contribution) and Chair Wiyninger emceed the dinner/awards portion of the event. Dynamic Group was recognized as the 2024 Business of the Year and a banner and the award was presented to the Dynamic Group owners and employees.

Diamond Graphics finished in First Place with a score of 55 (-17) for the golf event.   The Random Team Winner was Panther Precision Machine with a score of 74 (+2).  In 2023, the City implemented two new contests for the Best Dressed Team and the Best Hole Sponsor.  The Best Dressed Team was B & F Fastener and Supply with a Ninja Turtles theme.  The Best Hole Sponsor was Aurelio's Pizza.   Activities at the hole sponsor holes and the amount of teams that participated in the costumes was down from last year.  Door prizes for the event were pre-drawn and were ready for participants to pick up after completion of the golf event which shortens the length of the awards program. Feedback from returned surveys from the event has been extremely positive.  The overall event was very positive but Staff will be looking for some tweaks to make it better for next year. Some ideas are included in the Observations section in this case.

None required

Staff believes that this event is a great networking and event for businesses and City staff and supports holding the  in 2025.   Staff is always looking at ways to improve the event to ensure that it is worthwhile for the City and its business community.  Attached to this case is a survey summary that includes some comments and suggestions for future events.  Most of the comments are positive, which supports continuing the format used from 2024.  Items for the EDA to consider for future events include:

1) Encourage hole sponsors to have more activities at their holes (scored a 'needs improvement' on Survey)
     - Reduced Hole Sponsorship Cost of $100 if Hole Sponsor is at Hole and/or has a game/activity ($60 reduction from $160?)
     - Better prize for Best Hole Sponsor
     - Award a First and Second Place
2) Continue Best Hole Sponsor and Best Dressed Team contests
     - Better prize for Best Hole Sponsor / Best Dressed Teams
     - Award a First and Second Place for Best Dressed Teams / Best Hole Sponsors
3)  Deliver lunch / food to Players / Holes
     - Course does not offer this service
     - Can call ahead to clubhouse and order food for when you swing by clubhouse
     - Include order ahead option and phone number on rules and regulations on cart / make an announcement
4) Provision of Snacks to players
     - Beverage Cart has candy and chips on it. No hot food - Maybe make an announcement
5) Continue Pre-draw of prizes (Staff recommendation)
6) Continue to host event at the Links at Northfork (Staff Recommendation)
7) Award Prizes to Top 3 teams (Currently do 1st and Random)
8) Signage for where to go to registration and to the driving range and carts (Use sandwich boards)
9) Select Tuesday, August 19, 2025 for 2025 Business Appreciation Day Event (Staff Recommendation)

Staff would also like to gather feedback from EDA members on things to continue and other suggestions for improvement.

Motion to select event date of Tuesday, August 19, 2025 and the Links of Northfork as the venue for the 2025 Business Appreciation Day Event.

and;

Motion to approve $5,500 or $6000 (Choose one) EDA contribution for 2025 Business Appreciation Day Event ($5,500 in proposed 2025 EDA budget)