Pensacola's Promise Plan

My Motion to the Committee of the Whole on April 19,2010:

That City Council adopt the Pensacola Promise, an economic development plan to provide last dollar tuition assistance to eligible residents of the City of Pensacola and commit to annual funding of an initial amount of $250,000 in the 2010-2011 fiscal year and a recurring amount up to but not exceeding $400,000 thereafter. Funding for this program is to be 100% funded through either contributions from ESP rate payers or thru a return on the Citizens investment in their gas utility.

Point of clarification that the 1st source of funding is to be a voluntary amount added to ESP rate payers,(@ 50 cents per customer you pay for the plan, or $1.00 per city resident) the 2nd source being the return on investment to the citizens of Pensacola from their revenues at ESP. My discussion about marketing and ESP's current funding levels came from the fact that ESP will most certainly get regional and national recognition for their commitment to fund the Pensacola's Promise. Our city manager has pointed out that ESP is in direct competition with other local utilities for new customers. ESP already contributes to Unite Escambia, Foundations for the future @ the chamber, PEDC for economic development and promotion, Bill Bond Baseball, The Saenger Theatre, and we even publish our own cookbook to market ESP and local restaurants. An investment in the growth of our city, access to education for our citizens, and attracting new businesses to our area are all within the mission of ESP and the City of Pensacola.