Calendar:
Monday, February 20
      1:30 pm - Budget Committee Meeting, Room 280 AGENDA: Committee Action On Alternative Revenue Proposal; Review March 1 Budget Retreat Agenda
      4:45 pm - Council Manager Dinner Briefing, Room CH-14
      5:30 pm - Executive Session, CH-14
      6:00 pm - Zoning Meeting, Meeting Chamber

Wednesday, February 22
     12:00 pm - Community Safety Committee Meeting, Room 280. AGENDA: Valet Parking; Road Race and Major Event Permit Process
       5:30 pm - Metropolitan Transit Commission Meeting, Room 267

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Information Items:
Business Equity Loan Program Update
Staff Resource; Richard Bargoil, 704-226-2142 - rbargoil@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The City's Business Equity Loan Program, formerly the City-Within-A-City Loan Program, was established in 1992 under the umbrella of the CWAC initiative. Since 1992 the City, working in participation with banks, has approved 157 loans to small businesses in and along our targeted business corridors totaling $5.6 million and leveraging approximately $34 million in conventional bank loans. Attached is a report setting forth the current status of the program.

SBE Loan Program Update
Staff Resources: Richard Bargoil 704-336-2142 - rbargoil@ci.charlotte.nc.us 
Dale Harrold, 704-409-5915 - dale.harrold@self-help.org

On December 31, 2005 the SBE Loan Fund celebrated its 2-year anniversary.  Since the 2003 inception of the Fund, Self Help Credit Union, the Fund Administrator, has approved a total of 46 loans totaling $2,436,960.  These represent 46 small businesses in the region whose financing needs have been met through the Fund that otherwise would not have acquired the financing necessary to start or continue their businesses.  With an average loan size of $52,977, the Fund continues to serve the non-conventional financing needs of small businesses, and particularly minority and women-owned businesses.  The Operating Committee that governs the Fund and that is comprised of Fund Investors continues to feel positive about the overall quality of the Fund.  Through year-end December 31, 2005 delinquencies have remained within the established guidelines and losses were $4,368.

SBE Loan Fund activity as of 12/31/05:

Loans closed	42 loans / $2,066,960
Loans pending closing	4 loans/ $370,000
Grand Total loans closed & pending	46 loans / $2,436,960
Average loan amount	$52,977
Amount set-aside in collateral reserve account	$612.840
Minority-owned businesses	26 loans ($1,201,960 ~ 49%)
Women-owned businesses	24 loans ($1,235,000 ~ 51%)
Start-ups	28 loans ($1,417,400 ~ 58%)

CATS Breaks Ground on Community Transit Centers
Staff Resource: Kim Taylor, 704-336-7309 - ktaylor@ci.charlotte.nc.us

The Charlotte Area Transit System is preparing to break ground on two new community transit centers.  The groundbreaking for the Eastland Community Transit Center will be Friday, March 3 at 10:00 am.  The event will take place at Eastland Mall, located at 5471 Central Avenue.

Groundbreaking for the Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center is scheduled for Thursday, March 16 at 10:00 am. The event will take place at Rosa Parks and Beatties Ford Road, in front of the Mecklenburg County Health Department.

Both events will include elected officials, community stakeholders, and representatives from various neighborhood groups. Community transit centers are part of CATS' 2025 Integrated Transit/Land Use Plan and will link residents between corridors to transit centers and stations.

The design of these facilities is the result of a collaborative effort involving community and neighborhood leaders, residents, and elected officials. Both community transit centers will provide connections to CATS' services, weather-protected waiting areas, on-site schedule information, on-site surveillance, sidewalks and landscape improvements. Construction of both Eastland and Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Centers are scheduled for completion later this year.