HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2025.05.22 - 42104
AGENDA ITEM: Appropriation for Resource Matcher Program with Oakland University
DEPARTMENT: Executive's Office
MEETING: Board of Commissioners
DATE: Thursday, May 22, 2025 6:00 PM - Click to View Agenda
ITEM SUMMARY SHEET
COMMITTEE REPORT TO BOARD
Resolution #2025-5298
Motion to appropriate $114,077 from Non-Departmental Technology Projects-One Time to
Information Technology Fund (FND63600) to support the launch and implementation of the
Resource Matcher Program; further, authorize Corporation Counsel and Purchasing Division to
create an interlocal agreement with Oakland University; further, authorize the Board Chair to
execute any required agreements on behalf of Oakland County; further, amend the FY 2025 budget
as detailed in the attached Schedule A-Budget Amendment.
ITEM CATEGORY SPONSORED BY
Interlocal Agreement Yolanda Smith Charles
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Oakland County Economic Development actively supports small businesses by providing critical
resources and services that help local companies thrive, grow, and contribute positively to the
community and economy. Small businesses often struggle to efficiently identify and access
resources appropriate to their unique stage of growth and specific operational needs.
The Resource Matcher Program (final name pending) is proposed to rapidly connect small
businesses in Oakland County to targeted, growth-focused resources, services, and programs. By
identifying and matching specific small business needs with available local, state, and federal
resources, the program aims to reduce barriers to business growth, increase resource utilization
efficiency, and amplify economic outcomes for participating businesses and the broader community.
The Resource Matcher Program will feature an intuitive online platform enabling businesses to
quickly self-assess, identify, and access personalized resources. Additionally, dedicated staff
support will enhance the accuracy of resource matching and facilitate smooth connections between
businesses and resource providers. The result is expected to yield measurable improvements in
small business sustainability, growth, and economic impact throughout Oakland County.
Implementation of the Resource Matcher Program will leverage proven digital platforms and staff
expertise, ensuring robust, secure, and user-friendly services for local businesses.
POLICY ANALYSIS
Oakland University is tasked with creating an inventory of all business support programs (public and
private) available to our Oakland County clients, as well as establishing a method for keeping it
current and utilizing AI for smart matching. The proposal details the creation of a modern platform
using Large Language Models (LLMs) to improve how county and state agencies manage and
access economic development resources. The goal is to provide staff with an intuitive, AI-powered
tool that consolidates information about programs, incentives, and resources, enabling them to
better support local communities and businesses. Key objectives include simplifying access to data,
automating processes for greater efficiency, and ensuring the platform remains sustainable and
adaptable to policy changes.
This collaborative project will include the support costs for two PhD students and one Professor
from the Oakland University Department of Computer Science and Engineering. During the summer
months, each PhD student can work up to 40 hours per week and will be compensated.
The initial implementation and first-year operating costs for the Resource Matcher Program are
projected at $114,077 and would be transferred from General Fund Non-Departmental Transfers
(9090101) Technology Projects-One Time (760180) to the Information Technology Fund (#63600).
Ongoing annual operational expenses for the Resource Matcher Program will be incorporated into
subsequent budget cycles. As the Economic Development Department will be the primary users,
these expenses will most likely be incorporated into their budget. Ongoing maintenance costs after
initial development are TBD due to the higher number of unknown variables. Oakland County will
own the platform when complete.
FISCAL IMPACT: Budget Amendment Attached
Committee members can contact Barbara Winter, Policy and Fiscal Analysis Supervisor at
248.821.3065 or winterb@oakgov.com or the department contact persons listed for additional
information.
CONTACT
Dustin Frigy, Manager Internal & External Affairs
Dom Holmes, Director Economic Development
ITEM REVIEW TRACKING
Aaron Snover, Board of Commissioners Created/Initiated - 5/23/2025
AGENDA DEADLINE: 05/08/2025 4:30 PM
ATTACHMENTS
1. OU Resource Matcher Schedule A-Budget Amendment
2. Proposal Empowering Economic Growth 2025 v1
3. Overview Presentation for RM BoC Finance Committee 5-12-25
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2025-05-14 Economic Development & Infrastructure - Forward to Finance
2025-05-14 Finance - Recommend to Board
2025-05-22 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by: Commissioner Angela Powell
Seconded by: Commissioner Christine Long
Yes: Charles Cavell, Ann Erickson Gault, Marcia Gershenson, Robert Hoffman, Brendan
Johnson, Karen Joliat, Christine Long, Penny Luebs, Gwen Markham, Kristen Nelson, Angela
Powell, Yolanda Smith Charles, Michael Spisz, Linnie Taylor, Philip Weipert, David Woodward
(16)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: Michael Gingell, Robert Smiley (2)
Passed
Oakland County, Michigan
Economic Development - Oakland University Resource Matcher
Schedule "A" DETAIL
R/E Fund Name Division Name
Fund #
(FND)Cost Center (CCN) #
Account #
(RC/SC)
Program #
(PRG)
Grant ID
(GRN) #
Project ID #
(PROJ)
Region
(REG)
Budget
Fund
Affiliate
(BFA)
Ledger
Account
Summary Account Title
FY 2025
Amendment
E General Fund Non-Departmental Operations FND10100 CCN9090101 SC760180 PRG196030 760000 Technology Projects-One Time $(114,077.00)
E General Fund Non-Departmental Operations FND10100 CCN9010101 SC788001 PRG196030 BFA63600 788001 Transfers Out– IT Fund $114,077.00
Total Expenditures $-
R Information Technology Fund IT Administration FND63600 CCN1080101 RC695500 PRG152000 BFA10100 695500 Transfer In - Gen Fund $114,077.00
Total Revenue $114,077.00
E Information Technology IT Application Services FND63600 CCN1080201 SC731458 PRG152000 730000 Professional Services $114,077.00
Total Expenditures $114,077.00
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
546 Engineering Center I 115 Library Drive, Rochester, Michigan 48309-4479
(248) 370-2200 I Fax: (248) 370-4625
School of Engineering and Computer Science
Proposal Title: Empowering Economic Growth: A Smart Platform for Managing State and
County Development Opportunities
To: Dom Holmes, Oakland County
From: Guangzhi (Mark) Qu, Oakland University
Project Overview:
This proposal outlines the development of a state-of-the-art platform leveraging Large Language
Models (LLMs) to streamline the management and access to economic development
opportunities at the county and state levels. The platform will serve as a powerful, user-friendly
tool for staff members, allowing them to easily search and obtain information about programs,
resources, and incentives currently offered by state, county, and local agencies for communities
and businesses.
By integrating cutting-edge AI technology, the platform will ensure that government personnel
can efficiently support local businesses, promote economic growth, and respond to the needs of
their communities with real-time, actionable insights.
Objectives:
1. To develop a comprehensive platform that consolidates all state, county, and local
economic development programs, incentives, and resources into a single, easily navigable
interface.
2. To empower staff by providing a simple, intuitive tool that minimizes the complexity of
searching for and managing resources, making it easier to connect communities and
businesses with available opportunities.
3. To enhance the efficiency of economic development teams through automated data
processing and recommendations, freeing up valuable time for more strategic decision-
making.
4. To ensure sustainability with a solution that is easy to maintain and update, adapting to
changes in programs and policies.
Scope of Work:
Phase 1: Research and Needs Assessment
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
546 Engineering Center I 115 Library Drive, Rochester, Michigan 48309-4479
(248) 370-2200 I Fax: (248) 370-4625
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Activities:
o Conduct interviews and workshops with county and state economic development
staff to identify pain points, current workflows, and the types of information most
frequently sought.
o Collect data on existing programs, resources, and incentives available at the state,
county, and local levels.
o Analyze the technological infrastructure available at target locations to ensure
compatibility and scalability.
Phase 2: Platform Design and Architecture
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Activities:
o Define technical requirements and platform specifications, including user
interface design and backend architecture.
o Create detailed wireframes and mockups for the platform, ensuring a clean and
intuitive layout.
o Design a secure, scalable system that can integrate with government databases
and other relevant external sources of data.
Phase 3: Integration of Large Language Model (LLM) and Development
• Duration: 8 weeks
• Activities:
o Integrate a Large Language Model to assist in advanced data processing,
including natural language querying, document extraction, and automated
suggestions for available programs.
o Implement powerful search and filter capabilities, allowing users to quickly find
resources tailored to specific needs.
o Develop AI-driven tools that will automatically update program information,
ensuring that the platform always reflects current opportunities.
Phase 4: Testing, Training, and Feedback Loop
• Duration: 6 weeks
• Activities:
o Conduct rigorous testing to ensure the platform works seamlessly and delivers
accurate, relevant results.
o Provide training sessions for staff members to ensure they can use the platform
effectively.
o Collect feedback and refine features based on real-world user experience.
Phase 5: Launch and Maintenance
• Duration: Ongoing
• Activities:
o Officially launch the platform to county and state economic development teams.
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
546 Engineering Center I 115 Library Drive, Rochester, Michigan 48309-4479
(248) 370-2200 I Fax: (248) 370-4625
o Provide ongoing technical support, regular updates, and feature enhancements
based on user feedback and evolving program details.
Deliverables:
1. A fully functional platform that aggregates all state, county, and local economic
development programs and incentives.
2. An intuitive, easy-to-use interface that empowers staff to quickly find relevant resources
and programs.
3. Integration of AI-driven insights, recommendations, and natural language search
capabilities.
4. A comprehensive user guide and training materials for platform adoption.
5. Ongoing support and maintenance to ensure the platform remains up-to-date with current
opportunities.
Communication and Coordination:
Main contacts:
• Oakland County: Dom Holmes (holmesd@oakgov.com)
• Oakland University: Guangzhi (Mark) Qu (gqu@oakland.edu)
Budget
The parties anticipate that one Professor and two PhD students will collaborate on the project.
Business Resource Matching
Presented by: Dom Holmes
Economic Development Director
Oakland County Economic Development
HIGHLIGHTS: RESOURCELINK
1.Inventory of all available small business
resources and support programs.
2.Rapidly connect Oakland County small
businesses to critical growth resources.
3.Boost local economic growth and
community impact by leveraging AI.
FUNDING & TIMELINE
•Total Project Cost: $114,077
•(initial implementation & first-year
operation, nominal recurring maintenance
costs, licensing opportunities)
•Timeline: Project kickoff in June 2025
•Fully operational by Q1 2026.
Business Resource Matching
Presented by: Dom Holmes
Economic Development Director
Oakland County Economic Development