Adding a piece to the implementation of the Economic Development Plan for Fountain Hills, the Town Council approved a professional services agreement with Horizon Real Estate Group, Inc. out of Phoenix.

The agreement calls for Horizon to promote commercial business in Fountain Hills on an ongoing basis according to the Economic Development Plan.

There are four elements to the scope of work being agreed to by Horizon. These include:

*Providing a minimum of 40 qualified prospective commercial users/new businesses to locate in Fountain Hills annually.

*They are to contract with a minimum of three commercial real estate listing services to help promote Fountain Hills.

*Conduct periodic meet and greet opportunities for prospective businesses to see potential in Fountain Hills.

*Provide monthly progress reports showing contacts, advertising and promotion.

Horizon was selected from companies that responded to a request for proposals from the town. Those responding had to be a qualified commercial real estate broker licensed in Arizona.

The listing services to be used include CoStar Group, Property Line and LoopNet.

The Horizon proposal outlines a growth plan that focuses on “food away from home,” recreation and entertainment and household furnishings and equipment. They believe these are underserved areas of retail in the community.

Horizon offers what it describes as a full online media platform for marketing that includes blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Portals can be linked to existing media platforms as the town desires.

The proposal for the town to align with a commercial real estate agent to promote the town as part of economic development came from Town Councilman Cecil Yates.

Yates is a commercial real estate agent who said the program could be done at no cost to the town with the agency being compensated through any successful transactions.

The council approved the agreement with Horizon in June.