Board of County Commissioners/Gadsden County Development Council

Gadsden County, Florida

AGENDA

Workshop

May 20, 2014

4:00 p.m.

Present:               Eric F. Hinson, Chair, District 1

                                Brenda Holt, Vice Chair, District 4

                                Doug Croley, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

CALL TO ORDER

 Chair Hinson called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Presnell asked Mr. Lee Garner to come forward and give an introduction.  Mr. Garner introduced the municipal leaders that were present.  He then asked Beth Kirkland, GCDC Consultant, to come forward for the presentation.

LEVERAGING TRANSPORTATION ASSETS THROUGH EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL FOR RAIL-SERVED INDUSTRIAL SITES

 Ms. Kirkland said they plan to focus on and market to prospects and suspects.  3 building blocks set up: Facilitated growth; competitive Projects, market driven growth. 

Market Driven Growth: want citizen engagement, stakeholder development, global presence; Community brand; GIS enabled website.

Established Strategic Partnerships are: Enterprise Florida Stakeholder’s Council; Florida’s Great Northwest; Opportunity Florida; Career Source Capital Region; RiverWay South; Gadsden County TDC.

Stakeholder Development: have full participation by state, regional and local stakeholders.

Quincy has great business retention and Expansion opportunities

Visited TCC Public Safety Institute.

Facilitated Growth-want to work as team and not in silos. 

Competitive Projects: Identifying, Evaluating, Winning.  Retention of existing businesses; Expansion of existing businesses; Businesses new to the area.

Leveraging Transportation Assets: 

2 programs to take advantage of: CSX Select Site program and Duke Energy Site Readiness program.

They decided to go after a DEO Feasibility

Commissioner Taylor stepped out at this juncture of the workshop.

Commissioner Croley said she gave a good overview-asked how she planned to let it be known in adjoining counties of businesses looking to expand and how she planned to reach out to them.

Commissioner Taylor returned at this juncture.

Commissioner Holt said she appreciated the presentation, but hoped the next time they were able to sit face to face, more could come from joint input and comments.  One thing key would be “combos”-service station with 2-3 restaurants, etc.  Wants link to Economic Development on website to pop out.

Commissioner Holt returned at this juncture.

Commissioner Morgan-not easy thing but simple thing to do.

Commissioner Taylor said was little skeptical about concept of one person being this to Gadsden County, but was very impressed of the outcome.

What can we do to make more appealing?

Commissioner Croley said, from the professional standpoint, want to move fast, and wants things in place, industrial sites or parks recognized. Ned someone to support and promote Gadsden County.

Commissioner Holt said interested in big business, need to work with businesses to attract companies here.  Said surprised with number of people at Law Enforcement Academy, ned service provider (restaurant) to keep money in county.

Commissioner Morgan said lot of things necessary, not primary but secondary. Ned to promote Gadsden County to right audience.

Commissioner Taylor said one thing Governor did was create DEO and got rid of Department of ? One of most important things Board can do is stand together and support this initiative that they were this GCDC.

Chair Hinson said this was great meeting and thought things were moving forward. Also recognized city managers and municipality leaders.

ECONOMIC BASE ANALYSIS AND BUSINESS GROWTH POTENTIAL THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF A BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM

CONTENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TAB IN THE NEW GADSDEN COUNTY WEBSITE:

PRODUCT, TRANSPORTATION ASSETS, WORKFORCE TRAINING

DISCUSSION OF EXISTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVE

COMMISSIONER'S QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS

Adjourned at 5:47 p.m.