GADSDEN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
GADSDEN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING

COMMUNITY CONSERVATIONS

Thursday, March 12, 2015
04:30 PM
Board of County Commissioners Meeting Room
7 East Jefferson St
Quincy, Florida

PRESENT: Bruce Ballister, Dan Pennington, Dan Evans, Karen Marsh, Fert Richardson, Wilbert Butler, Peter Patel, Dee Jackson, John Youmans, Gail Bridges – Bright, Ben Chandler, Regina Davis, Rob Nixon, Angie Barry, Joe Munroe, Dot Inman- Johnson, Bernard Piawah, Jill Jeglie, Beth Kirkland, Dawn McMillan, Sylvester Robinson, Gene Morgan, Stacy Hannigon, Allara Gutcher, Robert Presnell, Beryl Wood, Deputy Clerk

AGENDA

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS – Robert Presnell gave welcome. 1 of 2 minutes that they will have. Lynn Cherry of Carpe Diem gave welcome.

MEETING OVERVIEW   Focus on Economic Development for Gadsden County. What is ED? Discuss the grant that Gadsden County has received. Asset & Jobs in the County.

Think big – “If you can’t imagine it, you can’t achieve.” Really imagine what we see Gadsden County becoming. She gave ground rules.

Introduction  Beth Kirkland, ED what is it? Development Council recognized Peter Patel board member along with Robert Nixon who serves as

ED – anybody that makes payroll on Friday, opportunity for success. 3 ways: Tourism Development & Marketing; Building Globally Competitive Strategy: Strategy Sources of Input – You – Strategy Outcome – Jobs & Capital Investment: Targeted Industry sectors: Transportation Assets .Average Wage is about $30,000: Leveraging regional and state partner; EFI , DEO, FEDC, FGNW; Opportunity Florida, Career Source

Targeted Industry Sectors

· Transportation & Logistics ( Warehousing/Distribution)

· Manufacturing

· Law Enforcement Training, Services and Supplies

· Construction Materials and Services

· Agri-Business

· Eco-Tourism

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – WHAT IS IT?

OVERVIEW OF COMPETITIVE FLORIDIA PARTNERSHOP PROGRAM   Allara Mills – discussed the grant received. Only county that is a participant. Our goal is to create a economic development strategy.

ACTIVITY 1: GADSDEN COUNTY ASSET EVALUATION   Define the top 5 Assets: Then each group prioritized. Industrial /10-90 Park; Raw Land (enter changes), Apalachicola River

Group 1 – Green Table – Apalachicola River, Creek Entertainment, 10/90 Industrial Park, Creek Entertainment, Costal Timber

Group 2 – Brown Table – Creek Entertainment, Industrial / 10-90 Park, Tri-Eagle Sales, Pat Thomas Law, Jai Alai Building

Group 3 – Blue Table – Natural Gas Pipeline, Raw Land (Interchanges), Quincy Industrial Park, Agri-Business, Lack of Accommodations, IFAS Land Exchange

Group 4 – Purple Table – Lake Talquin, Gadsden Arts Center, Quincy Industrial Park, Historic District, Havana Industrial Park

ACTIVITY 2: GADSDEN COUNTY JOBS   Focus on competitive high wage competitive jobs and where you want the jobs to go.

Green Table – Healthcare, Distribution/ Transportation

Brown Table –Training/Training Incentives, Technology Jobs

Blue Table –Warehousing, Agri - Business

Purple Table - Training Education (Skills Upgrade), Tourism

CLOSING REMARKS   Next meeting will be in Chattahoochee – March 23, 2015 @ 6:30pm – RV Clubhouse on the river.

Adjournment – 5:40p.m.