Partnerships in Rural Florida: Models and Leveraging Limited - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Value of Regional and Local Partnerships in Rural Florida:

Models and Leveraging Limited Resources

Jim Brook, Opportunity Florida

Jeff Hendry, North Florida Economic Development Partnership Beth Kirkland, Gadsden County Development Council

Florida's Rural Area of Opportunities

The Northwest Florida RAO The North Central RAO South Central RAO

REDI may recommend to the Governor up to three rural areas of critical economic concern. A rural area of critical economic concern must be a rural community, or a region composed of such, that has been adversely affected by an extraordinary economic event or a natural disaster or that presents a unique economic development opportunity of regional impact that will create more than 1,000 jobs over a 5-year period. The Governor may by executive order designate up to three rural areas of critical economic concern which will establish these areas as priority assignments for REDI as well as to allow the Governor, acting through REDI, to waive criteria, requirements, or similar provisions

• f any economic development incentive.

288.0656(7) Rural Economic Development Initiative.-- Florida Statute (1999) History of Florida's “Rural Areas of Opportunity”

Rural Areas of Opportunity

 “Rural area of opportunity” means a rural

community, or a region composed of rural communities, designated by the Governor, which has been adversely affected by an extraordinary economic event, severe or chronic distress, or a natural disaster or that presents a unique economic development

• pportunity of regional impact.”

 288.0656 (2)(d) Florida Statutes (2014)

Advantage to Rural Areas of Opportunity

 Governor's waiver, of criteria, requirements or

provisions:



Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program



Quick Response Training Program



Economic Development Transportation Projects



Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus Refund



Rural Job Tax Credit Program

Eligibility for Waivers

Economic Distress Factors Low Per Capita Income Low per Capita Taxable Values High Unemployment High Underemployment Low Weekly Earned Wages Low Housing Values High Percentage of Population Receiving Public Assistance High Poverty Levels

The department shall establish a matching grant program to provide funding to regionally based economic development organizations representing rural counties and communities for the purpose of building the professional capacity

• f

their

• rganizations.

Such matching grants may also be used by an economic development

• rganization to provide technical assistance to businesses within the

rural counties and communities that it serves. The department is authorized to approve, on an annual basis, grants to such regionally based economic development

• rganizations.

The maximum amount an organization may receive in any year will be $50,000, or $150,000 in a rural area of opportunity recommended by the Rural Economic Development Initiative and designated by the Governor, and must be matched each year by an equivalent amount of non- state resources. Regional Rural Development Grants Program

Florida's Regional Rural Economic Development Organizations

Florida's Regional Rural Economic Development Organizations

Regional Rural EDOs

Regional Advertising and Promotion Technical Assistance Regional Rural Development Grant Administration Marketing and Recruitment Strategic Planning Rural Area of Opportunity Coordinator and Liaison

Advantages of Regional Partnering

Economies of Scale Many rural counties can't afford a full business recruitment and marketing program Smaller counties and municipalities can't generate activity to justify full-time, professional staff Advertising and Promotion is more affordable and effective when deployed regionally Recruitment is more efficient on a regional scale

The Northwest Florida Business Development Council, Inc.

The Northwest Florida Rural Area of Opportunity Florida

Who is “Opportunity Florida”

 A Florida Not for Profit 501c6 Organization

 The Northwest Florida Business Development Council, Inc.  A Public – Private Partnership

 Economic Development Organizations (Chambers and EDOs)  Private Enterprise

– Utilities – Banks – Engineering Firms



CareerSource Chiplola



CareerSource Gulf Coast



County and Municipal Governments

Opportunity Florida “Statement of Purpose” “Opportunity Florida's purpose is to promote

beneficial economic growth in an eight county region in Northwest Florida by providing technical assistance to economic development organizations and businesses and by working together with local, regional and state organizations to market the region to business and government

• fficials”

Opportunity Florida Area of Service Nine (9) Counties 211,000 Population Jackson Largest County Liberty Smallest County All Contain Rural Enterprise Zones All in Counties in NWFL Rural Area

• f Opportunity

Member County Web Site Links to Each County Interactive Map Economic Development Incentives Enterprise Zone Information Links

Features and Benefits of Regional Membership

Features and Benefits of Regional Membership Interactive Properties and Demographics Research And Search Capabilities GISPlanning

Under Construction Pardon our Progress!

Rural Regional Development Grant

Regional Grant Up to $100,000 Promotes Regional Development – Technical Assistance – Marketing and Promotion – Regional Planning – Scholarships – Business Recruitment

Business Recruitment Allied Marketing and Consultant Events Project Handling and Assistance Project Referral Proposal Preparation Local Strategic Planning Facilitation and Coordination Project Advocacy Support to EFI and DEO Rural Boot Camp Competitive Communities Initiative Features and Benefits of Regional Membership

Large Scale Projects of Regional Significance

Florida Rural Broadband North

Large Scale Projects of Regional Significance

“MegaSite” – Florida Alabama Partnership

 2400 Acre North

Jackson County Site

 East of Campbellton,

Florida

 2 miles South of State

Line

 Large Manufacturing Site  Cooperative Effort

Between Florida and Alabama

 Economic Impact Study

Commissioned

Large Scale Projects of Regional Significance

Large Scale Projects of Regional Significance

Jim Brook Executive Director 850.270.3117 jimbrook@opportunityflorida.com www.opportunityflorida.com

The Northwest Florida Business Development Group, Inc. 4636 Highway 90 Suite K Marianna, FL 32446

Beth Kirkland, CEcD 2014 Rural Summit November 6, 2014

Consider….

 What economic development organizations are facing

today

 The basic types of economic development organizations

and their functions

 Regional ‘fit’  Tapping into low cost resources  How to leverage regional and state partners

What’s happening?

 Globalization of the economy

 “Your competition ain’t just across the state line any

more”.

 Growing role of technology

 The Internet has become the “weapon of choice” for site

selection consultants, labor force analytics and corporate real estate executives.

 EDO’s are becoming more innovative

 Leveraging strengths for today  Preparing product for tomorrow

Public Private Public-Private

Public EDO’s

 Local governments

 “First line” of economic development

 Regional planning organizations

 Handle infrastructure and transportation issues

 State economic development organizations

 Main channels of federal and state dollar resources

Public EDO’s

Key Characteristics Some Tools

 Public funding  Access to and influence on

government decision makers

 Play a significant role in

formulating government policy

 Infrastructure improvements  Eminent domain  Ownership of land  Control of right of ways  Zoning & regulatory powers  Special permits  Special improvement districts  Tax increment financing tools

(TIF’s)

 Construction & operation of public

facilities

 Tax & non-tax incentives  Business Retention & expansion  Entrepreneurial/minority business

assistance

Public Private Public-Private

Private Economic Development Organizations

 Not-for-profit EDO’s

 Many created during and after the Recession to help balance

municipal, county and state budget deficits. “Board governs; CEO manages; staff performs”

 Chambers of commerce

 Traditional leaders in marketing, recruitment, retention,

entrepreneurial assistance and tourism

 Community Development Corporations (CDC’s)

 Legislatively created funding conduits to meet specific community

needs

 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI’s)

 Designated by U.S. Treasury Department to create private

institutions to promote community development in low-income areas

Private EDO’s

Key Characteristics

 Express mandate of promoting

economic growth

 No public control of governance

and no formal links to government

 Free from direct public scrutiny  Rely on internal decision-

making process to act quickly

 Staff usually has direct access

to public & private leaders via its board of directors who are selected because of their ability to influence the allocation of resources

Public Private Public-Private

Public-Private EDO’s

 Long-term, shared commitments between public & private

sectors

 Board of directors has broad public & private sector

representation

 Greater flexibility than public EDO’s  Funding provided by both public & private stakeholders  Focused policy agenda on recruitment, retention,

marketing, workforce training, venture capital, technology development, & technical assistance

Public-Private EDO’s

Key Characteristics

 Clearly defined missions addressing

both public & private sector concerns

 Internal autonomy over the

• rganization

 Consensus on the mission and how to

accomplish it

 Adequate funding to achieve goals  Commitment of both the public &

private sectors

 Established performance measures

that justify continued support and funding

FULL SERVICE EDO FUNCTIONS

 Research & Information  Marketing & Promotion  Financing & Incentives  Training & HR Programming  Site Location Assistance & Site

Development

 International Trade  Community Development  Market Development  Technical Assistance  Long Range Planning  Ombudsman & Community

Organizer

 Catalyst & Convener of

Information

 Social Media Manager  Export Assistance  Post Disaster Management

WHAT’S YOUR EDO’S VERSION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

Know Your Product

 Buildings & Sites  Labor Force  Transportation Assets  Where do you fit into your region?

 Population center/MSA  Transportation Asset (Port, Rail, Major connector)  Rural Area of Opportunity  Utility  Industrial Park

Are you engaged?

 Enterprise Florida Stakeholders Council  Career Source Florida  Space Florida  DEO  FEDC  Regional partnership/EDO  Rural Area of Opportunity  NFLEDP ED 101 Academy

Easy metrics with guaranteed ROI

Leveraging Regional & State EDOs

 Product Development

 Rural Economic Development Initiative  Competitive Florida Partnership  Utility Partner Programs  Site Certification process

 Marketing

 Linking to more established Websites  FreightMovesFlorida.com  Regional Consultant Missions (inbound/outbound)  EFIs Team Florida

 Data

 PoweringFlorida.com  DEOs Labor Market Information  Regional Planning Councils (REMI and Implan)

Leveraging Regional & State EDOs

 Business Development

 Know your EFI BD manager  Know your EFI Capital Programs partner  Team with RAO or regional EDO for proposal

development and project management

 Implement a formal BRE program

 Small Business Development Center  Local Career Source office  Education partners  Community Development partners