Alachua County Economic Development

1. Alachua County Economic Development Background and Vision Tuesday, February 15, 2005

2. Why Economic Development? Cities and Counties across the country recognize economic development is a legitimate role of local government. • A healthy economy provides the tax base necessary to provide long-term funding of public infrastructure and services • Generates jobs necessary to alleviate poverty and provide opportunities for citizens

3. Principle Tax Base Problem Every review of Alachua County in recent decades has recognized the structural problem of having too much property off the Ad Valorum tax rolls. 54 % ON 46% OFF

4. Economic Development When discussing economic development, it should be noted that economic systems are very similar to ecological systems. They both require growth, regeneration and diversity in order to be sustainable.

5. Economic Development Cycle

6. Background: Comprehensive Plan Both the County’s Economic Element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the Sustainable Economic Development Plan recognize that there are four key elements to Business Development in Alachua County • Capital Projects • Business Expansion • Business Start-Ups • Job Training

7. Background: Economic Element of the Comprehensive Plan Policy 1.1.9 – Alachua County recognizes Research and Technology Parks as valuable economic assets…. Development of such parks…shall be given high priority. Policy 1.1.12 – Alachua County shall promote methods of financing infrastructure and public services that will minimize cost to current and future tax payers. Policy. 1.3.2 – Alachua County shall encourage the development and expansion of business and industry in appropriate locations that make efficient use of existing public services and infrastructure

8. Background: Economic Element of the Comprehensive Plan Policy 1.4.3 – Alachua County shall support and encourage the development of public/private partnerships which assist small and minority businesses that may otherwise not have access to adequate start up capital. Policy 1.4.4 – The County shall create incentives for the development or redevelopment of specific economically distressed areas by sharing or incurring the cost of extending essential infrastructure to those areas. Policy 1.4.7 – Alachua County shall support the development of micro-enterprises and small businesses Policy 1.4.8 – Alachua County shall support existing businesses and encourage new business development in economically distressed areas.

9. Background: Current Efforts Many different agencies and organizations are working on Economic Development in various areas of the County. Therefore, our current efforts tend to be fragmented and not cohesive. With common goals and coordinated efforts our local economic development endeavors could be much more productive and effective.

10. Background: Partnerships and Progress Many area groups engaged in Economic Development efforts including: • Alachua County • City of Gainesville • Chamber of Commerce • Regional Planning Council • Municipalities • East Gainesville Dev. Corp. • Sm. Business Dev. Ctr. • Workforce Board • University of Florida • Santa Fe Comm. College • School Board • Front Porch Florida • Faith Based Organizations • Econ. Dev. Adv. Comm. • Healthy Comm. Initiative • … and more

11. Background: Current Countywide Efforts • Business Park Development (County) • Implementation of Plan East Gainesville including the CRA (County/City of Gainesville) • Fairgrounds Relocation (County) • GTEC Collaboration to Commercialize Technology (County/City of Gainesville/Chamber) • Job Training (Workforce Board)

12. Alachua County Current Funding * - Recurs for 2 more years at $25,000 $400,000 represents 0.42% of the Fiscal Year 04/05 Adopted General Fund Budget

13. City of Gainesville Current Efforts • Implementation of Plan East Gainesville including the CRA (County/City of Gainesville) • GTEC Collaboration to Commercialize Technology (County/City of Gainesville/Chamber) • Recruiting Businesses for Airport Business Park (City of Gainesville) • Land Assembly around the GTEC Center (City of Gainesville)

14. City of Gainesville Enterprise Zone Development Agency Current Efforts • Working to revitalize the enterprise zone • Reviews applications for incentives in the Zone • Completed a study on land development in the zone

15. City of Gainesville Enterprise Zone Development Agency Current Efforts

16. City of Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency Current Efforts Is working to redevelop four areas within the City of Gainesville: • Downtown Redevelopment Districts • Eastside Redevelopment District • Fifth Avenue/Pleasant Street District • College Park/University Heights Development is funded by Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

17. City of Gainesville Current Funding * - Recurs for 3 more years at $25,000 $582,561 represents 0.70% of the Fiscal Year 04/05 Adopted General Fund Budget

18. Chamber of Commerce’s Gainesville Council for Economic Outreach Current Efforts 3 Strategies for Economic Development • Attraction: • Nordstrom, Dollar General, Wal-Mart distribution centers • Eclipse Aviation maintenance facility • Currently working more than 15 active projects • Expansion: • Nationwide, Exactech, MRI Devices, Regeneration Technologies • More than $125,000 obtained for incumbent worker training at local businesses • Currently working a local project to add 300 jobs • Start-up: • Management entity for Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center (GTEC) • 10 resident companies at various stages of development

19. North Central Florida Regional Planning CouncilCurrent Efforts • Works to diversify the economy of the 11 County North Central Florida Region. • Serves as a forum for the coordination of federal/state/local government and private sector planning • Promote environmentally responsible tourism through out the region

20. University of Florida Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator: Current Efforts Florida’s Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator is one of top incubators in the United States. They've recently had several program "firsts": • 1st company to list on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) • 1st product cleared by Food and Drug Administration for human clinical trials • 1st graduate company to build lab/office space • 1st large corporate collaboration (Genzyme) • 1st large equity investment in incubator company – $15.2 million

21. Santa Fe Community College Current Efforts Santa Fe Community College East Gainesville Initiative seeks to play a leading role in the development of East Gainesville. Some of the initiative’s efforts are: • Pre-school and adult literacy programs • FRED (Fathers Reading Every Day) programs • FCAT assistance in middle and high schools • Partnership with Three Rivers Legal Services to provide Parent Empowerment • Adult Education and GED preparation • Community Wide Financial Literacy Training • 21st Century Computer initiative with local Faith Based Organizations

22. East Gainesville Development Corporation Current Efforts Received two Florida Department of Education Literacy Grants • Comprehensive Family Literacy ($75,000) • Family Computer Literacy ($50,000) • Received a Micro-Loan grant of $74,500 to assist small Businesses in the Front Porch area

23. Front PorchCurrent Efforts • The Duval Heights area Front Porch Community is engaged in many Efforts to transform the Community including: • Youth/Education – Address the need for increased services and educational instruction. • Crime and Neighborhood Security – Reduce crime throughout the Northeast/Duval Neighborhood Area. • Human Services and Neighborhood Organization – Improve the services available to elderly residents and residents needing home repairs, resources and other basic needs.

24. Front Porch Current Efforts • The Duval Heights area Front Porch Community is engaged in many Efforts to transform the Community including: • Economic Development – To focus on efforts on the provision of incentives, auxiliary services and economic infrastructure to attract business in the neighborhood. • Beautification – To focus on neighborhood beautification efforts and encouragement to residents. • Quality of Life – Aid in improving the overall quality of life for the residents by adding value to the community.

25. Local Economic Development Current Funding

26. County Perspective on Future Efforts Alachua County is focusing on: • Implementing Plan East Gainesville • Long-Term Commitments to Capital Projects (multi-year efforts) • Activity Center/Redevelopment Plans • Poverty Reduction/Entrepreneurial Charter School • Community Redevelopment Agency • Collaboration with small cities

27. Economic Development To foster economic development at the desirable level: • Additional public investment in infrastructure and capital projects • New initiatives for job creation and job training • Greater collaboration with partners • Leveraging private sector investments

28. Public/Private PartnershipsPhases of Poverty Reduction Through Economic Development

29. Public/Private PartnershipsPhase I of Poverty Reduction Through Economic Development:The Entrepreneurial Charter School Model

30. Building on Success The Entrepreneurial Charter School Model is the first phase of a comprehensive collaborative economic development strategy for Alachua County.

31. ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARTER SCHOOL

32. Thinking OUTSIDE the box POVERTY REDUCTION

33. Partners • School Board of Alachua County • Alachua County Govt. • City of Gainesville Govt. • Santa Fe Community College • University of Florida • Chamber of Commerce • Private Sector • GTEC • Business Service Orgs. • Action Network • City College • Alachua/Bradford Regional Workforce Board • Univ. No. Fla. Small Business Development Ctr. • Faith-Based Organizations • United Gville Dev. Corp. • SCORE • Trade Unions • Webster College • Alachua Regional Juvenile Assessment Ctr. Adv. Board • United Gville Dev. Corp. • Lending Institutions

34. Entrepreneurial Charter SchoolBenefits Community: • Development of home-grown business leaders • Reduction in welfare dollars spent • Reduction in juvenile crime and associated costs Participating Youth: • Learn a meaningful profession • Better prepared for the career world • Increased sense of value within the community • Increased self-esteem, independence and self-worth

35. Decrease in criminal justice system costs Reduction in high school drop-out rates Reduction in poverty levels Intergovernmental & community collaboration Decrease in births to women under 18 Improved socio-economic environment for the citizens of Alachua County HOPE for the future ECS: Target Outcomes

36. Opportunities High school graduation Certification in a profession $100,000 Small Business Loan Entrepreneurial Charter School

37. Public/Private PartnershipsPhase II of Poverty Reduction Through Economic Development:Countywide 2020 Vision of Economic Development

38. Background: Strategic Plan for Sustainable Economic Development • Enhance strategies and monitor results of anti-poverty educational, training and placement programs…. (I.D) • Enable Alachua County to become a leader in the development and expansion of businesses in the technology and telecommunications sectors, known as the “New Economy.” (II.A) • Develop Business Parks (Employment Centers) integrated with residential and retail development where feasible (II.E)

39. Background: Strategic Plan for Sustainable Economic Development • Encourage development, expansion retention of local business as well as opportunities for recruitment and relocation of future businesses (III.A) • Target economic development efforts in specific areas that increase diversity and opportunity of employment, while supporting and expanding existing assets (III.B)

40. Public/Private PartnershipsPhase II Proposed Economic Development Structure The Subcommittees shall meet quarterly as the Countywide Economic Development Advisory Board.

41. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure • Overview of the Council on Economic Development: • Be comprised of the City and County Commissions sitting jointly in the same style as the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO). • Retain all decision making power over Joint Economic Development Planning (e.g. budgeting, fiscal decisions, policy making, planning, project selection, personnel). • Receive and act on recommendations from Executive Board and Countywide Economic Development Advisory Board.

42. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure

43. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure • Overview of the Director of Economic Development: • Report directly to the Council on Economic Development. • Remain an employee of the City of Gainesville and be equally funded by the City and County Commissions • Coordinate all economic development activities as directed by the Council on Economic Development. • Work with all groups to build consensus and foster coordination on all economic development activities. • Encourage economic development and present a coordinated image to our community and beyond

44. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure

45. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure

46. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure • The Economic Development Executive Board will be comprised of: • 2 County Commissioners • 3 Gainesville City Commissioners • President of the University of Florida or a designee • President of Santa Fe Community College or a designee • Chair of the School Board of Alachua County or a designee • Chair of the Alachua County League of Cities or a designee • President of the Chamber of the Commerce or a designee • President of Sustainable Alachua County or a designee

47. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure • Overview of the Economic Development Executive Board: • Hear recommendations and proposals related to economic development on matters of funding levels, project selection, policy and all other appropriate matters • Upon receipt of recommendations the Board will either forward the recommendation to the Council or refer the item back to committee. • As well as develop criteria • for the subcommittees

48. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure

49. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure • Subcommittee on Capital Projects will work to implement Comprehensive and Strategic Plans such as: • Section II.E – Develop Business Parks (Employment Centers) integrated with residential and retail development where feasible • Policy 1.1.9 – Alachua County recognizes Research and Technology Parks as valuable economic assets…. Development of such parks…shall be given high priority. • Policy 1.1.12 – Alachua County shall promote methods of financing infrastructure and public services that will minimize cost to current and future tax payers. • Policy 1.4.4 – The County shall create incentives for the development or redevelopment of specific economically distressed areas by sharing or incurring the cost of extending essential infrastructure to those areas.

50. Public/Private Partnerships Phase II Proposed Economic Development Structure • Overview of the Subcommittee on Capital Projects: • Working with Executive Board and other entities to identify projects that meet the goals of the Comprehensive and Strategic Plans • Working to develop capital projects that stimulate business growth • Targeting areas such as Enterprise Zones, Business Parks, CRA and other previously agreed to locations • Creating jobs that pay a Livable Wage & Benefits • Ensuring Capital Projects must remain here over the life of the capitalization of the loan