By Kris Collins
The Taney County Business Development Partnership is taking another
step to make the Tri-Lakes Area more attractive to new businesses.
The Partnership, in collaboration with the Missouri Partnership
and Springfield Regional Economic Partnership, soon will learn the pros
and cons the Tri-Lakes Area offers for business developers through a
mock test. The three have employed InSite Consulting, LLC, to act as a
business developer interested in the county, looking at sites.
Garrett Anderson, director of economic development for the city
of Branson, said the mock evaluation would provide the county with
information on how to better handle site location inquiries in a more
timely fashion.
“Ultimately, it helps speed up the process,” Anderson said. “We
usually only have a couple of days to respond when inquiries come in.
When we’re better prepared, we’re in a better position to give a
positive and favorable response where we may be favored. It’s a matter
of being prepared.” More here.
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Craven leaders consider new twist in economic development plan
By Sue Book, Sun Journal Staff
Consultants hired to draft a Craven County strategic economic development plan suggest the best way to get jobs is with a multi-government, business and civic nonprofit partnership group.
The unexpected conclusion about how to replace the Craven County Economic Development Commission, which was dissolved and its staff eliminated about a year ago, was relayed to Craven County Board of Commissioners last week in a budget work session.
The steering committee got the report from RKG Associates Inc. at a meeting recently and plan to present it more formally to commissioners after they have digested and analyzed its contents more thoroughly, probably in June.
The recommendation for a 501(C)3 nonprofit group comes just as Craven County Manager Jack Veit is set to interview a second round of candidates for a new county staff position for economic development, which is funded in the proposed budget. More here.
Consultants hired to draft a Craven County strategic economic development plan suggest the best way to get jobs is with a multi-government, business and civic nonprofit partnership group.
The unexpected conclusion about how to replace the Craven County Economic Development Commission, which was dissolved and its staff eliminated about a year ago, was relayed to Craven County Board of Commissioners last week in a budget work session.
The steering committee got the report from RKG Associates Inc. at a meeting recently and plan to present it more formally to commissioners after they have digested and analyzed its contents more thoroughly, probably in June.
The recommendation for a 501(C)3 nonprofit group comes just as Craven County Manager Jack Veit is set to interview a second round of candidates for a new county staff position for economic development, which is funded in the proposed budget. More here.
Another economic development deal goes sour
From the Beaufort Observer
We here at the Observer have contended for sometime now that care should be taken by government officials before they take risks with taxpayers' money. We think economic development incentives can be a good and effective way to promote economic growth and development but that no all such grants are sound.
We are currently researching one such grant. That is one that was obtained to run a sewer line down River Road to service an expansion of the Carver Machine Works facility. The grant was supposed to create a prescribed number of jobs and when Carver failed to do so the state refused to disperse all of the promised grant money. The county and City of Washington taxpayers were stuck with some $200,000 in "clawbacks."
We've not finished the research on this project but what we have already learned is that it was not a good deal. The primary reason for this assessment is that the officials who negotiated the grant and the Board of Commissioners and City Council failed in a simple, well accepted strategy in such undertakings: They failed to secure adequate collateral to cover the risk. When Carver fell short, Carver had no obligation to cover the clawback the taxpayers were forced to swallow. More here.
We here at the Observer have contended for sometime now that care should be taken by government officials before they take risks with taxpayers' money. We think economic development incentives can be a good and effective way to promote economic growth and development but that no all such grants are sound.
We are currently researching one such grant. That is one that was obtained to run a sewer line down River Road to service an expansion of the Carver Machine Works facility. The grant was supposed to create a prescribed number of jobs and when Carver failed to do so the state refused to disperse all of the promised grant money. The county and City of Washington taxpayers were stuck with some $200,000 in "clawbacks."
We've not finished the research on this project but what we have already learned is that it was not a good deal. The primary reason for this assessment is that the officials who negotiated the grant and the Board of Commissioners and City Council failed in a simple, well accepted strategy in such undertakings: They failed to secure adequate collateral to cover the risk. When Carver fell short, Carver had no obligation to cover the clawback the taxpayers were forced to swallow. More here.
Report: Walton County lags in economic development
Walton County economic development efforts are threatened by a “lack of creative and strategic thinking” and weakened by a limited pool of skilled labor, strategic planners have found.
County officials must outline clear goals for the future, commit financially to economic growth and consider partnering with a neighboring economic development organization “that could provide expertise and assistance,” the planners said.
Developed by the Institute for Senior Professionals from Northwest Florida State College, the Walton County Economic Development Alliance Strategic Plan 2013 will be presented to county commissioners Tuesday.
Read the report. >>
Lincoln economy on top of its game
Ten years ago, to the day, economic development consultant Angelos Angelou gave Lincoln some sobering marching recommendations.
Aside from the organizing, meeting, targeting, soul-searching, rethinking and play-nice kind of advice, he said: "I think Lincoln has to basically trust, first, Lincoln. And people in Lincoln have to trust themselves for making the right decisions.
"The thing we've talked about over and over again is information does not flow very well in Lincoln. People don't know a whole lot of the basic elements of the city. They are probably their own worst promoters of Lincoln. Being excited and energetic and the level of enthusiasm, that is all about economic development. More here.
Aside from the organizing, meeting, targeting, soul-searching, rethinking and play-nice kind of advice, he said: "I think Lincoln has to basically trust, first, Lincoln. And people in Lincoln have to trust themselves for making the right decisions.
"The thing we've talked about over and over again is information does not flow very well in Lincoln. People don't know a whole lot of the basic elements of the city. They are probably their own worst promoters of Lincoln. Being excited and energetic and the level of enthusiasm, that is all about economic development. More here.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Great Lakes region pins economic hopes on water
By
John Flesher -
MILWAUKEE -- A century ago, the seven-story brick building a few blocks from downtown was a factory - a symbol of an era when Milwaukee and other cities ringing the Great Lakes were industrial powerhouses churning out steel, automobiles and appliances. Eventually the region's manufacturing core crumbled, and the structure became an all-but-forgotten warehouse.
Now it's getting a makeover and a new mission. It will reopen this summer as a hive of business experimentation swarming with scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. They'll share a lab where new technologies can be tested. Office suites will host startup companies, including one devising a system for cultivating algae as biofuel, another producing a type of pavement that lets rainwater seep into the ground instead of flooding sewers.
The center is part of a broader effort unfolding across the Great Lakes region to regain lost prosperity by developing a "blue economy" - a network of industries that develop products and services related to water, from pump and valve manufacturers to resorts offering vacations along redeveloped lakeshores.
As growing water scarcity casts a shadow over the economic boom in warmer states, many in the long-scorned northlands are hoping they can finally make their abundance of freshwater a magnet for businesses and jobs that are now going elsewhere. More here.
MILWAUKEE -- A century ago, the seven-story brick building a few blocks from downtown was a factory - a symbol of an era when Milwaukee and other cities ringing the Great Lakes were industrial powerhouses churning out steel, automobiles and appliances. Eventually the region's manufacturing core crumbled, and the structure became an all-but-forgotten warehouse.
Now it's getting a makeover and a new mission. It will reopen this summer as a hive of business experimentation swarming with scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. They'll share a lab where new technologies can be tested. Office suites will host startup companies, including one devising a system for cultivating algae as biofuel, another producing a type of pavement that lets rainwater seep into the ground instead of flooding sewers.
The center is part of a broader effort unfolding across the Great Lakes region to regain lost prosperity by developing a "blue economy" - a network of industries that develop products and services related to water, from pump and valve manufacturers to resorts offering vacations along redeveloped lakeshores.
As growing water scarcity casts a shadow over the economic boom in warmer states, many in the long-scorned northlands are hoping they can finally make their abundance of freshwater a magnet for businesses and jobs that are now going elsewhere. More here.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Why Northern Kentucky economic development is flying high
Northern
Kentucky has generated lots of economic announcements in the past
year--business expansions here, job expansions there--and the momentum
continues into this year. Much of the growth is thanks to a wealth of
resources such as available land, a well-trained workforce and nearby
transportation, including the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
Airport and DHL.
The economic development organization for Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, attracts about 22 new projects a year. Senior Vice President Karen Finan said last year there were 24 that generated $300 million in capital investment and thousands of jobs. She's projecting another signature year for the region.
"Right now, we have ten projects that we have announced; we have over 500 jobs that have been created and over $80 million in capital investment," said Finan. "The first half of this year has been very strong, in part, because of the pipeline we have established in attracting and creating that awareness about Northern Kentucky." More here.
The economic development organization for Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, attracts about 22 new projects a year. Senior Vice President Karen Finan said last year there were 24 that generated $300 million in capital investment and thousands of jobs. She's projecting another signature year for the region.
"Right now, we have ten projects that we have announced; we have over 500 jobs that have been created and over $80 million in capital investment," said Finan. "The first half of this year has been very strong, in part, because of the pipeline we have established in attracting and creating that awareness about Northern Kentucky." More here.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Regional economic development group Thrive rebrands
Thrive, the eight-county economic development group for south-central Wisconsin, is now the Madison Region Economic Partnership.
The new name, a new logo, and the next round of plans for growth were unveiled Thursday at the organization’s State of the Region summit, along with a report showing the Madison area is not keeping up with peer regions in jobs, income or population gains. Read more.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Iowa economic development boss defends expenses
The director of Iowa's Economic Development Authority is defending
her substantial travel spending, saying it's necessary to promote the
state.
Debi Durham said Monday that spending will be going up as she and others continue to sell the state across the world.
"We are going to go out and make calls. We are going to travel the world," she said. "It is only going to increase."
She came under fire last month after WHO-TV in Des Moines reported she spent more than $73,000 on travel in the 2012 fiscal year. Gov. Terry Branstad soon came to her defense, saying Durham "works day and night for the taxpayers of Iowa." More here.
Information from: Sioux City Journal, http://www.siouxcityjournal.com
Debi Durham said Monday that spending will be going up as she and others continue to sell the state across the world.
"We are going to go out and make calls. We are going to travel the world," she said. "It is only going to increase."
She came under fire last month after WHO-TV in Des Moines reported she spent more than $73,000 on travel in the 2012 fiscal year. Gov. Terry Branstad soon came to her defense, saying Durham "works day and night for the taxpayers of Iowa." More here.
Information from: Sioux City Journal, http://www.siouxcityjournal.com
Thursday, May 09, 2013
Iowa’s Creative Corridor hires company to market region.
Chelsea Keenan, The Gazette
Economic development groups hope a new partnership with a site selection company it hopes will boost business interest in the Corridor.
The Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) and Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, two of the seven counties that make up Iowa’s Creative Corridor, hired Site Location Partnership (SLP) to represent and market the region at industry trade shows.
SLP, a Dallas-based consultant, will market the corridor’s advanced manufacturing, bio processing, food ingredients, distribution and logistics industries, among others, to companies interested in expanding or relocating to the Corridor. More here.
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