Economic Development

A Holistic & Comprehensive Approach To Job Growth & Investment

The approach for the economic development issues team is to work closely with the Creative Economy & Film, Workforce Development & PostSecondary Ed., International Business & Trade, Alternative Fuels and Energy, Marine Industry and Transportation Issues Teams to  look for opportunities to stimulate job growth and investment in our county and region while ensuring compatible legislation developed by the Governor of the State of Florida.

Team Leaders:

Deborah Wilkinson, Broward County Office of Economic & Small Business Development, #954.357.8076, dwilkinson@broward.org; Jose Cortes, Skanska USA Building #954 378 2049, Jose.Cortes@skanska.com

Team Members for all economic development committees:

Dr. Linda D. Bolitho, United Nations World Education Committee; Bob Caine, Project Caine; John Grassi, Global Entrepreneur; Gary Hines, Broward County School Public Schools; Les Hollingsworth, Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management; Mason Jackson, Workforce One; Rob Jindracek, Broward County Public Schools; Dick Kip, AEA; Chris Long, Balfour Beatty Construction; Michael Madfis, The Madfis Group; JC Nadeau, Florida Natural Energy LLC; John R Pisula, State Farm; Andrea Reitor; David J. Rivera, City of Coconut Creek; Roy Rogers, Jr.; Al Siefert, Al Siefert Electric; Robert Van Fleet, The Las Olas Company; Greg Vayda, Florida Power & Light; Doug Weber, Paladin Global Partners; Frank Herhold, Marine Industry Association of South Florida; Manuel Mencia, International Department, Enterprise Florida; Elizabeth Wentworth,  Film Industry, Office of Economic & Small business Development; Amy Evancho, Florida Economic Development Council 

Mission:

Our team will harness the economic energies of the tri-county region to optimize positioning the region for state and federal funding and advocate for the region's economic development issues in creating jobs and capital investment.

Issues:

Recruiting, attracting, retaining and expanding businesses and industry in Broward; continuing to assure the County and the region that it has the necessary talent in workforce and education - vital components in making the region a global player in today's marketplace.

In recent U.S.studies, it has become apparent that state, regional and local economic developers must continually update and revise their marketing plans and programs in order to grow, prosper and maintain their unique quality of life for future economic development sustainability. In order to effectively implement these plans and programs, the region must have a strong Economic Plan and work closely with its economic development partners to address economic issues and rising unemployment in Broward County.

This group will address both public and private sector concerns and take their ideas and plans to the legislature that can be used to stimulate Broward County and the region’s economy.  Four priorities in economic development include:

1. Support funding for Florida’s Economic Development Transportation Fund (Road Fund) without offsets for individual projects at$20 million. This is one of Florida’s oldest and most successful economic development incentive programs and is designed to keep our state competitive in attracting high wage jobs. Because of rising costs and increased project activity, more allocation is needed in order to improve our competitiveness. 
2. Support funding Florida’s Economic Development TOOL KIT such as funding for technical assistance in the Economic Gardening Program.  These incentives (investments) are critical after a community is “short listed” in the site selection process.  Shortlist competitors are usually equal and incentives offered by the competing states often “tip the scale” toward a single location. Economic Gardening is a new pilot program launched in 2009 and has proved to be successful in the first quarter of grants given to qualified “Stage 2”  companies.
3. Support the funding for Quick Response Training Program ($5 million) and restore the program funding to Recurring. The best investment we can make is in our workforce.  Training programs such as QRT ensure that Florida has an available and appropriately skilled workforce to meet the demands of our  growing high wage employers.
4. Support Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program 5-year Re-authorization.   These incentives are critical in keeping Florida competitive.  FEDC does not support Removal of the Ad valorem taxes.  Businesses to be able to receive refunds for “Ad valorem taxes paid as defined in S.220.03(1) should continue.

 

Date Submitted: 02/16/10