Economic Development Strategic Plan Overview City Commission Meeting September 10, 2012 © USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved

What are we doing and why? Why are we updating the Community’s Economic Development Plan? Recovery is 28 months old - still very slow Persistent weakness in labor markets Housing market remains weak-housing/labor go hand in hand Demographics & employment have changed over the past 10 years in North Port In a recent study by POLICOM, Inc., a company that annually measures the 366 metro areas in the US, the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota MSA dropped to #266 in 2012 from #105 in 2004.

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved City Accomplishments Pro-Business City Commission Pro-Business City Administration Adopted Ad Valorem Property Tax Exemption for new and existing businesses Established Economic Development Incentive Fund Suspended Impact Fees on new development for two years City and County joint acquisition of Warm Mineral Springs Strong partnership with Sarasota County-they funded the Economic Development Strategic Plan Update

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Economic Development Accomplishments Hired professional economic development staff Developed comprehensive branding campaign to define the City’s image Implemented a Small Business Assistance Program Attracted the University of South Florida to the City Supported Vision North Port with the Citizens Master Plan Created the Small Business Revolving Loan Guarantee Fund Completed a Hotel Feasibility Study Business and Economic Development Advisory Board provided recommendations on the City’s Sign Ordinance and the Unified Land Development Code Since 2008-Attracted 10 companies, Capital Investment of $69.5 Million, Creating over 489 jobs

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Economic Overview North Port is part of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) of North Port/Bradenton/Sarasota MSA and is the largest city in the three county Combined Statistical Area(CSA) of North Port/Bradenton/Sarasota/Punta Gorda CSA Includes 2 MSA’s- North Port/Bradenton/Sarasota MSA and the Punta Gorda MSA Combined due to commuting patterns YOU ARE PART OF A REGIONAL ECONOMY

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Competitive Market Analysis Summary What is North Port’s Competitive Position? Geographic location in the Naples-Sarasota corridor North Port is part of the Sarasota County brand with good schools and county services What are the gaps to attracting more jobs? Limited land at I-75 that could be developed in the short term (2015) Commerce Park is approaching build-out Charlotte County industrial properties along I-75 and the airport have become more competitive The City has limited inventory to attract businesses City needs to safeguard job creating properties from being developed as residential or strip commercial North Port needs more developer controlled business parks and more multi- family housing to meet the changing housing demands

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Project Overview Economic Development Strategic Plan Update Contract Awarded January 23, 2012 February 21- Kick-off meeting with ED Advisory Board Task Force Contract Completion July 31, 2012 Conducted 26 Key Stakeholder Interviews Interviewed business leaders, elected City and County officials, property owners, developers, etc. Started February 20 and ended March 9, 2012 Focus Groups- 71 Attendees April 5-Morgan Community Center-16 attendees April 12-Toledo Blade Elementary-25 attendees April 14-Warm Mineral Springs-29 attendees Survey Respondents- Over 920 responses Distributed over 6,000 surveys (April 30-May 15) Over 1,200 people started the surveys 400 provided written comments

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Project Overview Community Assessment-Overview Reviewed with Business and Economic Advisory Board Executive Committee and Strategic Plan Task Force June 8, 2012 Community Workshop-August 21, 2012 Reviewed entire Economic Development Strategic Plan Update with the public, Business and Economic Advisory Board Executive Committee and Strategic Plan Task Force 45 Attendees

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Target Industries Concentrate on the five target industries identified by the EDC of Sarasota County and six additional clusters identified in SRI Report and recommended by the FIOG. The EDC of Sarasota County:  Medical & Life Sciences (e.g. Charlotte Heart & Vascular Institute)  Applied Environment Services & Sustainable Systems (e.g. Earth Balance)  Digital Media & Web-enabled Technologies (e.g. FLWebtech, Inc.)  Creative Services (e.g. ROI Media)  Specialty Manufacturing Cluster (e.g. King Plastic Corporation) Additional FIOG recommended clusters are:  Education  Logistics/Distribution  Retail Trade  Construction & Real Estate  Tourism  Warm Mineral Springs By-Products

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Strategic Issues NEED FACILITIES-INVENTORY NEED SHOVEL READY SITES LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE ESPECIALLY AT KEY ACTIVITY CENTERS LIMITED BUILDINGS AND SITES FOR MANUFACTURING, OFFICE, DISTRIBUTION NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE DATA ON BUILDINGS AND SITES FOR INDUSTRIAL, OFFICE, DISTRIBUTION DEVELOP I-75 INTERCHANGE PROPERTIES FOR HIGHEST AND BEST USES FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AS THE LARGEST CITY IN THE REGION, NORTH PORT NEEDS TO EMBRACE AND PROMOTE REGIONALISM

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Economic Development Action Plan MISSION STATEMENT To facilitate the location and expansion of quality businesses by attracting value added jobs; and by working closely with key stakeholders to promote the region as a preferred business destination. Goal 1: FOSTER ECONOMIC GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF EXISTING BUSINESSES Goal 2:DEVELOP PRODUCT - LAND AND BUILDINGS Goal 3:DEVELOP INFRASTRUCTURE Goal 4:DEVELOP TALENT AND WORKFORCE Goal 5: IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT The Plan includes 5 goals, 20 objectives and 56 strategies

Goal 1: Foster Economic Growth and Expansion of Existing Businesses

Goal 2: Develop Product Land and Buildings

Goal 3: Develop Infrastructure

Goal 4: Develop Talent and Workforce

Goal 5: Improve Quality of Life Community Development

© USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved Success Takes Partnerships City and County Governments K-12 and Higher Education Chamber Private Organizations-North Port EDC Workforce Board Business Associations Water Management District, FDOT, Regional Planning Council ED Partners-Regional (Tampa Bay Partnership), Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, State-Enterprise Florida Residents Existing businesses Others

Thank you! Contact Information: Mary Jane Stanley, CEcD Florida Institute of Government at the University of South Florida (813) Robert Gray, AICP Strategic Planning Group (904) © USF FIOG Confidential Material 2011/12 All Rights Reserved