Economic Development for Villages E. Rod Davisson, Esq., LEED-AP

Why Did You Run for Office? Economic Development 2 Why Did You Run for Office? What is the Main thing you want to accomplish?

Economic Development Explained 3 Economic Development Explained What is Economic Development? Definitions are inconsistent More jobs More income More business Community specific

Be A Champion Be a Champion for your town Know your story History Economic Development 4 Be A Champion Be a Champion for your town Know your story History Character Aspirations Be Relentless Work Promote Communicate Reputation + Relationships = Business

Develop a Strategy Plan for Success General Strategic Plan Economic Development 5 Develop a Strategy Plan for Success General Strategic Plan A written, formalized program of work / business plan Stand-alone E.D. Website A written, formalized Business Retention and Expansion Program Product and infrastructure strategies (short- and long-term) speculative building program Formalized local incentive policy A written, formalized Small Business and Entrepreneur Program

Economic Development 6 Develop Your People No one will come if there are no qualified available employees Preparation Partners High Schools Trade Schools Colleges/Universities Public Private Partnerships Obetzjobs.com example

Know your Brutal Reality Economic Development 7 Know your Brutal Reality Good plans start with realistic and targeted introspection Know who you are Know what you want to be Don’t chase pipe dreams…evolve smartly Make your plan attainable What is your brutal reality?

Embrace the Envy We are the same (kind of) Same powers Same people Economic Development 8 Embrace the Envy We are the same (kind of) Same powers Same people Same opportunities Same dreams Different execution Steal liberally

Make Development a Priority Economic Development 9 Make Development a Priority Development is Critical to Dreaming What do you want to do? How much will it cost? What are your sources of income? How can you increase income? How can you decrease expenses? Focus on Development Don’t be pennywise and Pound Foolish

Understand your Toolbox Economic Development 10 Understand your Toolbox Incentives for Attraction State JobsOhio Six Partners Find Yours County Search your county

Local Incentives Toolbox Economic Development Local Incentives Toolbox CRA Community Reinvestment Area. Allows you to abate property taxes. Pre 1994 and Post-1994 have different rules. TIFF Tax Increment Financing. Allows you to capture other governments’ tax money to build new infrastructure like roads. Land Acquisition Helping companies to get land for locating. Do you have a Community Improvement Corporation? If no, why not? Income Tax Incentives Programs to lessen or eliminate the Company’s corporate tax liability. Typically measured by withholdings. Utilities/Infrastructure Do you have utilities? The Constitution of Ohio allows you to develop them. Do you have broadband? Do you have a plan to get it?

Build Inviting Infrastructure Economic Development 12 Build Inviting Infrastructure Why does anyone want to come to you? Is your downtown nice? Are your roads passable? Do you have a location advantage? Do you have a benefactor? Can you shop in town? Do you have recreation?

Develop Relationships Economic Development 13 Develop Relationships What is your status with… State County Port Authority Township School District Neighboring Cities or Villages You need them!

Anytime, Anywhere Easy ways to lose the competition… Economic Development 14 Anytime, Anywhere Easy ways to lose the competition… Fight in Front of the Kids Showboat Ring Kissing Exercises Refuse to Work No message discipline

Have Processes that Win Economic Development 15 Have Processes that Win Evaluate your Processes How long does it take to get zoning clearance? What are your fee structures? How long for a building permit? How long for an inspection? Impact fees? Return phone calls? How fast are your partners?

BRE—Business Retention and Expansion Economic Development 16 BRE—Business Retention and Expansion Overwhelmingly, new growth comes from within. What are you doing to keep them? Regular Meetings Formalized Programs Business Liaisons

Where to Go For Help Training and Information Available at: Economic Development 17 Where to Go For Help Training and Information Available at: Ohio Municipal League JobsOhio Your County Government International Economic Development Council Local Development Agencies (Mid-Ohio Development Exchange) Other Municipalities E. Rod Davisson, Esq. rdavisson@obetz.oh.us/614.409.4403