Business & Economic Growth Action Plan Builders Association of North Central Florida (BANCF) Luncheon April 23, 2015

Business & Economic Growth Action Plan On March 2015, the Alachua County Commission unanimously approved the Action Plan. The Action Plan includes 48 recommendations to improve business climate. Collaborative effort between the Gainesville Chamber, Alachua County Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC), Alachua County staff and citizens.

Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) EDAC was created to provide policy recommendations to the BoCC related to the promotion of sustainable economic development activity. In 2012, the advisory board developed a Strategic Plan for Economic Development, which outlined general strategies for Alachua County to pursue. Matthew Webster, Chair Tim Treweek, Vice Chair Marty Goodkind Charles Howe Parker Van Hart Dudley Wade Janie Williams Bill Conrad, Ex Officio, League of Cities Erik Bredfeldt, Ex Officio, City of Gainesville Dr. Jonathan H. Hamilton, Ex Officio, University of Florida Dug Jones, Ex Officio, Santa Fe College Dr. Gunnar Paulson, Ex Officio, Alachua County School Board Current EDAC members:

Workshop Alachua County and the Chamber held a Business and Economic Growth Workshop on April 16, 2014 at the Alachua County Senior Center. The workshop assisted in obtaining feedback on business and economic development conditions of unincorporated Alachua County and make recommendations on how to improve them. The feedback provided the basis of the Action Plan’s recommendations.

Workshop Results Common themes: Process – permitting, inspection, flexibility, and development review. Communication – access to information and customer service. Economic Diversification – manufacturing as well as low skilled job opportunities. Quality of Life – arts/culture, recreation, schools/vocational program Infrastructure – roads, water/sewer, shovel read sites. Many participants stated that there was a need for more of a vision/purpose as well as more specific actionable items and measureable goals in the Strategic Plan.

Business & Economic Growth Action Plan Overview of the Business and Economic Growth Initiative Introduction Overview of Existing Economic & Demographic Information Economic Picture Overview of Each of the Focus Areas Identified by EDAC Focus Area Specific Action Items for Each of the Five Focus Areas Recommendations Matrix Including Action Items, Timeline, and Status Implementation EDAC Strategic Plan and Workshop Table Top Report Appendices

Economic Picture County population was 248,002 in 2013, and projected to grow about 57,000 to 305,387 by Annual population growth rate through 2020 is projected to be about 2,500 people per year, and then decline to about 1,700 per year toward the latter part of this period. This compares to growth rate of about 3,000 people per year in previous decades. The population is relatively young, with the college population comprising more than 20% of the population, and children under 17 making up about 18% of the population. The population in these age groups is expected to grow modestly through The population is getting older. Population aged 65 and older in 2010 (26,627, or about 11% of the total) is projected to increase by more than 50% (to 41,497 in 2020); this older age group is projected to increase to 59,430 people by 2040 and make up 24% of the population.

Economic Picture The population is relatively very educated, with educational attainment in the County exceeding statewide and national level patterns, reflecting the presence of higher education institutions. Unemployment remains low compared to state and national averages, and job growth over the past three years has resulted in declining unemployment rates. Employment is concentrated in few industries. Half of the workforce is concentrated in the Government (including local, state and federal) and Education & Health Services sectors. Income levels are below average. Alachua County per capita personal income ($38,393) is below state ($41,012) and national ($43,735) averages, partly reflecting the lower earning levels of the large student population. Poverty rate is slightly higher than state and national averages. Alachua County poverty rate was 24.6% of the population, dropping to 16.1% when college students living off-campus are not included. The County poverty rate excluding college campus is closer to the state of Florida poverty rate of 15.5%.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic, U.S., Florida and Gainesville MSA Unemployment Rates, (Seasonally Adjusted) January 2000–March Unemployment Rates by Geography

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic and Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Figures as of March Gainesville MSA Employment Distribution by Industry

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic. Figures as of March Employment Distribution by Industry

Household Income Source: U.S. Census, 2013 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Income and Benefits, in 2013 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars

Poverty Map

Effect of Off-Campus College Students on Poverty Rate Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Examining the Effect of Off-Campus College Students on Poverty Rates (SEHSD )

Focus Areas Based on feedback from workshop participants, EDAC and the Chamber of Commerce developed five focus areas from which to establish recommendations for economic development Focus Areas Development Approval Process Improvement Communication Economic Growth and Diversification Quality of LifeInfrastructure

Implementation Matrix *Recommendations will be categorized as either Administrative, which can be completed by staff, or as Policy, which will require policy decisions an direction from the BoCC

Implementation Phase The Economic and Business Growth Action Plan Report provides 48 recommendations in 5 different focus areas: - Recommendations are both short and long term - Some recommendations implemented administratively or through policy decisions by the Commission - Some recommendations require coordination with other stakeholders

Implementation Plan BoCC adopted the Revised Business and Economic Growth Action Plan and detailed Implementation Matrix, including timeframes. EDAC as the designated task force will use monthly meetings to monitor progress to ensure completion of the recommendations. Progress report will be presented biannually to the Board of County Commissioners with opportunities for revisions.

Business & Economic Growth Action Plan April 23, 2015

Moving Forward BoCC directed staff to move forward with the Implementation Plan for the Business and Economic Growth Action Plan, and return to the BoCC biannually to provide a status report.

Business & Economic Growth Workshop Attended by approximately 60 citizens and business affiliates. Participants at 8 tables with a facilitator had a range of discussions, mainly focused around: Perceptions of Economic Development in Alachua County. EDAC Strategic Plan: What should stay, What should go, What needs to be added. Each table provided a summary presentation to entire workshop group at the end of the evening.

Business & Economic Growth Workshop “The workshop was an excellent opportunity to have our business community come together with our County government to collaboratively sit down, evaluate the direction we are headed, the policies that are in place, and the things that are working and things that are not working”. “The next steps...will be to take this information and organize it and then working in concert with the Chamber and the County, identify those things that can be acted upon quickly. Then to go through them one at a time, the action steps that are identified, and implement them to improve the economic climate and desirability of doing business here in the County”. “We did have a great cross-section. I was delighted to see the number of different industries that were here together and that everybody gave really good ideas”.

Focus Area: Development Approval Process Improvement Development review can be an economic development tool if done well The process must be predictable Each step must add value to the process Ensure open and continuous communication

Focus Area: Development Approval Process Improvement Ensure predictable development process Include project information on website Review redevelopment standards Develop online/electronic submittal Recommendations Include:

Focus Area: Communication Clear communication with internal and external customers is essential New applicantsEstablished applicants General public about pending applications and general questions

Focus Area: Communication Provide more information online and in print in easy to understand format Ensure related processes can be located easily Encourage employees to have a “solution oriented” mindset Utilize technology to improve customer experience Recommendations Include:

Focus Area: Economic Growth and Diversification Increase jobs opportunities for all segments of the population Adjustments in regulations to promote economic development Business retention and expansion Incentives can stimulate business investment

Focus Area: Economic Growth and Diversification Encourage attraction and expansion of targeted industries Leverage economic development initiatives Expand collaboration with Regional Partners Enact performance-based business incentives Promote local agricultural/local food economy Recommendations Include:

Focus Area: Quality of Life Factors that make a community attractive to live, work, and play Trend is toward compact mixed-use communities providing options to business Healthy communities and economically vibrant communities are often one and the same Employee quality of life is a crucial factor in the location of innovative companies

Focus Area: Quality of Life Continue to improve Transit Oriented Development/Traditional Neighborhood and mixed-use policies Pursue multimodal transportation options that are attractive to young workforce entrance as well as baby-boomers Promote healthy communities that promote physical activity with complete streets Continue to raise awareness and education regarding environmental protection Recommendations Include:

Focus Area: Infrastructure Key component to promote economic development Linked to the community’s health and quality of life Includes roads, water, sewers, utilities sidewalks, parks, public transit, and airport Efficient delivery of services and fiscally sound pattern of development

Focus Area: Infrastructure Develop revenue sources for road maintenance Researching or allocating funding sources Promoting and providing information on existing “shovel ready” sites Evaluate infrastructure needs, including broadband Recommendations Include: