Economic Development Publications



Jeff FinkleEconomic Development Professionals Should be interested in these free publications and upcoming events

Jeff Finkle President, International Economic Development Council

I wanted to provide you with some free publications from the International Economic Development and information on some upcoming events.

A recent publication IEDC produced with the National League of Cities

The Role of Local Elected Officials in Economic Development: 10 Things You Should Know http://www.iedconline.org/Downloads/NLC_IEDC_EconDevelop10things.pdf 

Webinar on August 31

A webinar is being held on Wednesday August 31. IEDC’s August webinar focuses on helping economic developers better access federal data regarding their communities. The federal government provides a plethora of data that can help economic developers gain insight into both local and regional employment, industrial, and education profiles.

Increasing Access to Federal Data: Ways to Navigate and Understand Available Data http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Federal_Data 

Upcoming Annual Conference

It is still not too late to register for IEDC’s annual conference September 18-21 in Charlotte, North Carolina; this is one of the best economic development conferences each year. http://www.iedconline.org/AnnualConference/index.html 

Late September Webinar on Project Feasibility

Understanding if the Project is Viable for Your Community

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 from 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Eastern http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Project_Viability 

Economic Development Finance Course in Baltimore on November 16-18 http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Training_Finance_MD 

Another new report for download

New Report: Powering Up: State Assets & Barriers to Renewable Energy Growth 
This is the results of 48 states on state assets for renewable energy growth. http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Powering_Up 

Hope these items are of interest to you. If you know of someone that works fulltime in the field of economic development and they are not members of the International Economic Development Council, you might point them to: http://www.iedconline.org/?p=Join_IEDC 

Best wishes


Jeff Finkle

Post titleDebt By Nation




Well, I suppose we can at least claim that our debt is not as bad as Europe.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/07/world-debt-guide&fsrc=nwl


Sarasota - Start a Business, Retire, Or Both


Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Florica was crowned America’s best seashore. Sarasota is a great place to start a business, or retire, or both, which is what my wife and I have done.

Here are some of the attaboys that have come our way over the past few years:

• Money Magazine calls Sarasota-Manatee one of the “Best Places to Live and Launch a Business.”

• Money Magazine, CNBC and Portfolio.com each awarded Sarasota-Manatee their top designation as “Best Place to Retire.”

• Money Magazine named Sarasota-Manatee the “Best Place to Retire Young.”



Sarasota Economic Development




Green energy composite materials manufacturer 5D Composite Inc. to create 120 jobs with move to Sarasota County from Canada


5D Composite Inc., based in Ontario, Canada, plans to relocate part of its manufacturing operation to Sarasota County in 2011 and create 120 jobs over five years, according to Mark Huey, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota.

Municipal Gift Catalog


Gift Catalog for a Community













You can create a simple Gift Catalog for your community. The Gift Catalog can be a simple one page flyer. You simply provide a way for a citizen who wishes to give a gift to the public a way to send money or real estate to the Village Clerk. 

The following is sample language for your own community gift catalog. Adjust the gifts to fit your community and add your own logo and graphics. Please feel free to use it.
______________________________







GIFT CATALOG
            Citizens can give gifts for public improvements for the people of their community. The gifts will enhance the community while providing a way for citizens to memorialize a loved one. The following are some possible gifts and estimated costs.

Trees $ 350
Park Benches $ 500
Landscaping, Evergreens, Flowers, Trees $ 750
Ornamental Lighting $ 2,500
Sculpture and Outdoor Art $ 20,000
Jogging, Bike and Nature Trails $ 100,000
Parks and Nature Preserves $ 700,000
City Hall Park Improvements with small fountain $ 900,000
Streetscape & Beautification $ 2,000,000
Swimming Lagoon Pool / Skating Rink $ 3,000,000
Farm $ 5,000,000


______________________________

The Village Manager of Beecher, Illinois just advised me that a citizen gave the Village $50,000 for a Veterans Memorial. The Village used that gift as the match for another State $50,000.   Nice to see the Gift Catalog work.


Downtown Parking



[Government]  Building or Buying Parking Downtown
Jacob Ogles, Jacob.Ogles@srqmediagroup.com


A proposal before Sarasota City Commissioners tonight could allow some downtown developers to pay a fee to City Hall rather than pave new parking spaces in the urban area.

An ordinance being considered would allow a "payment in lieu of parking fee option" under certain circumstances. City officials stress the plan would just add an option to developers, and would only be allowed in conditions where it made sense for a development to rely on off-site public spaces.

"The Duany Plan contemplated parking on some individual sites was not the ideal way to create a pedestrian-friendly environment," said Special Projects General Manager Mike Taylor, referencing Sarasota's 2020 Downtown Master Plan. 


Source:  srqmediagroup.com


Sarasota County Energy Efficient Community


Imagine the possibilities for Sarasota County to create an economically sustainable, energy efficient community
Sarasota County is working hard to:
  • Create a stronger and more diverse economy.
  • Help existing businesses expand and create jobs.
  • Help new businesses bring jobs to the county.
  • Create a community based on economic and energy sustainability.
Sarasota County is learning and growing from the lessons of the recession. We are diversifying our economic base by growing environmentally clean jobs and adopting sustainable development policies and practices. We are locating jobs and housing closer to each other, reducing transportation needs, building on clean businesses and incorporating environmental safeguards for waterways and natural areas.

These goals are reflected in Sarasota County’s plan to create an Energy Economic Zone, which would be implemented through an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.

The Florida Legislature authorized Energy Economic Zones in 2009 to promote economic diversification and reduce greenhouse gases. The legislation identified several strategies to accomplish these purposes:
  • Attract green industry to the zone.
  • Encourage alternative energy research, demonstrations, production and use.
  • Use energy-efficient land use patterns.
  • Facilitate sustainable building practices.
The Florida Department of Community Affairs selected Sarasota County and the city of Miami Beach as communities to create pilot Energy Economic Zones as models for other communities to meet the goals of the legislation.

Sarasota County’s proposed Energy Economic Zone amendment is an innovative approach to land use planning that adopts sustainable development practices and energy efficient solutions.
 Message to the BCC on benefits of the Energy Economic Zone 
   from Nicholas C. Gladding, Commissioner, Florida Energy and Climate Commission

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