THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
Motions A and B supports the Board of County Commissioners' Vision of “A vibrant economy with a diverse, skilled workforce, in a County offering unique advantages that attract all types of businesses to create equitable, countywide prosperity.”, Goal 1: “Attract and retain all types of business, especially high-wage industries that offer employee benefits, through partnerships with the Alliance, chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, CareerSource, and any other available avenues."
The Office of Economic and Small Business Development (hereinafter referred to as “OESBD”) reviewed the Fiscal Year 2018 Alliance Quarterly Performance Report (Exhibit 1) and Annual Year-End Report (Exhibit 2). The quarterly report has been summarized to highlight the Alliance’s achievements for the quarter (Exhibit 1, page 3 of 10). The annual report demonstrates the successful achievement of 57% of the Alliance’s overall annual goals, with the significant achievement of having exceeded its investor relations goal by raising over $2.2 million from investors and partners to support the Alliance for Fiscal Year 2018.
As reported by the Alliance, goal attainment challenges listed were missed due to several outside influences. After explosive growth in which we were the fastest growing metropolitan division in the U.S. for a number of months in 2016 and 2017, that level of growth was not sustainable long term. The trend for job growth for the state overall has also been on a downward path according to the referrals we received from Enterprise Florida. At the same time, the state legislature’s decision to eliminate incentives by $85 million by ending the Governor’s Quick Closing Action Fund, the anti-incentives conversation that occurred in Tallahassee for the last two years, along with national talk about tariffs and trade wars, and the conversation among some of our local communities around stopping growth have had an impact on companies’ interest in looking at locating or relocating here. That negative conversation has somewhat subsided and we believe we will now return to our more normalized rates of growth. OESBD has reviewed both reports and accepts the Alliance response relating to performance activities including its three departments: Business Development, Investor Relations, and Business Intelligence Function. The Alliance has achieved the majority of its annual goals.
The County’s agreement with the Alliance requires the Alliance to submit a separate annual year-end summary report for Board approval. This item is required for compliance with the terms of its agreement with the County.
Pursuant to Florida Statutes, Sec. 125.045 (2015), the County must file a copy of the annual activity summary report with the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and post a copy of the report on the County’s website. Upon approval of the Alliance's annual year-end summary report by the Board, OESBD will be responsible for submission of the annual report information to the State’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research and posting of the report to the County’s website. |