MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (EDC)

MEETING OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (EDC)

Peter Robinson – Local Developer Dori Stone – Indian River Chamber of Commerce Sara Savage – City of Fellsmere Laura Zorc – School Board Bruce Redus – BCC Appointee Linda Kinchen – City of Sebastian John Dyer – Local Industry Tim Borden – Real Estate Appointee Chad Olson – Tourist Industry Amber Batchelor – Sebastian Chamber of Commerce Karl Zimmermann -- Member-At-Large James Funk – Local Manufacturing Industry William J. Penney – Banking Casey Lunceford – Indian River State College Todd Howder – Member-at-Large Anna Kirkland – Member-at-Large Val Zudans -- City of Vero Beach Brian Bauer – CareerSource Research Coast Simms Browning -- Town of Orchid Jesse “Sam” Carroll, Jr. – Town of Indian River Shores Joe Idlette, III – Gifford Community Jerry Renick – Agricultural Industry

Brian Bauer, EDC Chairman

Commissioner Peter D. O’Bryan, District 4, Non-Voting Commission Liaison The EDC will meet at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, in the Indian River County Administration Building B, 1800 27th St., Vero Beach, FL, in the Conference Room B1-501.

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of the EDC Minutes of January 16, 2019

3. Economic Development Proposed Budget FY 2019-20—Helene Caseltine,

Economic Development Director—Action Item

4. Other EDC Matters

5. Adjournment

“Our mission is to advocate for and advise the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners on activities related to creating, attracting, and retaining high quality jobs for our citizens as detailed within the County’s Economic Development

Element of the Comprehensive Plan.

Except for those matters specifically exempted under State Statute and Local Ordinance, the Committee shall provide an opportunity for public comment prior to the undertaking by the Committee of any action on the agenda. Public comment shall also be heard on any proposition which the Committee is to take action which was either not on the agenda or distributed to the public prior to the commencement of the meeting

TO: Indian River County Economic Development Council

FROM: Helene Caseltine, Economic Development Director

Indian River County Chamber of Commerce

SUBJECT: FY 2019-2020 Economic Development Marketing Plan

Date: March 26, 2019

As required by the Indian River County Comprehensive Plan, Policy 1.9 of the Economic

Development Element, the attached marketing plan reflects an overall economic development

marketing effort to recruit, retain, and expand targeted industries in Indian River County. The

Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, as the designated county-wide economic

development organization as specified in the Economic Development Element, will work with

the County and the Chamber’s private sector partners to carry out these plans.

All actions here are based on the best and most reasonable estimates available to us at this time.

There may be changes since the plan does not go into effect until October 1, 2019.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

FY 2019-2020 MARKETING PLAN

All monitoring will be conducted by the Chamber of Commerce. Results will be reported on a

regular basis to the Economic Development Council.

I. Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)

A. Business Retention/Expansion - Manufacturing Industry

1) Action: Conduct regular site visits to targeted industries, providing information

on programs available and addressing issues that could inhibit potential expansion

Anticipated results:

- Average 2 companies visited per quarter, gathering information on potential

expansion opportunities, or deterrents to leaving the county

- Facilitate and encourage contract and vendor sourcing opportunities

between local manufacturers

- Increase awareness of local, state and federal programs by local

manufacturers that can expand their operations and increase employment

2) Action: Coordinate and promote the IRC Manufacturing Boot Camp Program

Anticipated results:

- Introduce high school seniors who are not college-bound to potential career

opportunities within the manufacturing industry

- Schedule 6-8 industry tours for high school Graduation Counselors

- Recruit ten local manufacturers to host students for a 1-2 hour tour of their

facility

- With assistance from the Graduation Counselors, select 12-15 graduated

seniors to participate

3) Actions:

- Coordinate three industry tours for the general public

- Participate in National Manufacturing Month activities:

o Public tours

o Print and social media

o Presentations by manufacturers to schools, County Commission

o Industry tours for high school teachers and guidance counselors

Anticipated results:

- Increase awareness by the general public of the significant economic

impact of a diversified economy

- Increase awareness by teachers and counselors of potential career

opportunities for their students

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4) Action: Promote the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zone to local manufacturers

Anticipated results:

- Increase awareness of cost savings through the FTZ program

- Promote use of the program through direct contact and workshops

- Expand local business’ operations and increase employment

5) Action: Provide government contracting opportunities to local businesses through

the Proxity e-commerce government contracting software

Anticipated results:

- Increase awareness of local, state and federal programs by local

manufacturers and Chamber members

- Promote use of the program through direct contact and workshops

- Expand local business’ operations and increase employment

- Up to 20 local businesses utilizing the program

B. Business Retention/Expansion - Non-Manufacturing Businesses

1) Action: Promote participation in the Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center (FVEC)

website

Anticipated results:

- Encourage 8-10 local businesses to upload their profiles to the FVEC

website

- Increase volume of activity for local small businesses

- Enhance resources for new and potential entrepreneurs

2) Action: Coordinate annual Industry Appreciation Awards luncheon, to recognize

local businesses for achievements within their industry, community involvement,

and architectural enhancements

Anticipated results:

- Recognize 15-20 or more local businesses for their achievements

- Promote the event and the awards presented via

o media releases

o speaking engagements

o online

- Increase public awareness of the positive impact of local businesses

3) Action: In cooperation with organizations such as SCORE, and the Small

Business Development Center coordinate workshops for local/regional businesses

with a focus on encouraging business expansion, to include: government

procurement, financing, training programs

Anticipated results:

- Three workshops with 10-15 attendees each

- Increase employment in targeted industries 2

C. Primary Information Source for Area Business

1) Actions:

- Serve as a clearing house for information on resources available from the

state and other sources, such as: workforce training and assistance and

financing alternatives

- Maintain relationships with professional economic development

organizations and trade associations as a source of business intelligence

- Provide information using:

o Website, social media

o Email updates

o Direct contact with employers

Anticipated results:

Ten local companies utilizing programs that facilitate business expansion

and job creation

2) Action: Actively participate in state, regional and national economic

development organizations, sharing relevant information as it pertains to and

assists local businesses

Anticipated results:

Share information on a regular basis with manufacturers and businesses in

other industries:

o Email

o Roundtable discussions

o Social media

D. Intergovernmental Coordination

Action: Work with city and county planning departments, Treasure Coast

Builders Association, and Chamber volunteers to address concerns of business

owners that have plans to expand or construct a new facility

Anticipated results:

Minimize processing time for site plan and building plan reviews for

targeted employers

E. Staffing/Funding Action: Utilize Chamber volunteers to assist in carrying out marketing and

business retention policies

Anticipated results:

Implement all Chamber-based economic development marketing,

committees, task forces, and other activities; raise private funds

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II. New Business Attraction

A. Marketing and Advertising

1) Action: Increase direct communication and personal visits with business

executives of firms in targeted industries

Anticipated results:

Five companies interested in locating to Indian River County, with one

scheduling a site visit

2) Actions: Increase direct communication and personal visits with site selectors

who represent firms within the targeted industries

- Social media sites, including LinkedIn

- Email media releases regarding project announcements and other positive

local news

Anticipated results:

Two consultants with clients interested in locating to Indian River County

3) Actions: Market industrial areas in the County to targeted industry firms

- Direct marketing

- Trade show representation

- Partnerships with existing

firms

- Internet display advertising,

retargeting

- Social media platforms

Anticipated results:

- Direct communication with five companies interested in locating to Indian

River County

- Increase awareness of the benefits of locating/expanding a business to

Indian River County

4) Actions: Participate in Site Location Partnership’s (SLP) business recruitment

activities:

- SLP staff provides information on 80-100 companies in two key targeted

industries that have potential relocation or expansion plans

- SLP staff represents the county at six industry-focused trade shows, with in-

person participation opportunities

- ED Director to attend two trade shows under the SLP registration

- Follow-up on trade show leads generated

Anticipated results:

Direct communication with three companies interested in locating to Indian

River County

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5) Action: Partner with existing companies, such as manufacturers, realtors and

financial institutions to identify and communicate with targeted prospects to assist

in promoting Indian River County for new business

Anticipated results:

- Ten local business owners assist in promoting Indian River County as a

desirable business location

- Local employers distribute promotional material while attending national

and international events, and networking with out-of-area clients or

colleagues

6) Actions: Ad placements, advertorials in select industry-focused national

publications and websites

- Internet display advertising, retargeting

- Social media sites, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook

Anticipated results:

Direct communication with 3-5 companies responding to ads

7) Actions:

- Participate in Florida’s Research Coast Economic Development

Coalition (FRCEDC) to promote the region for new business

- Conduct two in-market visits to site selection firms, calling on 6-8 firms

per city

Anticipated results:

- Develop a more comprehensive level of knowledge of a cohesive region as

a potential relocation or expansion site

- Develop a regional brand that demonstrates: skilled workforce, efficient

infrastructure, land and building inventories

8) Action: Maintain and continue to update a stand-alone economic development

website with mobile capabilities

Anticipated results:

- Increase unique visits to, and downloads from, the website

- Direct contact and follow-up with business executives interested in Indian

River County as a potential location

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B. Working with Other Agencies

1) Action: Strengthen relationships with commercial realtors, project engineers, and

existing businesses:

- Industry tours

- Distributing promotional materials

Anticipated results:

Create a cadre of knowledgeable professionals to assist in promoting Indian

River County as a desirable business location

2) Action: Continue to strengthen relationships with elected officials to garner

support for targeted industry recruitment efforts

- Copy all media releases, announcements, and reports to appropriate

elected officials, with a minimum of two per month

- Meet with local officials annually and as necessary

Anticipated results:

Elected officials are kept current on economic development activities and

the importance of economic diversification

3) Action: Strengthen relationships with state, regional and national economic

development organizations and industry associations

- Keep up to date on the industry’s best practices

- Monitor legislation affecting local business and the economic development

industry

- Attend a minimum of 1-2 events to keep accreditation current

C. Web-based Information

1) Action:

- Promote the ZoomProspector property search website for detailed

property information and business intelligence data

- Continually update above-referenced data to include in business

recruitment and inquiry packages

- Provide training to commercial realtors

Anticipated results:

Twenty hits per month on website, average two minutes on each page,

three pages reviewed

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2) Action:

- Conduct ACCRA Cost-of-Living survey three times per year posting

results

- Submit news releases of results to media, elected officials

- Maintain ACCRA Cost-of-Living calculator on economic development

website

Anticipated results:

Prospective companies have easy access to current and relevant location

information

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Definition and Explanation of Economic Development Terms, Organizations, Activities

ACCRA Cost-of-Living – Approximately 300 communities across the US participate in cost-of-

living surveys three times per year, gathering prices of everyday goods and services typically used by

managerial-level individuals. The EDO maintains a cost-of-living calculator on its website.

Business Recruitment Team – Recommended by the County’s Economic Development Council,

the Team could include elected officials, private-sector leadership, and/or representatives of a

particular industry in which the prospective business is involved.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. – The statewide economic development public-private organization that

generates trade leads to its local primary partners, and coordinates business recruitment activities.

Florida’s Research Coast Economic Development Coalition – A non-profit corporation whose

officers represent the primary economic development offices of Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin

counties plus the President/CEO of CareerSource Research Coast. Its mission is to promote the

region for business recruitment and expansion in select targeted industries while encouraging

collaboration between the partners and their respective elected officials. The Indian River County

Chamber of Commerce is a founding partner.

Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) – Businesses located within an FTZ that import raw materials do not

pay duties on the material until/unless it enters the US market.

Industry Tours – Tours of local industrial facilities are offered to members of referral organizations,

the general public, and school counselors at no cost, to increase the awareness of the industries’

contributions to the local economy.

Manufacturing Boot Camp – A partnership with the IRC School District, CareerSource RC, local

non-profits and private business volunteers. The program introduces high school seniors to potential

careers in the manufacturing industry, with an overall goal of strengthening our workforce pipeline.

Site Location Partnership (SLP) - The EDO has an annual contract with SLP to represent the

county at six industry-focused trade shows with our collateral material, with in-person participation

opportunities; Chamber staff follows-up on trade show leads generated.

Site Selection Consultants– Hired by a company to conduct due diligence on its behalf when

considering sites for relocation or expansion. The consultant serves as the liaison between the

company and representatives of the potential sites; the company’s identity typically remains

confidential during this process.

Targeted Industry – As listed in the Economic Development Element of the Comprehensive Plan, a

targeted industry includes businesses that offer full-time jobs with benefits paying a higher than

average salary, are in a growth mode, and will benefit the overall community in terms of their long-

term tax revenue. These industries are given consideration when a prospective company applies for

local incentives. A revised and more focused targeted industry list was approved by the County

Commission in 2016 for recruitment purposes.

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