Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-20-08 special agenda - budget — reading text

link in the development of start -up businesses in our community. The EDC has put a concerted effort into helping move the Emerald Coast Technology & Research Center ( ECTRC) to the devel- opment stage ( See section on the ECTRC). An integral part of any successful research park is the inclusion of a business incubator. The EDC is working to establish Okaloosa County's first physical business incubator to support the development of new technologies in association with Eglin Air Force Base, the University of West Florida, the University of Florida, the Northwest Florida State College, the Okaloosa School Board and a handful of established entrepreneurs that have provided high wage jobs for our communities. Plans are underway to seek state and federal funding for this new initiative. The Okaloosa Technical Enrichment Centers location is targeted for the ECTRC. E- Synchronist Existing Industry Program The EDC entered into an agreement with Florida' s Great Northwest ( FGNW) this year to identify the workforce needs of the targeted industry employers in Okaloosa County. The target industries in- clude Aerospace& Defense, Life Sciences, Information Technology /Software Development and Electronics Engineering, Alternative Energy and Construction Services. The E- Synchronist software program involves an extensive survey report that EDC staff used to personally interview local tar- geted industry leaders. Over 100 companies were interviewed at their offices in a confidential format that is now being analyzed. Many of the companies interviewed expressed plans to expand over the next three years. Many companies expressed two common issues: ( 1) A lack of available local physical space, and ( 2) A shortness of required skilled labor pool. The EDC will now work with these same businesses to determine how to address these two important issues. Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County 13  Emerald Coast Technology and Research Center (ECTRC) st The ECTRC is a regional 21 Century technological diversified and interactive research /laboratory office center. Its development lies adjacent to the existing University of Florida Research & Engineering Edu- cation Facility (UF REEF) which forms the nucleus for the center in attracting high -technology enter- prises through a collaborative -building relationship with other universities and military partners. The Uni- versity of West Florida ( UWF) is currently engaged with the REEF in onsite undergraduate engineering programs and the Northwest Florida State College ( Okaloosa- Walton College) is expected to partner with UWF in providing technical and business administrative programs. The EDC is engaged to provide marketing expertise in the development of this new capability and will focus its efforts on the following activities: Researching the growth and expansion needs of existing technology -based firms throughout the Northwest Florida region. M Researching and identifying domestic and international technology clusters that would be at- tracted to the talent base and industry base of the region. Identifying technology sources that will help drive the development of new consortiums for the Center. Identifying federal, state and local business incentives and programs to strengthen the develop- ment of partnerships and their presence at the Center. to Additionally, a secondary set of marketing objectives will be employed to assure that the strategic loca- tion and innovative environment of the Center will be supported. These sub -objectives play an important role in supporting the technology growth of the region and the strategic mission of the Center. They in- clude: Identifying companion technology clusters to enable diversification of the tenant mix Homeland Security Medical Technologies Information Technologies Other emerging technology sectors Identifying other Federal agencies for inclusion of their research activities into the ECTRC Identifying and prioritizing marketing activities for attendance to promote the ECTRC Identify those entities already engaged by Eglin Properties to preclude duplicative efforts Create strategic plan, with OWC, for business incubation in the ECTRC. www.florida -edc. org 1. 800. 995. 7374 14  Vision of Growth Broadcast The EDC has one of the longest running community shows on the Cox Communications TV net- work. The EDC Vision of Growth show highlights economic development issues as presented by local, state and national business leaders.This 30 minute monthly show is designed to educate the viewers on current economic issues that may impact their quality of life and quality of growth. Voice of Progress Newsletter The EDC Voice of Progress newsletter is a quarterly publication that is designed and coordinated by the EDC staff. This publication allows the EDC to give recognition to its members and address many of their special awards, growth expansions, and leadership activities and involvements. The Voice of Progress newsletter is also our opportunity to highlight the EDC programs and initiatives that have bene- fited our local civic and private sector leaders. Give us a call so we can include your organization' s con- tributions to our community in our next issue. Roundtable Breakfast Symposiums At least four times a year the EDC hosts a breakfast meeting for its members providing them an oppor- tunity to network and enjoy listening to a renowned business leader discuss current economic develop- ment issues that impact their local, regional and state economies. In the past, the EDC has had the honor of presenting Governor Jeff Bush, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Dr. Joe Story (Andrew' s Institute), Dr. Ken Ford ( IHMC) and other distinguished speakers from around Florida and the Nation. This unique format also brings together visitors from our surrounding counties to allow them to experience the bene- fits of being an EDC member. Website The EDC' s website continues to grow in value both on the domestic and international levels. This site is currently receiving over 275,000 global monthly hits. Documented hits from countries other than the United States include Canada, China, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Japan, Norway, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Greece, Poland, Taiwan, Denmark, Brazil, Israel, Colombia, Mexico and Australia! Information offered by this interactive site includes: County & Cities Demographics Industrial Sites & Enterprise Zone Local Military and BRAC Information Business Incentives and Tax Advantages Business Climate and Labor Market TeCMEN and Technology Tourism, Retail & Recreation Hyperlinks to related websites www. florida- edc. org The EDC brochure is translated into three additional languages and posted on the website home page and the international trade page. BroschOre Folleto EconomicEconomic Development Development CouncilCouncil ofof OkaloosaOkaloosa CountyCounty 1515  Membership Development The Economic Development Council' s Membership Development Program doubles as a Business Re- Rio tention and Expansion Program designed to work with our existing industry base and assist them with their space and labor needs. This program is also the EDC' s way of keeping its membership informed on current issues that affect their competitiveness. This includes State and Federal legislative issues, military activities that impact Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and Duke Field, and current State and local busi- ness incentives that are available to qualified local industries. The EDC also acts as the facilitator for many of the state incentive programs by providing assistance to local firms who are expanding or deal - ing with a retention situation. The Membership Development Program is the EDC' s way of giving back to its members the support they need to be competitive in a global economy. 0 Recruitment Attracting new businesses to our area is a vital component of the EDC' s marketing program and is espe- cially important in the down economy we are now experiencing. We have identified industry clusters that support and compliment our area while providing innovation and growth. These clusters in- clude: Aviation, Aerospace, Defense & National Security; Health Sciences & Human Performance En- hancement, Transportation & Logistics, Renewable Energy & Environment, Information Technology and Research & Engineering Services. These industry clusters will help develop a diversified and sustain- able economy for our area and for the Northwest Florida region as a whole. Each cluster exhibits the desired characteristics that support our local business climate and human infrastructure. Research The EDC is contacted on a daily basis via e- mail, phone calls and website inquiries regarding statistics for Okaloosa County and city specific data. Inquiries range from consultants, business investors, resi- dents and government officials. We maintain the ability to obtain data from our EDC Resource Room, UWF Haas Center, government agencies, and confidential surveys initiated by the EDC as well as main- taining other resources available to EDO' s. Site and Building Tracking The EDC maintains a site and building property tracking directory. The property information monitored is for office, warehouse, manufacturing, industrial and commercial buildings for sale or for lease. We also include land which may be " shovel ready" or undeveloped. Properties meeting the specific square foot- age criteria are listed on our website. www.florida- edc. org /industrial sites. htm Project Set -Up and Preparation We receive formal and informal requests from businesses who would like to move into Okaloosa County. These requests come via e- mail or phone call from our State Economic Developers, Regional Economic Developers, business connections, consulting managers business leaders. The inquiries of- ten request available building sites, labor market data, incentives and quality of life information. We sub- mit formal presentations for each inquiry and follow up as applicable. www.florida -edc. org 1. 800. 995. 7374 16  COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT/ PARTNERSHIPS EDC Boards and Affiliations Other boards and affiliations supported by the EDC include: Crestview