Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-14-06 ‎(budget)‎ — reading text

TeCMEN to EDC member companies formulate within and techrwlogical growth prorrwte the economic rIA Okaloosa's defense community through association, collaboration, and the contract-teaming of its based companies. manufacturing and engineering- its defense The EDC is committed to retaining and expanding and them in the competitive marketplace, related industries, excelling to support continual maintaining a technologically skilled workforce in 1988 and continues to sponsor The EDC established TeCMEN growth. efforts and to to the success of these TeCMEN as part of its commitment a prospering Okaloosa County. technology center in Northwest Okaloosa County is the leading in diverse Florida and continues to experience unprecedented growth technology- based industries. Objective and engineering To allow its EDC technology, manufacturing access to larger defense projects by related member companies to gain these companies a collaborative concept partnering and teaming. Using to complete defense- contracting requirements that team together as one to undertake. are too expansive for a single business 12 EDC Program Report Fiscal Year 2006  TeCMEN member companies represent every major manufacturing of both the and engineering discipline required to support requirements civilian community including: military missions and the Aerospace & Aviation Information Technology Micro- Electronics Biometric Technology Precision Machining and Metal Fabrication in the EDC' s commitment are Okaloosa' s learning Assisting The University of West Florida, The institutions Okaloosa- Walton College, and Education Facility, and University of Florida Research, Engineering, Transfer. the Gulf Coast Alliance for Technology The TeCMEN member' s president, CEO, or designated basis to discuss business representative meets on a monthly sites. These monthly forums allow opportunities and tour fellowship of local business opportunities and member companies to remain aware their capabilities through contract teaming. to discuss expanding members to form defense contract TeCMEN' s unique dynamics allow its offer the best combination of price, arrangements that teaming and delivery for the defense system or product being performance, forum web site acquired. The EDC is currently developing a business that will assist in this teaming process. 13 EDt Program Report Fiscal Year 2006 New TeCMEN Website The establishment of a busihess development forum for the TeCMEN organization through a comprehensive web site has long been the goal of its members. The objectives of this forum include: An increased networking approach for TeCMEN members. An increased amount of qualified bid opportunities for members. Increased joint business growth, high wage job creation and profits for participating members. To achieve the development of this forum and website, TeCMEN the EDC staff working with a professional web leadership and are designer. Their task is to create an efficient and beneficial site that will encourage members and potential members to become regular active participants in this new networking business tool. The TeCMEN site will be operational in the first quarter of the EDC' s fiscal year which begins in October 2006 EDC Program Report 14 Fiscal Year 2006  QUARTERLY ROUNDTABLES The EDC Roundtable is a symposium focused on providing EDC members, county and city officials, military delegates, and guests a unique networking opportunity with a keynote speaker. h';;"-"U i. C:,;. j;.'~"'>.'''' c..> ! The EDC's morning roundtable event provides a buffet breakfast and features a keynote speaker providing pertinent information concerning Okaloosa County. Approximately 200 community leaders attend these informative morning symposiums. The EDC hosts its annual Officer Installation Roundtable in October. This evening reception is in honor of the EDC' s Executive Committee Officers, Ex Officios, and Policy Board members with sincere appreciation for their contributions to the success of the EDC. Workforce Housing Symposium The February 1st Workforce Housing Symposium was reviewed as a huge success in identifying and addressing the critical elements of our region' s workforce housing needs. An all- day Workforce Housing Symposium was orchestrated by the Okaloosa EDC in collaboration with the Santa Rosa and Walton Counties' EDCs, and the Chambers of Commerce of all three Counties. This symposium presented the local issues and addressed some of the challenges and opportunities available for possible solutions. Keynote speakers from around the country participated. EDC Program Report 15 Fiscal Year 2006  The result of this symposium allowed the EDC to form a Workforce Housing Task Force with the local Chambers of Commerce, and pursue our own innovative ideas on how to resolve the housing crisis that affects a large portion of our workforce. Major General Jeffery Reimer On February 24th, 2006, Major Jeffrey Reimer addressed the EDC membership on the BRAC realignments and the military personnel and their family' s relocation. Topics of discussion included, but were not limited to, the military personnel and families relocating to our area as a result of the 2005 BRAC Realignments. Eglin' s desire to work jointly with the local communities was the key point presented. V Together We Win! .. A.AC We must hangtogetheru_else~we shall most 11 assuredly hang separately_ Benjamin Franklin, 1776 I ;.;.;< i_ t_;-..;;,:, i." .' h."., .. '" .; LN. q;i<' j ". 16 EDC Program Report 16 Fiscal Year 2006  WORKFORCE HOUSING INITIATIVE The EDC and the business leaders of Okaloosa County are striving to identify and remedy the problem of affordable workforce housing within Okaloosa County; a common problem with other communities within the State of Florida as well as around the Country. The EDC formed the Workforce Housing Initiative to include This initiative will Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties as well as Eglin AFB. address the current housing needs in addition to the anticipated influx of military personnel and their families. Mission Statement The mission of the workforce housing task force is To locate, analyze and communicate solutions and programs for affordable workforce housing, To maintain county-wide collaboration in order to identify the current andfuture workforce housing needs, To provide communication as one- voice throughout Okaloosa and its sister counties Eglin AFB reports being able to accommodate 20% of the 7, 000+ military personnel The other 80% will need to moving to the area as a result of the BRAC