The following is an outline of creating an Economic and Community Development Department in Highland County. It is a work tool, and does not offer every solution, however it is a draft of what some of the solutions may look like. Economic and Community Development is important to many aspects of Highland County. It affects employment, quality of life, safety, and health.
I believe the Commission should take the lead in developing a Department that doesn't just include all the Municipalities and communities within the county, but a Economic and Community Development Department that each community and organization can take ownership in.
It is sensible for the commission to develop this now, and it is an opportunity to show the rest of Ohio, how it can be done from the grassroots level. We all know what our communities need here on the local level, and it doesn't need to be dictated from the State or Federal Government. Though in order to show the upper management just that, we must take this opportunity to prove it.
The outline below is a work tool, and needs to be changed and grow. I would welcome additions and ideas that are real solutions to Economic Development. The beginning is a short history, which needs more information so that we can see where the County came from.
The following section briefly covers, groups and government organizations that the County takes some ownership in. Below that are the Economic Development contacts surrounding Highland County.
There are a few solutions, that are put together to guide future discussion. I currently like the option that has Communities and the County sharing in responsibility and funding for a Development Department. Lastly there are a few statements of what we may attempt to attain, and look for through this process. This is a process to create and organize a true driver for Community and Economic Development in Highland County, Ohio.
Economic Development is Important to Highland County
Citizens and Businesses
Highland County Economic Development
Quick History as Currently
Understood at this time:
1989 through 1995 Enterprise Center for Economic Development
Dan Cowdrey Director – State of Ohio initiative that covered following region: Adams,
Brown, Highland –
1995 through 200_ - The Ohio State University hired
Consultant to assist with similar region as Enterprise Center – (Dan Cowdrey)
From 1995 through 200_ - Partnership with Great Oaks and
Chamber of Commerce for Economic Development and Education within the Great
Oaks Region with dedicated directors. – Tom Wyatt , Harry Snyder, Melanie
______
2008- 2010 Highland County
Economic Development Office
March 2010 March 2011 Highland County utilized Regional
Economic Recovery Coordinator Rafael Underwood – EDA assistance through OVRDC – (serving Highland, Clinton, Fayette)
2011- Currently Commissioners Office working on Case by Case
basis, with other Civic & Business Groups
Resource’s Highland
County is a Member or has interest in:
Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission
Jobs Ohio Region - Appalachian Partnership for Economic
Growth
Highland County Revolving Loan
Highland County CIC
Grow Highland County http://growhighlandcounty.wordpress.com/
Resource’s outside of
Highland County (Regionally) not a Member or limited interest:
Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio – Chris
Manegold – Ross County
Clinton County Economic Development – Bret Dixon, Director
Fayette County Economic Development – Rob Hedrick, Director
Adams County Economic Development – Holly Johnson, Director
Pike County Economic Development – Ken Reed, Director
Brown County Economic Development – Kelly Cole, Director
Above Listing does not include any Local City or Village
Initiative within surrounding Counties.
Seven Incorporated Towns and 17 Townships
·
Highland
·
Greenfield
·
Leesburg
·
Lynchburg
·
Mowrystown
·
Sinking Spring
·
City of Hillsboro
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Regional Contractual Approach – Solution:
Contract with an existing Economic Development Department
Estimated Needed Funding $ $30,000
Negotiate Pay and Development Services
1.
Contact Surrounding Counties about Contracting a
Director
2.
Negotiate an amount
3.
County Commission dictates directives with
information on hand.
4.
Outline and share what the Commission would wish
to achieve.
5.
Director acts as point person for future business
inquiries
6.
Director Voice for Outreach to New business
7.
Put a reporting system in place.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Regional Collaborative Approach - Solution
Estimated Funding ?
A.
Contact surrounding Counties
B.
Put together a Regional Plan, collaborating with
surrounding Counties goals and expectations
C.
Put an action plan together along with a Budget.
D.
Build from Ground Up using a County Economic
Development Department as an Outline for new Regional Department.
E.
Research Case studies and examples of existing
collaboratives
Continue with Current Referral Plan - Solution
Commissioners Office outreach to business and Community
Groups
React as needed and information arises.
Outreach through Internet, local contacts, regional contacts
as needed.
Local Approach - Solution:
Economic and Community Development Department
Estimate Needed Funding $50,000 to $65,000
Community Buy-In would have to be in Two Ways
One- Monetarily
Highland County Providing Seed Money $15,000 to $30,000 in
Upcoming 2013 Budget (Part-Time/ Temporary Cost of an Employee)
Communities providing an appropriate dollar amount totaling
proposed and agreed budget. Cost might run from $3,000 to $7,000 for a very
minimum funding allocation.
Two – Local Plans and Initiatives
Each Community would have to provide an attainable goal
(project) and assist in a plan to achieve the goal.
Each Community would have to provide a list of possible
projects to be used as a guide for the Director.
Each Community would have to take local ownership by
providing a list of local attractions, possible local incentives, community
resources, community property inventory and community outline.
Possible Community Needs Assessment?
(Basics and Beginning of Comprehensive Plan?!)
Director – Will be Responsible for Marketing, Outreach,
Organization, Reporting, Progress, and Regional Partnership.
Information has to be Meaningful and Outcome
Measurable! What the Commission gets, if
nothing else, is information that is the backbone of County Economic and
community Development from the communities that can easily attain and decipher
the information.
Additional Options and ideas Not Addressed or listed above?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
It is our Job to Listen to the Needs of Highland County.
We have an Opportunity to establish a working Economic Development Department
in Highland County.
Additional – Resource and Needs Assessment is important, it
can drive different development than is expected. Case studies exist that have
researched certain businesses are staples in local economies and provide for
growth. Certain businesses are needed to promote additional growth.
Additional – Going outside existing mainstream sources of
business contacts is important. Outreach to trade organizations, investment
firms, and market segments that fit with current available resources or
community needs. (focus on local market demands)
Additional – Community Buy-In and Ownership of process is
important for a successful outcome.
Additional – Community resources, Community Needs, strategic
goal oriented planning are needed in order to drive the correct Economic
Development Plan.
Economic Development is a Process. We cannot go at it like
we are killing snakes.
I understand the above is only as accurate as the
information available to me and that other solutions may exist. It is important
to look at varying sides and solutions before a conclusion can be drawn.
Jeremy Shaffer
Commissioner
10/2/12
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