Proving
to be one of the county’s most important economic development
gatherings, Enterprise Charlotte Foundation held its Annual Meeting
November 16th. The event detailed the community-wide accomplishments
spearheaded by Enterprise Charlotte, the Enterprise Charlotte
Foundation and the Charlotte County Economic Development Office
during the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
Defining
the mission of the EDO as the catalyst for recruitment, expansion
and retention of diversified high impact industry that results
in creating high skill/high wage jobs and diversifying the economy
and tax base, major projects that clearly reflect these goals
were outlined. Such projects include a revitalized direct marketing
campaign, a well-focused workforce survey undertaken with the
Education Coalition, and the passing of an Ordinance to create
a powerful local economic development initiative that resulted
in the creation of the Industrial Development Authority, whose
primary focus is to foster industrial and business development
in Charlotte County, as well as to encourage companies interested
in locating to Charlotte County to explore the use of Industrial
Development Revenue Bonds to finance their projects.
In
addition, the development of a custom graphic user interface property
search database for the county as an ongoing project of tremendous
significance was announced. The program is a welcomed resource
for the area’s ever-growing commercial property market.
Other
initiatives during the past year included the Enterprise Florida
Strategic Plan regional meeting, the quarterly Enterprise Florida
Partner Council meetings, the legislative delegation luncheons
and the popular Urban Land Institute Seminar on public/private
partnerships.
According
to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there
were 64,981 people in the local work force, which represents 5,300
more workers than two years ago. In terms of tangible value, there
were a total of 12 expansions and new locations into Charlotte
County during the past year, resulting in 85 new quality jobs
that reflect more than $5 million in wages and capital investment.
Between
October 2005 and September 2006, 418 new commercial permits were
issued for a valuation of $157.4 million. There were also 3,347
new single family residential permits representing a total cost
of $686.7 million, with the average price of a single-family unit
in Charlotte County of $205,000.
Charlotte
County continues to develop infrastructure for tomorrow’s
businesses and to work on the Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park,
Murdock Village and Babcock Ranch.
Looking
forward, regionalism is a focus of our initiatives, as well as
identifying areas that would support commercial/industrial zoning
and maintaining a data base of commercial/industrial land/buildings.
And the year is off to a great start, working with 22 prospective
companies, indicating the next fiscal year will bring even more
economic benefits to the county!
Betty Williams is economic development manager for the Charlotte
County Economic Development Office (www.PureEconomics.org). You
can call her at (941) 627-3023 or e-mail her at PureEconomics@charlottecountyfl.com.
