The economic development initiative of Charlotte County in June 1999 was not a popular one at the time. Nonetheless, it seemed a noble cause. To begin building consensus within the business community, the County Commission established an Economic Development Advisory Board in June 1999 filled by applicants from the community for the positions on the advisory board. Their charge was to have an economic development plan in place within six months.

Recognizing the importance of their mission, the plan was presented by the advisory board and approved by the County Commission in January 2000. The economic development plan was implemented immediately, and the beginning of the foundation for an economic development office was under way.

One of the initiatives was to complete the regional workforce survey, which was presented in August 2000. The recommendations of the workforce survey involved many constituencies and many months to fully implement with the best courses of action. At the conclusion of this initiative in December 2000, it was realized that there was a need to establish an Economic Development Office; this officially took place on Feb.13, 2001. The economic development manager was hired in May 2001.

As the EDO continued to grow, it undertook its first ever quarterly cost-of-living index surveys in January 2002, together with a national economic development organization then called ACCRA, now called C2ER (Council for Community and Economic Research). In May of the same year, the ULI Advisory Services Panel did a study on the West Murdock area, which was named “Murdock Village.” In July of the same year, the Web site, www.PureEconomics.org, was inaugurated.

The Regional Commerce Park Ordinance was passed on Oct. 12, 2003, and ultimately, the Commerce Park was renamed Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park. In October 2004, The Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park was designated as a Brownfield Area for purposes of providing incentives to facilitate economic development.

The months following Hurricane Charley provided the EDO the opportunity to cater to local businesses’ special needs. Through joint efforts with the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and the Small Business Administration, a total of 125 emergency small unsecured business loans were issued. The Business Partners Disaster Preparedness and Continuity Guide was created to help local businesses prepare for any eventuality.

An important economic development milestone was reached on July 25, 2006, with the creation of the Charlotte County Industrial Development Authority, an important economic engine to assist in the financing of certain through the use of industrial development revenue bonds, which may be tax free.

Presently, the EDO’s dayto-day operations cover a wide area of activities, all geared toward its mission to create high-skill, high-wage jobs and to diversify the economy and tax base. In bringing in more companies to the county, our business development activities range from helping a new small business find its way around the county, to coordinating efforts with local and state offices to bring in large, multifaceted projects such as the Publix Distribution Center, which requires more efforts than meet the eye.

Complementing business development is tremendous background research work which supplies a myriad of economic and demographic data, plus economic impact, and industry analyses to assist us in our continued efforts to encourage the growth of high-impact industry and quality jobs; all in the pursuit of our noble cause. One of the newer tools to assist in this initiative is the interactive comprehensive search dropdown box on the Web site to assist site selectors and businesses considering a location in Charlotte County.

Putting things in numerical context, when we first started to monitor our economic contribution to the county in 2001, the total economic impact was $600,000, which grew to $4.2 million in 2003, grew even more in 2004 to $12.3 million, peaked to $16.3 million in 2005, and with a little distraction thanks to a natural phenomenon, decreased to $6 million in 2006. In any economic life cycle, once a peak is achieved, in order to sustain and renew growth, the captains at the helm must take innovative and renewed approaches to prevail; and that is exactly where the EDO is.

With the expected level economy in the postbuilding boom, the EDO has taken requisite steps to better understand the new constitution of a grown economy, no longer a retirement enclave by the Peace River, but one whose needs and wants have changed since the EDO was created that auspicious day of June 1, 1999.

Our Cluster Study shows us what our major industries are, where our competitive edges lie, and where we should focus our efforts to continue to bring quality jobs to the county. Our marketing plan is firmly in place so we can project the new Charlotte County in the best possible light. Our workforce survey, which is currently being reviewed, will allow us to continue meeting the needs of this very important engine of the economy, our working-class constituents. Our strong and enduring joint efforts with the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, FGCU, Workforce Development Board and Florida Economic Development Council, and with our lasting relationship with Enterprise Charlotte, all these will continue to help us finetune our day-to-day operations.

The EDO has come a long way. As I move on with another phase in my life, I should hope that the seeds of growth planted right at the inception of this office, and germinated through the succeeding years, will continue to bear long-lasting economic fruit for Charlotte County. Charlotte County has been my home for the past 24 years. I have enjoyed watching the EDO grow and have enjoyed the opportunity to be part of its maturation. I should hope that whoever takes over the helm of the EDO will nurture it with the same care and dedication. I now leave it no longer a sapling, but a healthy plant with strong roots, firmly in place and ready to grow and flower.

Betty Williams is economic development director 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.