Discussion on Economic Development
Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)
"MEDA works at economic development on a global scale and the international hub does some quite excellent work. They are set up with local 'hubs' around the world and there is a small one here in Sarasota. We have an interest in learning how to support Sarasota and its citizens more so in their economic development needs - although again, in small ways, be it microloans or mentorship or otherwise."
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEDA
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Contacts / Agencies in Sarasota and Florida
City of Sarasota
Focus on Redevelopment
https://www.sarasotafl.gov/government/planning/office-of-economic-development
CONTACT OUR TEAM | |||
| Steve Cover | Director of Planning | Steve.Cover@SarasotaFL.gov | 941-263-6480 |
| Onya Bates | Redevelopment Manager | Onya.Bates@SarasotaFL.gov | 941-263-6281 |
| Susan Dodd | Redevelopment Manager | Susan.Dodd@SarasotaFL.gov | 941-263-6282 |
| John Moran | Operations Manager, D.I.D. | John.Moran@SarasotaFL.gov | 941-724-5578 |
| Brandy Wiesner | Operations Manager, B.I.D. | Brandy.Wiesner@SarasotaFL.gov | 941-266-7599 |
Steve Stancel Economic Development Steven.Stancel@sarasotafl.gov 941 263 6480
EDC Sarasota County
Overall Economic Development of All County
http://www.edcsarasotacounty.
Lisa Krouse CEO
Erin Silk Vice President of Business Development Services
Destin Wells Vice President, Business Development dwells@edcsarasotacounty.com
Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
1680 Fruitville Road, Suite 402
Sarasota, Florida 34236
Office: (941) 309-1200 ext. 101 Fax: (941) 309-1209
State of Florida
Focus on Major Projects For The State
https://www.flgov.com/governor%E2%80%99s-office-of-tourism-trade-and-economic-development/
https://www.stateofflorida.com/economic-development/
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Sarasota Sister Cities Economic Development
Craig Hullinger 941 312 1032 sarasotasistercities@gmail.com
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Second Chance-Last Opportunity
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1027, Sarasota, FL 34230 - in Newtown
1933 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Sarasota, FL 34234
April Glasco aglasco63@gmail.com (941) 360-8660
https://secondchancelastopportunity.org/
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Manasota SCORE
Sarasota Area Chamber of Commerce
1945 Fruitville Road Sarasota, Florida 34236
(941) 955-8187 communications@sarasotachamber.com
https://www.sarasotachamber.com/
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Discussion - Economic Development in Sarasota
Sarasota Sister Cities Strategy
Sustainable “Green" Economic Development combines environmental improvement
and traditional economic development into one discipline. Traditional economic development
can be employed to increase employment while improving our environment. Economic
Development and “Green” Development should be synergistic, improving our overall quality of life.
Sustainable Development – Definitions
"Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs." United Nations
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/reviAew.htm
"We believe sustainable development begins at home and is supported by effective domestic policies,
and international partnerships. Self-governing people prepared to participate in an open world marketplace
are the very foundation of sustainable development."
US State Department http://www.state.gov/g/oes/sus/
"We pledge to transmit this city not only not less, but far greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted
to us." Oath written by Pericles. From 594 to 404 B.C., literature, science, philosophy, and the arts flourished
in Athens. The birthplace of democracy had its golden age during the rule of statesman Pericles (c. 495-429 B.C.),
who made sweeping political reforms and actively supported the arts. Pericles is credited with the Athenian
oath of fealty.
"Leave your campground better than you found it." Scouting Principle.
“Leave your community better than you found it.” Our Principle.
Traditional Economic Development
The ongoing growth and improvement of the economy is critical for any community. Government
and the private sector work to enhance and expand business, jobs, and tax base. This is especially
important now during the "Great Recession" currently underway. A quality community requires full employment -
the opportunity for all citizens to earn a living while contributing to the entire society.
Economic development is the increase in the amount of people in a nation's population with sustained
growth from a simple, low-income economy to a modern, high-income economy. Its scope includes the
process and policies by which a nation improves the economic, political, and social well-being of its people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_development
Gonçalo L Fonsesca at the New School for Social Research defines economic development as "the
analysis of the economic development of nations. http://www.newschool.edu/nssr/het/contact.htm
The University of Iowa's Center for International Finance and Development states that: "'Economic
development' or 'development' is a term that economists, politicians, and others have used frequently
in the 20th century. The concept, however, has been in existence in the West for centuries. Modernization,
Westernization, and especially Industrialization are other terms people have used when discussing economic
development. Although no one is sure when the concept originated, most people agree that development is
closely bound up with the evolution of capitalism and the demise of feudalism. http://www.uiowa.edu/ifdebook/
The Canadian Center for Community Renewal defines “Community Economic Development as the process
by which local people build organizations and partnerships that interconnect profitable business with other
interests and values - for example, skills and education, health, housing, and the environment. In CED a lot
more people get involved, describing how the community should change. A lot more organizations look for ways
to make their actions and investments reinforce the wishes and intentions of the whole community. Business
becomes a means to accumulate wealth and to make the local way of life more creative, inclusive, and sustainable
- now and 20 or 30 years from now.” http://www.cedworks.com/CEDdefinition.html
Sustainable Economic Development
KISS (Keep it Sweet and Simple)
Our simple rule set and acronym for sustainable economic development:
KEEP
Keep the businesses and jobs that you have
Expand the businesses you have
Enhance your community to attract new businesses
Protect and continuously improve the environment
Sustainable Economic Development is the art of keeping and expanding your businesses
while continually improving the Environment. As economic developers we provide information
and assistance to companies who create new jobs. We create the policies and incentives to
retain our existing businesses and support expansion. A good economic development office
strives to have the most comprehensive and current information available on the following
subject matter areas:
• Local demographics
• Quality of life
• Public infrastructure
• Business assistance
• Real estate
• Taxes, fees, regulations
• Market the community to targeted business industries
Both successful economic development and continuing improvement to the environment
are a hallmark of a quality community. Some people still think that economic development
is chasing smokestacks and that economic development hurts the environment.
But that view is outdated. Working intelligently, business and government can expand the
economy and retain and attract quality jobs while enhancing and improving the environment.
Sustainable Economic Development Strategy
Feel free to use this adapt this brief strategy to your own local situation.
VISION
Our communities will provide quality jobs at good wages while improving our environment.
Mission Statement
We are committed to providing an environment in which our natural resources, our people,
and our economy are balanced. We will not compromise the future by focusing solely on the
needs of today. We aspire to make our communities regional leaders who develop, promotes,
and improves the quality of our community through sustainable practices.
Mission Statement
The following are our recommended improvements to "Green" our communities that we
will pursue that are aimed at retaining and expanding our businesses and jobs:
· We will retain our existing businesses and jobs
· We will help our existing businesses expand
· We will attract new businesses
· Energy efficiency in all businesses is encouraged
· Developers are encouraged to create green buildings
· Mixed use development will be emphasized
· Historic buildings will be adaptively reused
· Walk ability of the city will be encouraged
· Incentives will be employed to support improvements
· Energy efficient buildings will be required
· Sedimentation and erosion controls will be enforced
· The ecology of waters edge areas will be enhanced
· Bike trails and racks will be emphasized
· Transit will be maintained
· Trees and natural landscaping will be planted
· Renewable energy sources will be sought
· Recycling will be supported
· Air and water quality will be improved
· We will ensure a just and fair society
· We will seek to provide jobs for all of our citizens
We will follow the principles below:
Promote efficient buildings
Use recycled material in buildings
Recycle building material waste
Encourage rain harvesting and irrigation
Use passive solar orientation of buildings
Encourage solar and wind energy systems
Employ green roofs
Support the use of natural landscaping
Improve municipal staff knowledge of “green” techniques
Support quality construction for long lived buildings
Encourage mixed use development
Support walk to work programs
Encourage development that supports transit
Support efforts to redevelop older communities
Permit Live / Work Space development
Support natural open space and parks
Use open surface natural drainage where feasible
Design wetlands, drainageways and retention into parks
Support the local production of “green” technology equipment
Incorporate bikeways and pedestrian path
Minimize pavement widths & cost & material
Update codes to encourage “green” development
Encourage geothermal energy
Require street trees
Sustainable Land Use Planning
Smart Growth
Growth presents a tremendous opportunity for progress and change.
Communities around the country are looking for methods to optimize development
and to amend zoning rules that make it difficult to place workplaces, homes, and
services closer together. Citizens are faced with economic pressures and seek ways
to save on car and gas use and on commuting time.
To address these challenges we must make a commitment to sustainable land use
planning, often called "smart growth." Taking steps such as preserving open space,
providing a variety of transportation choices, encouraging compact building designs
and creating walk able communities will help the city choose smart growth strategies
that encourage social, cultural and physical activity. Smart growth is a way to offer
more choices to citizens in terms of deciding where to live, how to get around, and
will protect the environment while stimulating economic growth.
Sustainable Economic Development operates within a social and economic context.
Smart growth also strongly supports the revitalization and/or redevelopment of established
and emerging urban neighborhoods. It promotes neighborhood-centric activity centers
that employ a smart growth development template that integrates a mix of uses, multi-modal
circulation options, public spaces and other elements.
Environmental sustainability is a part of this operation and is best achieved when integrated
with other components. A sustainable economic development organization seeks to participate
within its community, integrate economic development with environmental protection, and
minimize the impacts of development on the community. Through seeking balance, an
organization will take into account the needs of future generations.
With financial difficulties and environmental concerns facing the global and national economy,
we will place a high priority on sustainable economic development, energy efficiency, and
responsible growth management.
CONCLUSION
Sustainable Economic Development will be the standard for future economic development
and “green” environmental improvement efforts. We can and will improve our environment
while providing jobs and tax base for our community.
This Article Can Be Found At:
http://sustainableeconomicdevelopment.blogspot.com
References
http://greencitydevelopment.blogspot.com
http://sustainableeasternwillcounty.blogspot.com
http://riverssedgeredevelopmentiniative.blogspot.com
http://rivertraildrive.blogspot.com
http://greenedgepeoria.blogspot.com
http://greenpeoria.blogspot.com
http://sustainablepeoria.blogspot.com/
http://greencitydevelopment.blogspot.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development
http://sustainablepeoria.blogspot.com/
http://greencitydevelopment.blogspot.com/
http://peoriastrategy.blogspot.com/
http://www.renaissanceparkpeoria.com/
http://www.ilapa.org/news/2010/Apr10/greeninf.html
https://sistercities.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Measures-that-Matter.pdf
Powerpoint Presentations
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Discussion Items
EB-5
americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/eb-5-visa-program-what-it-and-how-it-works
Import / Export - Lessor Developed Countries could export arts and crafts to a business created with EB-5 - an entreprenuer from the LDC sets up shop in a redevelopment area, imports goods from the LDC, also sells by catalogue.
Medical Services - Sarasota is a center of medical service because of our large retirement population and excellent health care services, especially geriatric. We could market the region for medical services for persons from other countries with less robust medical servics - ala Mayo Clinic.
Tourism - Sarasota is a major center for tourism. Anything we can do to facilitate this helps our economy. Cultural tourism emphasizing our musems and arts in addition to the warmth and seaside. Smaller cultural venues that coiuld be popular. New York has the major facilities in the US, but we have great culture on a smaller more intimate scale.
Transportation - We have reviewed the 2070 Plan for the Sarasota Manatee County Metropolitan Planning Area (MPO). We advocate for a more detailed and aggressive development of the grid road system - interconnect and extend roads where possible. Show them on the map and aggressively develop them.
Proposals
Animation Video - Ringling to produce tourism animation to market Florida and Sarasota https://animationsarasota.blogspot.com/
Improve our Parks https://honorepark.blogspot.com/
Create a Town Square in Sarasota http://sarasotatownsquare.blogspot.com/
Gift Catalogue for Sarasota https://giftsforsarasota.blogspot.com/
Green Sculpture https://sarasotagreensculpture.blogspot.com/
Merida Sarasota ED https://sarasotameridaeconomicdevelopment.blogspot.com/
Discussion - Possible Joint Efforts MEDA and SSC Economic Development