Small Group #3. Balancing Collaboration with Competition- Public/Public, Public Private Partnerships

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Small Group members:
Barozyk, Busha, Matthes, Metcalf, Minsky, Mortell, Weber, Wilcox, Chesser, Collins, Caseltine, Perez

Vision Goals

The Treasure Coast will establish a business environment that supports re-invention and risk taking and balance collaboration with competition.
The Treasure Coast will develop an understanding of the positive role and impact of a diverse economy and businesses on the quality of life in communities and the prosperity of citizens throughout the region.

Small Group Question

How can public/public and public/private partnerships on education, infrastructure and other topics contribute to achieving a diverse and prosperous regional economy?

Small Group General Discussion comments-8-5

Regionalization? What impact will competing within the region have on these strategies? What’s the philosophy for separating what benefits who area uniformly?
Presentations compared each county to metro average vs. taking TC together to compare as a region
When Indian River does marketing, they market IR first. But also connects with and coordinates other counties in the region.
Think of planning for infrastructure, telecommunications, education etc. regionally. Specific economic development projects happen locally.
Things to do regionally in economic development will “lift all boats”
Provide more support for good initiatives underway. Identify any gaps in things to do. E.g. need a n/s road/corridor through all 3 counties?
Still don’t have tools available to make sure our children can come back to high wage jobs.
Are differences in the region actually strengths? Opportunities may vary based on the location
Post secondary education (FAU/IRCC) easier to look at regional approach. But look at K-12 system. (e.g. Tech prep jointly developed grants). E.g. partnerships for lobbying in Tallahassee . Help with forecasting and planning and inter local agreements from TCRPC for school districts.
Use the ULI study conclusions as framework for thinking about partnerships: improved/approved land; money to invest in economic development; first rate education; first rate workforce

Strategies for Improved/approved land partnership strategies

Need to identify/inventory industrial/non residential sites that exist and their condition throughout the region. Need to know how short we are on this.
Need funding to improve infrastructure. Need support of the local governments to secure such funding. Look for partnerships working with Fed govt. sources of funding, e.g. EDA grant application is a good e.g. of this. E.g. EPA brownfields e.g. for funding support.
Work to streamline approval processes for high priority economic development initiatives. Is this a local question only? E.g. “expedited permitting review process” for the Scripps; use a similar process for targeted industries?
Encourage partnerships between developers of industrial sites and local govt. for minimizing risks and increasing the possibility of getting more improved/approved land
Consider land set asides and land banking for infrastructure---e.g. parks, rec and schools
Seek to preserve the urban service area in 3 counties as a strategy for creating opportunities for siting industrial areas.
Infill development may be part of the puzzle here on improved/approved lands

Plenary Discussion Comments, Concerns and Suggestions- 8-6

Opportunities for charter schools should be part of the education discussion
F-clarify preserve the urban service area, partnerships between landowners and developers within the urban services area
Factor in the CERP footprints as a part of the analysis of approved lands or lands proposed for development
There will need to be creative approaches to acquiring land needed for CERP and other environmental purposes
Planning solutions such as mixed use communities maybe part of the answer

Small Group Discussion comments-8-5

Focus on improving County-city relationships on land use and growth as they relate to economic development strategies. (In general, municipality may be better suited to put together industrial parks)
Is this principally a local issue not a regional one?

Funding for/ investment in economic development- partnerships
Draft Objectives

Promote efforts in improving education and understanding of importance of economic diversity such as a Treasure Coast Leadership initiative? (look at model in SF)
Build on and find ways to help support successful regional ed efforts of EDCs
What if counties in the region joined together to site and build a regional airport? Open up the old airports can become industrial parks.
Explore the creation of regional source of revenue to aid in economic development efforts- flexible up front funds (tax deferred etc)
Analyze the possibilities of government developed industrial parks.
Analyze whether to develop a regional industrial development authority. Models for this?

Plenary Discussion Comments, Concerns and Suggestions- 8-6

St Lucie County makes sense as a site for an airport
Using what is already there, Wickham Airport has more potential, fiber/ wired needs to be installed
All medium size airports in Florida are losing money
There is a lot of capacity at our current airport

First class education partnerships
Draft Objectives

Improve and fund the regional school system adequately in order to contribute to economic diversity and prosperity in region.

Plenary Discussion Comments, Concerns and Suggestions- 8-6

Make charter school partnerships an objective
Full cost accounting for schools
Consider implementing some form of school concurrency - this is an opportunity for partnerships
Martin County is beginning full cost accounting
More information on state impact fee caps for schools
Indian River County is looking at school impact fees for new growth
Orange County has some interesting school concurrency strategies
We need to keep the idea of regionalism rather than look at individual county strategies

Small Group Discussion Comments-8-5

K-12 opportunities for partnerships across county lines- interlocal agreements for services etc.? E.g. a “regional high school”? Sharing facilities, services etc. across county lines (St. Lucie shares facilities)
Operations (based on students enrolled in the schools) vs. capital budget (2 mils discretionary locally- stays in county). E.g. a 3 county school board?
How to deal with funding gaps projected in terms of school demographics
Look at charter schools role and partnerships in improving the K-12 school system?
Post secondary= FAU/IRCC working together regionally

First class workforce partnerships
Draft Objective

Build on existing TC model for coordinating workforce development in region? Do more of the same with more $$?

Plenary Discussion Comments, Concerns and Suggestions- 8-6

Partnership between the regional boards and the state

Small Group Discussion Comments- 8-5

Need a first class working environment in place to attract the work force
Relates to the schools/universities participating- but what is here to put these students to work?
A regional airport could bring high wage jobs related the facility.