County's first goal: Economic growth

County's first goal: Economic growth



By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 01/28/09


Attracting new business and industry here will be one of the county's top goals for the next few years, St. Johns County commissioners concluded at a special priority-setting meeting Tuesday morning.

Commission Chair Cyndi Stevenson said the county needs a "diverse and stable local economy, not only relying on tourism and agriculture."

This session -- more are planned -- found all five commissioners united on the economic development issue, though they also briefly discussed other goals, such as public safety, West Augustine, the stimulus package and the county's financial future.

County Administrator Mike Wanchick said the commission's goals should be developed multi-year, not year to year.

"We want to get the whole organization on the same page and try to achieve our objectives," Wanchick said. "In times like this, with resources very limited, this (process) is very important."

St. Johns County is 84 percent residential land and 11 percent commercial and industrial development land.

This is off balance because residential development does not pay for itself, but commercial development creates jobs, uses fewer public services and pays more taxes.

Nick Sacia, executive director of the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce's Economic Development Council, said Tuesday afternoon that just bringing 100 high-wage manufacturing jobs here creates 236 jobs in the county's economy.

"(Manufacturing) brings in money from outside the local area," Sacia said.

Commissioner Ken Bryan said that the county's economic goals should be "realistic and achievable."

Vice Chair Ron Sanchez brought up a suggestion that has been debated before: Buy property and create a county-controlled business area and have all the permits ready when outside businesses come looking to relocate.

"That would eliminate a lot of problems right now," Sanchez said. "Businesses are interested in when they can start building."

Stevenson said she didn't want these public business parks to compete with private commercial efforts.

"I'd rather see us do a partnership with private business," she said.

But Sacia said a public business park eliminates the risk for certain types of projects.

"A public business center isn't looking out just for one business, but for the whole county," he said.

Wanchick said, "Economic development starts with business retention. I think the Chamber does a good job with that."

Incentives have been a hot button issue in St. Johns County for years, with some previous commissioners calling them "corporate welfare."

But Sanchez said, "I believe they pay off."

Wanchick said the goal-setting session was useful.

"We don't have to have all the answers, but we need to show leadership," he said.


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