The Jefferson EDGE 2010: Road to Recovery Including a Short-Term Plan for Business in association with and Economic Recovery The University of New Orleans Center for Economic Development NOVEMber 1, 2005 TTHHEE JJEEFFFFEERRSSOONN EEDDGGEE 22001100:: Executive Summar RROOAADD TTOO RREECCOOVVEERRYY On August 25th, 2005, the Jefferson Parish In the face of these economic aftershocks, Economic Development Commission JEDCO responded swiftly and decisively to (JEDCO) Board of Commissioners voted to assist businesses affected by the hurricanes approve the five year update to The and to craft a comprehensive response to Jefferson EDGE economic development their devastation. On October 5th, 2005, plan. This revised and updated roadmap for JEDCO organized a one-day retreat at which economic development in Jefferson Parish, business leaders, community leaders, Parish entitled The Jefferson EDGE 2010, was the officials, and economic development experts culmination of nearly a year’s worth of identified critical issues facing the research, community outreach, and strategic economies of the Parish and the New economic development planning. Orleans region in the near term. Subsequently, the assembled planning group Less than a week later, the overall vision outlined a series of action items to be and the specific goals, objectives, and undertaken in order to facilitate economic strategies that emerged from this recovery. In late September and October, comprehensive planning process were cast JEDCO, the Jefferson Chamber and the into doubt by one of the largest natural Jefferson Business Council convened four disasters in the history of the United States. Jefferson Back to Business forums at which As the level of devastation wrought by time business owners were surveyed and Hurricane Katrina became apparent, it their needs assessed. Their suggestions as became increasingly clear that the effects well as those emanating from the one-day upon both the regional and Jefferson Parish retreat were incorporated into a document economies would be far ranging. entitled Short Term Business Recovery Plan for Jefferson Parish. Indeed, the immediate impact of the storm upon the demographic, social, and economic The next step that JEDCO undertook was to landscape of the New Orleans metropolitan assemble key stakeholders to review the area cannot be understated. Katrina was recommendations of both the Short Term y directly or indirectly responsible for Business Recovery Plan and the long range approximately 1,000 fatalities in Louisiana Jefferson EDGE 2010 plan in light of the alone. Roughly 270,000 individuals were economic dislocations caused by Hurricane living in evacuation shelters for weeks on Katrina. At a meeting on October 19th, 2005, end. And according to the Bureau of Labor the group that was convened suggested Statistics (BLS), Louisiana registered the additional short-term recovery measures and largest single month increase in any state’s re-affirmed the broad, long-range economic unemployment rate since the BLS began development vision outlined in The collecting monthly unemployment data in Jefferson EDGE 2010. However, the group the 1970’s. In August of 2005, Louisiana did urge JEDCO to make minor revisions to registered an unemployment rate of 5.8% the plan’s goals, objectives, and strategies to while by the end of September of 2005, the reflect the new economic realities of a post- unemployment rate had skyrocketed to Katrina Jefferson Parish. 11.5%. 1 Executive Summary 2 This document includes both the short-term business recovery plan and the long-term economic development plan. Clearly, the focus of the short-term plan is to get the residents and businesses of the Parish back on their feet in an expeditious manner in the wake of the hurricanes. With the revisions that were suggested at the October 19th, 2005 meeting, the long range plan also integrates the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita into the critical issues and action items that were identified. JEDCO is confident that despite the setbacks caused by this recent disaster, the two plans will catalyze a stronger economy in Jefferson Parish—one that will be even more prosperous and more sustainable than the economy that preceded Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For more in-depth economic information on Jefferson Parish, consult The Jefferson EDGE Full Report, at www.jedco.org Contact JEDCO at: 3445 N. Causeway Blvd. Suite 300 Metairie, LA 70002 (504)833-1881 Jefferson EDGE 2010 Executive Summary, Jefferson Parish, LA The Jefferson Edge 2010 Table of Contents Short-term Recovery Plan…….Section 1 Intro to Long Range Plan……..Section 2 Planning Process…………...…..Section 3 EDGE Accomplishments……...Section 4 Community Assessment……….Section 5 Cluster Analysis………………..Section 6 SWOT Analysis………………...Section 7 Critical Issues Vision Statement……………….Section 8 Action Plan……………………..Section 9 Prioritization…………………...Section 10 Implementation………………...Section 11 APPENDIX EDGE Steering Committee…….Appendix A CEDS Committee Roster………Appendix B Meeting Minutes………………..Appendix C Attendance Sheets………………Appendix D Task Forces Rosters…………….Appendix E Parish Council Resolution……...Appendix F The Jefferson Edge 2010 SECTION 1 SHORT-TERM RECOVERY PLAN Short Term Business Recovery Plan for Jefferson Parish November 1, 2005 Prepared by: Center for Economic Development College of Business Administration University of New Orleans Ivan J. Miestchovich, Ph.D., CEcD, Director SHORT-TERM BUSINESS RECOVERY PLAN FOR JEFFERSON PARISH Background The Jefferson Parish Council passed a resolution on September 28, 2005 requesting that the Jefferson Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) prepare and submit by November 1, 2005 a short term business recovery plan in response to the disruptions caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. On October 5, JEDCO convened a one- day planning retreat in Gretna, during which 50 to 60 business and community leaders identified and formulated strategies for addressing significant challenges facing Jefferson Parish in the wake of the two storms. A list of participants is attached to this report. The following, which summarizes the outcome of this meeting, includes identification of critical issues, strategies and actions that must be taken to address them. Where possible, specific responsibilities are assigned to ensure that necessary tasks are carried out or, where action is already underway, continued and completed. In many cases, tasks must be undertaken by an organization or agency other than JEDCO. In such cases, JEDCO’s role will be as facilitator or convener to ensure that resources are marshaled to address a critical issue. In any plan, time horizons are essential and schedules are important to accomplishing goals, objectives and specific tasks. For purposes of this Short Term Business Recovery Plan, the planning horizon is the next nine to twelve months, between now and the start of 2006 hurricane season. In fact, implementation of many of the action items that were identified were initiated by JEDCO only days after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in an effort to provide immediate assistance to Parish businesses. The overall goal of the Short Term Business Recovery Plan is very simple: to ensure that Jefferson Parish gets back to business. To successfully reach this goal, participants at the planning retreat believed that the Parish must address six critical issues. They include: Communication Housing Financing Adequate Infrastructure Business Opportunities in the Recovery and Redevelopment Process Regional Redevelopment 1 UNO Center for Economic Development 1. Communication Ongoing and effective communication is essential to business recovery and redevelopment in Jefferson Parish and throughout the region. The media has provided and continues to provide ample coverage of the disaster, its aftermath and recovery. Unfortunately, not all of it has cast the area in a positive light on the national and global stages. Recovery and redevelopment communication efforts must focus on positive accomplishments and the dissemination of information most useful to Jefferson residents and businesses. To this end, JEDCO and its allies, the Jefferson Chamber and Jefferson Back to Business Task Force have been providing a continuous stream of information through a wide range of media and responding to needs and requests for assistance. 1.1. Communicate JEDCO’s and allies’ business recovery resources and status of Parish. [Ongoing] • Compiled Recovery Resources Guide and posted on website; continuously updated • Organized Jefferson Back to Business Task Force with representatives of JBC, JEDCO and the Jefferson Chamber to marshal resources and business leadership • Created Jefferson Back to Business website aimed at all businesses in the area to act as a clearinghouse of free advice and information • Linked JEDCO’s website with others such as LED’s www.LEDforward.louisiana.gov; www.jeffersonbacktobusiness.com • Direct mailings to businesses • Held four, well-attended Jefferson Back to Business Forums • Online request for assistance forms. • Broadcast e-mails and faxes. • Established contact with major employers, manufactures and revenue generators to assess needs and locations • Hotline (833-2008) call center established; sponsored by ATMOS • Speaking engagements and panelists at Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Vietnamese Business Association • Opened, equipped and staffed two (2) business recovery centers • Create database of attendees at business briefings, seminars, business recovery centers,