Cayuga County, New York Economic Development Strategic Plan Prepared By: Cayuga Economic Development Agency In consultation with: Moran, Stahl & Boyer E. M. Pemrick & Company November 2011 Working Draft Fair Haven Sterling Victory Ira Conquest Cato Meridian Montezuma Port Byron Mentz Weedsport Brutus Throop Sennett Cayuga Aurelius Auburn Union Springs Springport Fleming Owasco Aurora Ledyard Scipio Niles Venice Moravia Sempronius King Ferry Genoa Locke Summerhill 11/11/2011 Version: 11.11.11 Table of Contents Section 1. Summary of Plan Report Cayuga County Roadmap 2. Recommendations “One Cayuga” Proposal CEDA Works: Organizational Effectiveness Growing jobs: Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Building Businesses: Strengthening our Industry Groups Infrastructure: Building Our Assets Cayuga Development: Supporting Growth Locally 3. Cayuga County Profile Strategic Location Current Initiatives/Activities Demographic/Economic Profile Industry Profiles Cost of Living and Doing Business Housing 4. Peer County Benchmarking Genesee County, New York Madison County, New York Cecil County, Maryland 5. Resource Assessment Labor Education and Training Real Estate Utilities Transportation Community Capital Business Resources 6. Appendix Project Background List of Stakeholders Interviewed Local Development and Community Plans Economic Development in Adjacent Counties Auburn Comprehensive Plan CAYUGA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN 11/11/2011 Version: 11.11.11 1. Introduction_ _ _ ROADMAP FOR POSITIONING CAYUGA COUNTY TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC GROWTH. Destination: Economic Growth for Cayuga County Cayuga County has prepared an Economic Development Strategic Plan that charts a roadmap to strengthen job development, assist business expansion, and maintain a strong tax base. How the Plan Was Developed In developing the plan, there were three key questions to address: • What is our current economic condition? • What opportunities does the County have going forward? • What directions should we take to realize our best economic potential? The project team followed the planning process below in order to address each of the three questions. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Task 3 Gather Background Infor- Evaluate Strengths and Define Opportunities and Define Strategy and mation and Stakeholder Challenges and Craft Resource Requirements and Develop Action Plan to Feedback Vision for the Economy Identify Potential Gaps. Achieve Vision. CEDA Mission Statement “To foster a sustainable quality of life in Cayuga County through job retention, expansion, and attraction” The Vision for Economic Growth • Growing employment opportunities for Cayuga County and the region by leveraging our unique local assets and resources for business and job development. • Establishing a “First Stop” for businesses of any size or category where resources and incentives can be delivered in an efficient unified manner. • Cultivating the diverse industries in Cayuga County and working to help them grow jobs and invest locally. • Broadening the spirit of entrepreneurship which has been the catalyst for Cayuga’s past successes and is now the skill set that inspires individual talent to drive business innovation to create jobs, chart careers and strengthen our communities. • Working to strengthen a creative business environment within Cayuga County that possesses low costs for housing, labor, energy and land along with a talented workforce partnered with a pro-active educational sector positioned with “turn- key” development sites. CAYUGA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN i 11/11/2011 Version: 11.11.11 1. Introduction_ _ _ Strengths and Challenges The County has many assets and strengths to support business and generate economic growth. But there are also serious challenges to be addressed for the County to successfully reach its potential. Strengths and Opportunities Weaknesses and Threats • Diverse and vibrant industry base. Manufacturing, • Lack of “shovel ready” development sites & buildings. agriculture, tourism, not-for-profits supporting strong • Independent and competitive delivery system for retail and professional sectors. incentivizing business investment projects. • World class natural resources. Water and farmland. • Prohibitive New York State business climate for • Skilled workforce supported by BOCES, Cayuga relocations. Retention expansion climate daunting. Community and Wells Colleges Lengthy system to define, promise and deliver • High quality of life. Wineries, museums, parks, lakes, incentives. arts, culture, education and athletics. • High cost of water and sewer in selected locations. • Low costs for housing, labor, living and land. Various price points for business usage. Infrastructure challenges. • Central location to serve the Northeast and Midwest. Road, rail and air links. • Lack of critical mass or consensus to spur local town level development in some areas. • Positive reforms from New York State with tax cap, timely balanced budget and new low cost power • Pockets of parochialism and resistance to change as part program. of local cultures. • Locally created energy assets including biofuels and • Limited broadband access outside populated areas. hydroelectric power. Spirit of innovation. • Declining demographics affecting workforce quality, • Enthusiastic culture of entrepreneurship, past, present seasonal and talent demands and business attraction and future, from students to workers and start-ups. rankings. • Nationally ranked “green” energy projects. Models for • Reductions in state and federal funding. future results. • Limited financial resources to support new and emerging • Several benevolent foundations that make highly businesses. valued investments in the community. Potential Opportunities • Agriculture: Conversion of bulk milk into value-added products; expansion of small farms producing organic products, specialty cheeses and other niche products; expansion of vineyards and wineries. • Manufacturing: Support retention/expansion of existing manufacturers; develop the resources necessary to attract other manufacturing jobs in food/milk processing, plastics, metal parts and components, machinery, energy and transportation equipment, and other segments. • Tourism: Continue development of the Musical Theatre Festival; create “experiential” vacation packages with culinary/wine and “hands on” farm experiences; expand activities and events to spring and fall shoulder seasons. CAYUGA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN ii 11/11/2011 Version: 11.11.11 1. Introduction_ _ _ • Educational Institutions: Wells College, Cayuga Community College and BOCES are all engaged in various expansions of facilities, programs and curriculums. Close ties between business and campus is a major asset for Cayuga County.. • Entrepreneurship: Expand local economy through new business creation and acceleration of existing small businesses. Action Plan for Achieving Vision In order to arrive at our destination of economic growth, Cayuga County needs to work on the following action items: SHARE 1. Establish a Well Organized and Focused Organization That Supports Economic Development THE • Establish the Cayuga Economic Development Agency as the “First Stop” agency for economic ROAD development in Cayuga County working closely with businesses of any size. • Respond to business needs and inquiries from prospective companies. Maintain a thorough business visitation regimen as part of a pro-active Business Retention and Expansion program. • Implement the Strategic Plan recommendations to strengthen all of our diverse industry groups and support planned development on the town level. • Define reasonable measurements to track our progress in supporting economic investment. 2. Provide Effective Communications to Local Businesses and Prospective Companies • Inform local employers regularly about available business benefits. Work closely to deliver eligible resources. • Represent Cayuga County with regional and state development organizations to improve our regional economy, support regional employers, secure resources and attract outside investment. • Engage all stakeholders in the County in reading the book SWITCH by Chip and Dan Heath. 3. Upgrade the Assets Required to Attract Economic Investment • Development Sites: Increase the quantity of development sites and make them “shovel and incentive ready” for immediate construction and investment. • Utilities: Maximize the local advantages of Cayuga County’s unique energy generating assets. Reduce energy costs by accessing ReCharge New York’s low cost electric incentives. Work to expand broadband access throughout Cayuga. Address critical needs within our water and sewer infrastructure. Establish competitive pricing for investment opportunities • Labor/Education/Training: Maintain and expand the current cooperative workforce development efforts between Cayuga schools, students, trainees and employers. Instill entrepreneurship into a practice in all disciplines to generate individual reasoning skills, innovation and problem solving. CAYUGA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN iii 11/11/2011 Version: 11.11.11 1. Introduction_ _ _ 4. Specific Actions for Each Economic Opportunity • Agriculture: Support and strengthen Cayuga’s diverse agricultural community. Assist local farmers with expanded market access through farmers markets and agri-tourism. Work with dairy farmers and crop to innovate new forms of renewable energy. Lobby for favorable and equitable changes to the