International Economic Development Council The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,500 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experience. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in a wide variety of settings including local, state, provincial and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. For more information about IEDC, please visit www.iedconline.org. Barry Matherly Jeffrey A. Finkle, CEcD IEDC Board Chair President and CEO Executive Director International Economic Development Council Greater Richmond Partnership Washington, DC Richmond, Virginia 2 Acknowledgements This technical assistance project was funded through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant is focused on supporting long-term economic recovery of communities in the EDA-Atlanta region that were impacted by disaster in fiscal year (FY) 2011. The statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and other data in this report are solely those of IEDC and do not necessarily reflect the views of EDA. IEDC would like to thank the technical assistance panel, referred to throughout the report as “the IEDC Team.” These individuals volunteered their time and expertise throughout this project and provided guidance for this report. • Faith McClintic, Director, Albemarle County Economic Development (Albemarle County, Virginia) • David J. Myers, CEcD, Executive Director, Ponca City Development Authority (Ponca City, Oklahoma) • Joy Wilkins, CEcD, Consultant, Serving Communities (Atlanta, Georgia) IEDC would like to acknowledge Southwest Airlines, a community partner, for flying team members to the site visit. IEDC would also like to acknowledge StateBook International, ESRI Inc., and Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) for donating software that was used in this report. IEDC project staff and primary authors of this report include: • Tye Libby, Economic Development and Research Associate • Louise Anderson, Senior Associate, Managing Editor 3 Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Strengths and Challenges ................................................................................................................... 8 Strengths ......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Broad-based Strengths ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Local-level Strengths ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Challenges ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 Workforce ........................................................................................................................................................... 12 Communication Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................ 13 Transportation Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................. 14 Regional Brand .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Healthcare .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Housing ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Youth Retention .................................................................................................................................................. 15 Supplier Network ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 17 1. Strengthen the C3 of Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance ............................................... 17 1.1 Develop a formal business retention and expansion (BRE) program ............................................................ 17 1.2 Expand the private-sector membership of the C3 EDA ................................................................................. 20 1.3 Continue to explore the possibility of expanding the regional service area .................................................. 21 1.4 Become the voice for regional business in the state capital ......................................................................... 22 1.5 Develop a regional brand that reflects the region’s identity ........................................................................ 22 1.6 Map the regional supplier network ............................................................................................................... 24 2. Address Industrial Properties ..................................................................................................................... 27 2.1 Continue efforts to establish shovel-ready industrial sites ........................................................................... 27 2.2 Explore the possibility of creating a joint mega-site with partners ............................................................... 28 2.3 Develop rail-served sites ............................................................................................................................... 29 2.4 Ensure that AdvantageSite locations have clear signage ............................................................................. 29 2.5 Develop preliminary designs of speculative buildings ................................................................................... 29 3. Enhance workforce development efforts .................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Quantify the C3 region’s workforce composition to better understand workforce ....................................... 30 3.2 Expand manufacturing awareness programs to earlier grades .................................................................... 31 3.3 Work to maximize the benefits of new federal workforce legislation ........................................................... 31 3.4 Improve access to career tech programs ...................................................................................................... 32 3.6 Increase opportunities for industry outreach in secondary schools .............................................................. 34 3.7 Create a one-stop coordination center with pooled resources for workforce development ......................... 34 4. Leverage I-22 .............................................................................................................................................. 34 4.1 Schedule updated traffic count upon completion of the highway ................................................................ 35 4.2 Develop a regional brand and marketing strategy for the counties along I-22 ............................................ 35 4.3 Enhance I-22 off-ramps ................................................................................................................................. 35 4.4 Conduct a retail gap analysis ........................................................................................................................ 36 4 5. Improve community outreach and education efforts to build support for the C3 EDA ................................ 36 5.1 Create a dialogue with citizens about what economic development is and how it works ............................ 37 5.2 Publicize and celebrate economic development successes ........................................................................... 37 5.3 Catalyze a regional leadership program that includes economic development education ........................... 37 5.4 Visit peer and aspirational communities and develop benchmarks .............................................................. 38 6. Work to further promote and assist entrepreneurial and small businesses development ........................... 38 6.1 Develop a plan for promoting and assisting entrepreneurial and small businesses ..................................... 39 6.2 Increase awareness of entrepreneurial resources .......................................................................................