Staff report for May 2017
This report is a compilation of the work that is done by all staff of the EDC. All reporting items are in italics and listed under the headings of the 2017 work plan.
BUSINESS RETENTION and EXPANSION
Objective: Grow and expand our economy by placing an emphasis on working with existing businesses.
Complete the countywide industry workplan
Economic Gardening: training and pilot program with five businesses. State appropriations cover this program. After June 30, we will access state program to continue to cover our local needs.
Business Development Committee. Action items to be developed based on the direction given by the committee and approved by the board and may include:
o Business walkabouts
o Survey of existing businesses
o Business site visits and analysis
May 2017: the industry work plan is still being worked on by Jennifer, but has a drop dead due date of June 30th. Economic Gardening is moving along, Lynn met with another manufacturer and is waiting to hear back on their interest level. The Business Development Committee has not met yet, but we will get something scheduled.
BUSINESS RECRUITMENT
Objective: Grow the economic base of Mason County by recruiting new businesses that create jobs as well as expand our tax base.
Develop a business recruitment plan that identifies continued funding.
Respond to all RFPs that would fit well in Mason County.
Host the Department of Commerce Recruitment team to visit Mason County. Educate them on what we have to offer.
Increase retail investment opportunities within Mason County. This will include the ReCON Trade Show.
Recruit a hotel.
May 2017: Jennifer, James and Lynn attended ReCON Tradeshow in Las Vegas in May. We met with retail consultants, hotels, restaurants, big box retailers and more. We also met with a Hall Equities representative while there. We are continuing to work with Green Diamond on a site plan and infrastructure for the Simpson Industrial Park (Mill 5).
Workforce development
Objective: Grow, expand, and diversify our workforce.
Participate in regional conversations and programs that bring training programs for businesses in Mason County
Query businesses regarding workforce issues and identify the gaps and take those issues back to PacMtn and Olympic College to explore solutions.
May 2017: Lynn is working with the B2B manager to negotiate space for the B2B representative in our offices. We are also talking about costs for us to contract partial hours by that person. In May the ‘American Job Centers’ were introduced into the region and round tables were held. Lynn introduced those roundtables at two functions – one in Shelton and one in Belfair. Lynn moderated the Shelton site for the Governor’s Summit for Career Connected Learning.
site location assistance
Objective: Be the central point of contact for businesses that are looking for a brick and mortar location.
Work with realtors to identify commercial properties that are available
Keep ChooseMason property database (zoomprospector) updated and current
Build a comprehensive listings page, specifically for site selectors on ChooseMason.com
May 2017: We received an RFP from the Department of Commerce in May called Project Aurora. We were not able to respond because they were looking for an existing facility of 125,000 sq. ft. with an existing clean room. The EDC also helped an existing fabrication business find locations in Mason County. They are having issues with zoning. We helped navigate the county planning office and also put them in touch with the Port of Shelton.
entrepreneurship
Objective: Cultivate an environment that encourages entrepreneurship
· Partner with Shelton High School to hold the 4th annual Business Plan Competition
Participate in Olympic College’s Entrepreneurship Camp
Continue to work with the county and other partners to provide assistance and business training to entrepreneurs and microenterprises
May 2017: The EDC continues to promote the microenterprise program. We held an information session at the EDC office and gave technical assistance to a program participant. The 2017 Business Plan Competition was successfully held on May 23rd – five scholarships were awarded.
business services
Objective: Continue to explore ways to bring needed business resources to Mason County businesses.
Using the Business Resource Feasibility Study that was commissioned by the EDC and PUD3 in 2016, continue to identify strategies to bring resources to Mason County.
Continue to explore available grant funding as well as partnerships that could help carry out this objective.
May 2017: Joel Myer and Lynn continue to work with J. Robertson Inc. to complete the business resource study. There is funding left in the contract so we are looking at continued work over the next year. Lynn met with the area director for the Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center to talk about resources for our businesses that have been affected by foreign markets. Lynn met with Impact Washington representative to review our current contract and explore other programs to help existing businesses.
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Objective: Continue to get the word out that the EDC is here and open for business. To be effective we need to make sure we are communicating with our stakeholders. Existing and prospective businesses need to know who to call when they need assistance.
Update website to push communication pieces such as news releases, newsletters and events with a focus on business spotlights, pictures, and success stories.
Build social media presence
Send a quarterly newsletter to members
Build county-wide marketing materials including business resource guide and fund local campaign
Objective: Position Mason County to be a viable location for site selectors and companies looking to relocate and/or expand their business.
Work with the Washington State Department of Commerce to identify statewide initiatives that market our area as well as the state
Explore ways to partner and share limited marketing dollars. For example work with the Pac-5 (Mason, Lewis, Thurston, Pacific and Grays Harbor EDCs) to market the region
Build investment around current area attractions
May 2017: May 8th the new website went live. We have been getting lots of compliments though minor changes are still being made. Jennifer hired a drone operator to get lots of pictures of businesses in Mason County. We have lots of great pictures to use as we see fit. We held our 3rd annual membership drive on May 25 – over 100 participants, go-kart rides, skydivers, Blitz (Seahawk), good times and food!
ORGANIZATION
Objective: Increase organization effectiveness and efficiency
Policies and By-Laws Committee to review and recommend policies for Board approval and implementation. Action items to be developed based on the direction given by the committee and approved by the board and may include:
o Update internal policies and procedures.
o Develop Board Rules and Responsibilities and see them integrated throughout the year.
o Review and update the by-laws to assure continued relevance.
o Long-range project management.
Finance Committee. Action items to be developed based on the direction given by the committee and approved by the board and may include:
o Research membership/dues restructure.
o Review and update financial procedures; develop long range financial goals along with funding strategies to achieve them
o Present all financial goals and proposals to the board for approval
o Develop an annual operating budget along with useful and readable report formats with staff, approve the budget within the finance committee, and then present committee approved budget to the board for final approval.
May 2017: Lynn is working on updating the internal policies. A very draft copy is being reviewed at this time.
Legislative Relations
Objective: Create, develop, and transform the organization’s policies relating to general or specific legislative issues and priorities.
Legislative Committee. Action items to be developed based on the direction given by the committee and approved by the board.
o Action items to be developed based on the direction given by the committee and approved by the board and may include:
§ Present priorities within legislative send off and wrap up events and to conduct visits to the legislators.
§ Actively participate with West Sound Alliance and other advocacy groups within the organization’s purview.
§ Long-range project management.
Work with the Local Infrastructure Prioritization Team to update and prioritize the CEDS list to distributions to legislators.
Miscellaneous
We are working on completing the work for the appropriations. All work under the appropriation funding must be completed by the end of June.
· Jim Mooney, DeSCo Consulting, came to town in May to discuss the draft version of the Business Demographic Update. He met with the Board, had a public meeting, and met privately with strategic partners to get feedback.
· We continue to work with Community Attributes to update the Economic Development Element of the Mason County Comprehensive Plan. The public comments page is live on our website.
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