Agenda Package 4-1-13 - Reg. Meeting

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MEMORANDUM To: Charles Parks, Chair, Lee County Commissioners From: Bob Joyce, President, Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce Brad Simpson, Chair, Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce Donnie Oldham, Chair, Lee County Economic Development Corporation Date: March 22, 2013 Re: Business Community Input on Draft Economic Incentives Guidelines At the March 18, 2013 Lee County Commissioner Meeting, it was requested by Commissioner Robert Reives that the Chamber and EDC provide input on the draft Economic Incentives Guidelines. This memo will provide that input. Given the limited time deadline to provide said input of March 25, 2013, the Chamber and EDC have not provided any specific policy alternatives; however, should more time be provided, we are more than happy to work with the Commissioners on specific alternatives to the policies that we felt needed to be altered or restructured. Incentives are a necessary evil in the current environment for site selections by large scale employers. While we don't like them, the Chamber and EDC support their use as integral to the economic development process. Before proceeding further, please know that we applaud the Commissioners efforts to codify guidelines that will eliminate the potential for misunderstandings in the future. We are well aware that incentives provided in the past could have been done so with more structure to protect the interests of the County's Taxpayers. The Business Community is fully on board with the concept of formally adopted Economic Incentives Guidelines. However, in the 21 Century Global Economy, we are finding that the process of site selection is one of elimination. If Lee County were to adopt Economic Incentive Guidelines that are too restrictive, we have empirical evidence from 3` -party consultants that Lee County would be eliminated in the first rounds of every selection process by the major employers who conduct international site searches. To be efficient, the responses below coordinate with the numbers in draft provided to the Commissioners in the March 18 agenda which is attached as Exhibit A to this memorandum: 1. Understood. However, we have concerns that this may put us at a disadvantage, but defer to the Commissioners. 2. Understood. However, we have concerns that this may put us at a disadvantage, but defer to the Commissioners.