Greater
Erie County Marketing Group, Inc.
Strategic
Planning Retreat
April 2, 2003
I.
Brief Summary
Page 3
…………………………………………….
IV.
Development Barriers and Opportunities Assessment...
Page 5
V.
Development of Strategic Goals…………………………….
Page 8
VI.
Marketing in Support of Long-Term Strategies………….
Page 9
VII.
Recommendations/Goals & Objectives..........................….
Page 9
VIII.
Facilitator Comments ………………………………….…….
Page 12
Appendix
1 – Incentive Information
Appendix
2 – Agenda
Appendix
3 – Financial Projections
Appendix
4 – County Profile
Thirty-six
people participated in the Greater Erie County Marketing Group, Inc. (GEM)
Planning Retreat held on April 2, 2003, at the Sandusky Yacht Club, Sandusky,
Ohio. The Regional Growth
Partnership acted as the facilitator for the retreat.
Participants
discussed and made recommendations concerning GEM’s priorities and past
accomplishments.
The
group also discussed various issues:
§
Financial
Briefing
§
Development
Barriers and Opportunities Assessment
§
Discussion
of Strengths and Weaknesses
§
Development
of Strategic Goals
§
Identification
of Key Goals Areas
§
Development
of Long-Term Strategies
§
Discussion
of Marketing in Support of Long-Term Strategies
Thirty-six
people participated in the Greater Erie County Marketing Group, Inc. (GEM)
planning retreat held on April 2, 2003, at the Sandusky Yacht Club.
Those
participating in the retreat included: Charlene
Mockensturm - City of Sandusky, Jude Hammond - Erie County Auditor, Gerald
Lechner – Sandusky City Manager, Elise Nester – OSU Extension, Mike Bixler
– Erie County, Nancy McKeen – Erie County Commissioner, Lynn Middleswarth
– Janotta & Herner, Hans Rosebrock – First Energy, Mark Litten – GEM,
Linda Armstrong – Coldwell Banker, Todd Franko – Sandusky Register, Lance
Warner – Page Development, Philip Hohler – U.S. Bank, John Moldovan – Erie
County Chamber of Commerce, Lee Carter – Sandusky Register, Phil Rudolph, Jr.
– Rudolph/Libbe Company, Tim Riesterer – Margaretta Township, John Girard
– GBSU Firelands, Bridget Castle – National City Bank, Maureen Coe –
Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, Eileen Bulan – City of Vermilion, Rosanne
Bodner – GEM, Ralph Roshong, Kelleys Island School, Alex MacNicol – Erie
County, Gary Mortus – Ohio Edison, Bob Grimsbo – Feick Contractors, Michael
Will – City of Sandusky, Wes Fahrbach – Ohio Department of Development,
Randy Ramhoff – R & D Associates, Edmond Hoty – Edmond Hoty Real Estate,
Sparky Weilnau – Erie County Commissioner, Fred Babson – Solutions
Manufacturing, Jim Lawrence – JAG Milling, Craig Trick – Telamon
Construction Inc., Leon Wieber – Keybank, Edward Asher – City of Huron and
Chris Wechter – Century 21/Mike Myers Realty.
The
Regional Growth Partnership President and CEO Don Jakeway, Senior Vice President
of Research and Legislative Affairs Eileen Granata and Margy Poorman, Vice
President of Administrative Affairs facilitated the Planning Retreat.
Gary
Mortus made some introductory comments and Mr. Jakeway provided an overview of
the agenda and began the retreat.
Mr.
Jakeway expressed his appreciation that the Regional Growth Partnership had been
invited to facilitate the retreat. Mr. Jakeway stated that the RGP was here to
support the development efforts of Erie County. He noted that it was his hope
that one of the outcomes of this retreat would be the identification of areas in
which the RGP and the entire regional development effort may better assist and
support Erie County in its work to ensure progressive economic development in
the county.
III.
Financial Briefing
Mark
Litten provided an outline of the financial projections for the GEM
organization. He made it clear that this discussion was not the focal point of
meeting but was being pointed out to give perspective to urgency of the
strategic planning session. GEM’s
funding has been dramatically reduced in recent years for various reasons.
It will be crucial to GEM’s survival to identify other sources of
financing beyond local government and private industry support.
IV.
Development
Barriers and Opportunities Assessment
The leadership team
discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the county. The team clearly
has a strong commitment to the betterment of the community as a whole, as well
as to the quality of life for each citizen of the county. The discussion dealt
openly with those issues that negatively impact the community’s economic well
being and image, as well as those assets upon which the county can build a
strong,
Strengths
of Community :
|
Weaknesses
of Community
|
V.
Development of
Strategic Goals
The group discussed a few
broad-based goals, but focused on new and existing business development for the
majority of the time allotted for this topic. The broad-based goals are as
follows:
·
integration of economic
development efforts – most positive experience
·
level playing field – complete
globally
·
expansion opportunities –
targets the future
·
long term investment – strategic
direction and commitment
· Lake Erie – work together to protect the water resourc
|
|
The previous sections of
the report detailed the leadership team’s assessment of critical issues,
challenges and opportunities. Throughout the retreat several major themes
emerged. The following statements are meant to provide a short summary of major
themes and related strategic recommendations.
Major Goals
·
Coordinate seminar to discuss
giftback/PILOT programs to include local school Superintendents & Treasurers
·
GEM to be lead coordinator
of ED projects
·
Government entities need to
include GEM in the communication loop so all issues and crises can be resolved
in timely manner
·
Government entities need to
promote a spirit of cooperation to insure project successes
·
City of Sandusky, Erie Regional
Planning Commission and GEM should not be “in competition” with each other
on handling projects.
·
Proximity to Tier I automotive
markets
·
Within 500 mile radius of 40% of
North American markets
·
High quality of life as seen in
cultural amenities
·
Tourism industry well established
·
Regional hub center for many
services such as health and shopping.
·
Continue to market and promote the
four (4) Industrial/ Commercial parks within Erie County
·
Excellent transportation modes
including I-80/90, SR 2, municipal and int’l airports, customs shipping ports,
rail service
·
Excellent utility services (i.e.
high pressure gas line)
VIII. Facilitator
Comments
The Greater Erie County
Marketing Group, Inc. (GEM) has been the lead economic development agency for
Erie County and has effectively had a positive impact on the county economy.
Working with the county partners has been a critical component for the success
of attracting new companies to the county, as well as maintaining the current
economic base.
The continued value of GEM
would appear to be the coordination efforts with regards to economic development
projects. Utilizing the comprehensive building and site database (a listing of
all available properties in the county) assists in streamlining the site
selection process. Combining the database with the economic development
incentive information, from both local and state resources, offers the county
the opportunity to compete with other communities within the State of Ohio, as
well as compete throughout the country.
Economic development
incentives were of particular interest during the planning session. There were
many questions raised regarding the frequency of usage, as well as basic,
general information. The RGP felt the stakeholders would benefit by having the
opportunity to review those incentives and therefore have included economic
development incentive information under Appendix 1 of this document.
The RGP recommends that the
economic development incentives (i.e. enterprise zone tax abatement) be located
within the lead economic development county agency, GEM. This seems like the
logical place to administer the incentives.
The RGP would also
recommend that GEM provide an opportunity for it’s stakeholders to attend a
meeting in which the economic development incentives were explained in detail,
showing the value associated with those incentives, as well as the benefits and
necessity (in some cases) of utilizing incentives to remain competitive. Of
particular immediate importance, would appear to be enterprise zones and how
they impact the community.
The retreat was well
attended by a nice cross section of the community. However, noticeably absent
was the labor sector. It is important to have all the players’ input as the
community moves forward to attract new industry, as well as maintain the current
businesses in the county.
Economic development strategies are driven by four fundamental factors:
q
Increase tax base
q
Create jobs
q
Create income
q
Increase Investment
These four factors are
necessary to create sustained growth throughout the county.
Through the strategic
planning retreat process, GEM and the organization’s members have outlined
community opportunities and challenges and formulated a basic structure for
continued leadership, community dialog and strategic planning. The work that the
stakeholders completed in this planning retreat provides the groundwork for
addressing major issues on a consensus basis.
We recommend that GEM
review the information included in this report and prioritize by area of focus
or recommendations those consensus issues that are considered most critical. The
organization could then hopefully utilize the community leaders to move these
issues forward. By undertaking the actions necessary to make progress on a few
critical, consensus initiatives, on-going strategic planning may be incorporated
into the regular process of community and economic development.
We have been honored and
privileged to work with you as a facilitator for your strategic planning
retreat. Individually and collectively, your commitment to your community was
clear and unhindered by any visible partisanship or separate political agendas.
Your leadership and dedication made our participation particularly rewarding. We
commit our continued support for your efforts.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donald Jakeway, President & CEO
Eileen Granata, Senior VP,
Research &,
Legislative Affairs
Margy Poorman,