In the interests of protecting the quality of
life we currently enjoy in this region, while accommodating the natural tendency of
growth, we wish to promote and encourage expansion, which compliments our commerce base,
strengthens our economies, shares our concerns for the quality of life, maintains the
purity of our environment, and provides the best possible opportunity to enable our
infrastructure to keep pace with that expansion.
1.
Data Collection - The EDC will collect demographic
information from all of the local jurisdictions and entities. Those statistics will be
correlated into a regional report with trend analysis. The EDC will conduct public and
private surveys to identify specific needs of the community.
2.
Comprehensive Planning - The EDC will collect
information regarding the comprehensive plans of all local jurisdictions, utility
providers, state and federal agencies and major employers, related to the infrastructure
planning for the region. The EDC will work with these various entities to correlate that
data into a comprehensive master plan for the region.
3.
Strategic Partnerships - The EDC will work with the
various entities and the public (including prospective developers or relocations) to
establish the alliances necessary to affect the strategies contained in the comprehensive
master plan.
4.
Grants and Financial Assistance - The EDC will
research available grants and other financial assistance programs which will help to fund
the organization itself and the projects defined by the organization. The EDC will assist
local jurisdictions with applications for grants and financial assistance whenever
possible. The EDC will administer grants on behalf of regional entities as required.
5.
Marketing & Promotion - The EDC will prepare
comprehensive marketing collateral materials to promote the region and will work to
attract targeted relocations and developments to the region.
6.
Business Development - The EDC will work with existing
businesses in the region, to help expand their markets outside the region, to expand their
physical presence within the region, and to bring goods and services currently being
purchased outside the region, into the region. The EDC will work with prospective
developers and businesses outside of the region, which wish to expand into the region,
through introductions and providing information about available property, services, and
support.
7.
Employment - The EDC will work with employers to
recruit the type of workforce necessary to the operations of their businesses within the
region. In this context, the EDC will also address the availability of housing issues
related to attracting a workforce.
8.
Education - The EDC will work with the school
districts to develop educational programs in support of the workforce needs of the region.
The EDC will organize and/or conduct workshops to educate business owners and managers in
the skills necessary to increase their economic contributions to the region.
9.
Public Relations - The EDC will endeavor to keep the
public informed about developments within the region. The EDC will attend trade shows and
conventions around the nation in its efforts to promote the region and attract the types
of businesses defined in our comprehensive master plan. The EDC will support the local
Chambers and Visitors Bureaus in building tourism throughout the region.
10.
Lobbying and Civil Remedies - The EDC will lobby state
and federal agencies and legislators in support of regional goals. The EDC will pursue
civil remedies wherever necessary to defend regional goals against unwanted developments.
