Gilchrist leaders give county direction on economic development

By John M. Ayers

The Gilchrist County Commission welcomed a group of 20 business leaders and residents to an economic development workshop the board hosted on Monday afternoon.
Commission Chairman Randy Durden explained that the board was there to listen to ideas the group had on ways to promote economic development in Gilchrist County.
Commissioner Tommy Langford gave information to the audience concerning North Florida Broadband Authority, a governmental entity that received a $30 million grant to provide broadband access to 15 rural North Florida counties as a middle mile provider. Langford said he hopes to see the new service begin to take customers through the last mile provided by mid summer of 2011.
Durden explained that Gilchrist County is supporting legislation that is designed to reduce the concurrency issue involving SR 26. This legislation will be submitted during the 2011 legislative session in Tallahassee by the Small County Coalition.
Donna Creamer, director of Pure Water Wilderness in Gilchrist County, reported to the board that Gilchrist County is currently at 10.2 percent unemployment. Creamer said that economic development is needed in Gilchrist County to provide jobs for these unemployed residents.
Todd Gray, owner of Gray Construction Services, explained that eliminating the concurrency issue on SR 26 to allow commercial development along the corridor would help economic development in the county.
“Concurrency creates new jobs in Gilchrist County when this is corrected from Newberry west to Fanning Springs,” explained Gray.
Alex Wyszkowski told the board that Gilchrist County needs good clean industry. He asked about the denial of a water bottling plant and an electric power generating facility which was denied when considered for construction in Gilchrist County. The board explained that water is a very important issue at this time in Florida. Issues involving water are identified and regulated by the Suwannee River Water Management District. Gilchrist County has no control regarding pending water applications.
Commissioner Tommy Langford explained that the electric power generating facility was not denied, but officials were asked to revise their proposal and bring something back to Gilchrist County that would use less water than what was originally proposed.
Alex Wyszkowski explained if the county would give tax incentivies to companies interested in locating in the county that would be a drawing card for new economic development. Gilchrist County has land and people that want to go to work, he explained.
Donna Creamer told the board that Gilchrist County impact fees are hindering economic development in Gilchrist County. She explained that the $3,500 residential fee should be reduced to $1,400. The board explained that the commercial impact fee has now been reduced to a maximum of $5,000.
Clif Bradley asked the commission if they were working with other governmental agencies in the county to enhance future economic development in Gilchrist County. He explained that enterprise zones have been successful in other small counties in Florida. These zones are recognized by the State of Florida and tax credits are available through the state. Bradley explained that planning and preparing for economic development to come to the county is being ready when the businesses come looking.
Jon Gray told the board that Gilchrist County should begin to focus on preparing more graduates to attend the University of Florida. Economic development in Gilchrist County must be created to keep our youth, our future in business, at home.
Don Bennink told the board that Gilchrist County is like the old Peanuts cartoon; the enemy in economic development is ourselves. Bennink said that the county must utilize what it has to its fullest advantage to benefit the future, he said. Bennink pointed out that agribusiness programs should be teaching the young people to be leaders in agribusiness.
“Our industry is hungry for young business leaders that come out of school prepared to be administrative business leaders in the agriculture industry,” Bennink said. “The Gilchrist school system is not preparing our young people for administrative agriculture business positions. Teaching our young people how to finish fat steers and hogs is not preparing them for future agriculture leadership roles, he explained. Gilchrist County has good schools and the students would be better prepared if they were learning how to manage 10 to 20 acres of blueberries of their own,” Bennink added.
“Agriculture invests $19.3 million annually into the Gilchrist County economy; we don’t need to go and bring development to the county, we need to educate our youth and prepare them for leadership roles,” Bennink added.
Jordan Hagan told the board that Gilchrist County needs to have programs to employ graduates after they complete school. He considered himself very lucky to be able to get a position with a regional business and stay this close to his home.
Diane Clifton presented the county with a business development plan that was produced by Taylor County Development Council. She explained that this could be a beginning for a development plan for Gilchrist County.
The commission is considering revitalizing the Gilchrist Economic Development Council. Kyle Stone is currently the executive director of the economic development council in Gilchrist County.
Tim Hastings, a resident of Gilchrist County and electrical engineer with Central Florida Electric, explained that the electrical power generating facility proposed for Gilchrist County is not dead. He explained that a cooperative represents its members and they are you. Seminole Electric was unable to be specific when they met with Gilchrist County involving their proposed peak electric generating facility. They had to look at so many different types of possibilities involving this type of plant that they could not identify any of the particulars. The industry is changing and the development opportunities are still out there.
Hastings called on the county to further develop an economic development outline to better identify what the county is seeking involving economic development for the future. Commission Chairman Durden stated that this is the first of many future meetings that will be held to better focus on economic development for Gilchrist County.
The Gilchrist County Commission will hold a workshop with the Trenton City Commission on Tuesday, February 22, in the Trenton Community Center. This meeting is open to the public and will begin at 5:30 p.m.