PTC seeks services from county development authority
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 11:55am
Submitted by John Munford
Submitted by John Munford
Peachtree City may soon have a new economic development staffer through a contract arrangement with the Fayette County Development Authority.
The contract, which would pay FCDA $75,000 for one year in return to compensate for that new employee, was scheduled to be considered at Thursday (Feb. 2) night’s City Council meeting at city hall. This option will be in lieu of the city hiring a new economic development coordinator on its own.
According to the contract, the employee’s primary responsibility would be “to work with existing businesses and industries in the city so they are best able to grow and expand within the boundaries of the city,” according to the contract.
The new staffer will also be required to develop relationships with “existing business leaders, elected and appointed leaders and workforce professionals in the city in an effort to serve as a resource and main point of contact for business inquiries.”
The city funds must also be used to develop and implement a business retention and expansion survey and also provide the city with regular written reports on activities and occasional presentations to city leaders, according to the contract.
The contract also calls for the city to provide office and meeting space for FCDA so it can have a permanent presence in the city. Currently FCDA’s offices are located in the historic courthouse in downtown Fayetteville.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 2:03pm
#2
Surely they jest---we are in the financial situation we are in
and they are going to pay Fayette County $75,000 and provide this person a place to work in Peachtree Cty to help existing businesses/business men learn how to expand their companies? Does Imker, the money wizard, think this is the best use of our money? I would think they could come up with better--and it wouldn't take a genius or a council to do it. And here we go with another survey. Give me a break--literally, give me a break from tax increases and useless spending in my community. Enough already, use what money we have to attract new businesses to the community that will bring jobs and new taxes. Jobs that will mean employees who are already here and can then afford to keep their homes etc, or bring in new people who will buy homes, and spend money in our communities. The number of foreclosures in Peachtree City is getting mighty scary.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 6:40pm
#3
Moneytree city
Wow this has to be bad joke. Businesses succeed or fail based on merit. The same goes for this city, we will succeed or fail based on merit. $75,000 jack just to help businesses improve their performance? Seriously?? Really??? Here is a hint provide good customer service and a quality product, and people will give you their money.
HInt #2 we don't need anymore mexican restaurants, nail salons or tire places. Got it?
This isn't rocket science people. Provide a quality product and match it with good customer service. Business 101. You also need to have deep pockets to finance the first 5 years it takes to get established in a business.
Hint #3 Hight taxes to pay for these kind of frivolous gov. jobs will not attract people to our fine city. We have really lost our way if we need this kind of extreme help to keep the city afloat.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 6:52pm
#4
skyspy
spot on pal....its called lack of leadership, that's the bad joke.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 11:46am
#5
A $75,000 Goodwill Ambassador?
That's $75,000 more they they budgeted for DAPC who was already doing this job with several, very bright, individuals (all volunteers)who were residents of PTC and had the cities best interests in mind.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 1:06pm
#6
"Existing businesses in the city" Say what?
Not sure city council is on the same page as logical, clear-thinking people that know how things actually work.
Focusing on existing businesses is not really the way to go here. Economic development is all about bringing new businesses into the city - mostly by attracting successful businesses from elsewhere using a combination of lifestyle marketing and tax breaks. Helping existing business to expand is a good secondary goal, but the best way to do that is to keep excessive government regulation out of the way and of course for the uncertainty about future drive-by taxation by Prezbo to be resolved.
For $75,000 we are going to get what? Some junior staffer with health insurance and a retirement plan to talk about redoing shopping centers? Creating new signage? And is there a marketing budget or are we just going to exist on the coattails of FCDA's generous marketing and advertising fund? Do any of you know how much they have budgeted for the entire county?
Why don't you model this position on what other successful communities do? Henry County for one. Alpharetta for another. God save us from amateur politicians.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 10:42pm
#7
RWM - How
How do you think a city that is unwilling to spend money on their own economic development effort, but wants to share this in some way with the county, could "improve" the environment for business?
The more fundamental question is why would a business want to locate to PTC given other potential sites around the area? I guess each case is different and it depends on what kind of business you happen to run.
If we want businesses to locate here then we need to develop a process for doing that....it doesn't necessarily mean that we need to throw up a whole bunch of financial incentives either.
The fundamental problem is with a lack of leadership and commitment.
I would rather have a political amateur as a leader, than a person who is a legend in his own mind, that's an amateur.
Next election I suppose will change this.....I hope.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 1:41pm
#8
RWM
Perhaps Council should allow the Chamber of Commerce to drive economic development since they have a better clue as to how it works. I believe that governments have interjected themselves into areas where they should have more of a a supportive role, not as the decision makers. Further, when individuals, like two that come to mind, have little to no experience in this arena get to be overnight CEO's is where we begin to have problems.
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 10:35pm
#9
Where have all the regular guys gone? Long time no blogging.
Where have all the regular gone? Long time no hear.
Must be time for another coffee break--I feel a caffeine
fit coming on--or is it that I am just longing for the company of all those handsome and intelligent men who love their coffee (or adult bevs) and good conversation. Of course that would also include all the ladies out there who would like to attend also. What about it? When where and how? Mike, you seem to be able to marshall the troops, what say you?
Fri, 02/03/2012 - 8:56pm
#10
Overnight CEO's. Good one Mike
That is what happens when we let 10% of our people to vote our so-called "leaders" into office. Obama, Haddix, Brown, Pressberg, etc. The list goes on and on.
Of course the new CEO's have to be that because their predecessors have grown government so much that it actually needs a CEO and then it goes on and on and on. I'm thinking Romney for President since he has actually fired people - and do we ever need that at the Federal level.
Chamber of Commerce used to handle economic development when John Boothby was here and that worked out fine. So why not do it again?
Sat, 02/04/2012 - 1:24am
#11
And Take Power Away....
...From the government? RWM,surely, you jest! Certainly, the Chamber can/should handle it with minimal governmental intrusion. Please note I did not use the term oversight.
Take for example the top line of the city budget and you'll note the trend line rises annually over the years. Can we not have a ten year downward trend and yet maintain the preponderance of what we have come to expect for our quality of life? I, for one, believe we can.
Damn, the politicans just can't help temselves can they? Where are the grown ups? 75K for for what ?
Take the money and psnd it in other needed areas of the community !! Or better yet, don't spend it on another layer of gov bs and add it to a rainy day fund!!