Agenda - Council - 02/26/1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-2- At the request of individual communities that have indicated a interest in industrial development, Lushine goes to the community, speaks on industrial development, and makes recommendations to them. Seldom, however, have rural centers followed up on this first step. Lushine also made the following comments regarding the subcommittee's questions on industrial development that had been noted in staff's June 15 letter to him. What are the prospects for rural centers that wish to attract industry in our Metro Area? Q~2. Prospects are as good as the center makes them. Communities must decide what they wantr If they don't want development, it won't come to them. The Department has asked each community to fill out a community profile, but has received few · from rural centers. In general, rural centers have shown little interest. Com- munities have also been asked to fill out industrial park profiles which are more specific breakdowns of local resources available to industry. Both types of profile are essential if a community wants to attract industry as they furnish objective data that can be submitted to a prospective industry. How can individual rural centers assess their prospects and chances for success? The Department has prepared the "Industrial Development Guide for Community Action," a step-by-step manual on attracting and developing industry. Facts are stated as simply as possible. In general, the guide states that communities should: 1) Establish goals and policies. It is imperative that the entire community be behind industry and support it or they can't hope to get it. There must be a continuity of public commitment. A goal of each community should be balanced growth, such as is found in some Metropolitan Area communities. 2) Promote itself and develop presentations on the community. It will take time and effort by the community. The guide explains how to form a local development corporation, a vehicle for promoting economic growth, if it wants to grow. The corporation may be profit or non-profit. 3) Work with existing industry and commerce to make certain that they are secure. It is easier to save a job than to create a new one. ~at types of industry are suitable for rural centers and are willing to locate there? A. This depends on what is available in the community and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. What does industry generally require of a rural center? It must have central sewer and water, good roads and police. There must also be demonstrated local commitment, a conducive business and political climate, industrially zoned land, and a local labor force. The last requirement can be locally assessed by surveying the community and a 30-40 mile radius beyond it. Succinctly stated, a community should have continuity of public commitment, unity of purpose, land, proper zoning, utilities, n-ecessary roads, adequate police. Any community without these required features probably should not develop industry. Q.5. What steps must a rural center take to successfully recruit an industry? See "Industrial Development Guide for Community Act." The Department of Economic Development provides services to communities on "how to," but the communities must do it themselves. Are there communities unsuitable for industrial development? A. Yes, those without the assets listed under question 4. Lushine again noted that all rural centers have been approached, but most haven't acted. The biggest question appears to be how to motivate communities to act if industrial development is the direction they wish to take. He believes they should start with getting the appropriate publications designed to assist them and then informally discussing and building community support. He indicated that local bank support is necessary: rural banks need a greater awareness of community involvement.