Paul Astleford was impressed Tuesday that Downtown Jacksonville hosted more than 500 economic-development officials.
Astleford, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, was hopeful the members of the International Economic Development Council would learn a little more about the city and share it with others who might send business this way.
They might have learned a good deal on their own, as well, in addition to the presentations and discussions during almost three days of meetings at their Leadership Summit.
Some decided to explore by strolling the Northbank Riverwalk from their host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, to the Five Points residential and retail center in Riverside and then back Downtown.
“These economic developers are city builders,” said Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision Inc., on Tuesday after the summit ended.
“They were very excited about our infrastructure along the waterfront,” he said.
At an industry average of $249 a day that visitors spend during events like this, Astleford said, do the math.
Over 21/2 days, that would be more than $300,000 of economic impact, not including air fare, for the visit. The summit began Sunday and ended Tuesday afternoon.
Topics included a state of the industry report and other speeches and discussions specific to economic development. Tours and recreation included Mayo Clinic and Cecil Commerce Center.
Area speakers included Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping, CSX Corp. Executive Vice President Fredrik Eliasson, PS27 Ventures Managing Partner Jim Stallings and Florida Blue North Florida Region Market President Darnell Smith, who also is chair of the JAX Chamber.
IEDC Marketing Director Akia Ashmond Brew said the Jacksonville summit drew the second-highest number of participants, eclipsed by last year’s event in New Orleans.
The summit is an annual conference for Certified Economic Developers and senior managers in the industry.
Council Chairman Michael Langley, CEO of the Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, said Jacksonville submitted a proposal to host the summit. Next year’s will be in Las Vegas.
City spokeswoman Tia Ford said Wednesday that Jacksonville, along with several other cities, made a presentation at an IEDC Conference several years ago and was selected as the location for the 2017 conference site at that time.
She said the commitment was that the host committee, comprising Visit Jacksonville, the JAXUSA Partnership economic development division of JAX Chamber and the city Office of Economic Development, would guarantee $60,000 for the conference. Ford said each sponsored the conference at $20,000.
Langley called the summit a “learning lab for economic development.”
In addition to the educational and trend sessions, “it gives the community a chance to show off.”
He was familiar with Florida, having served as CEO of the Broward Alliance economic development group in South Florida from 1997-2000 and before that in leadership with Westinghouse.
A retired Navy captain, his Jacksonville connection came in the ‘70s while stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville as a P-3 pilot.
Langley became CEO of Greater MSP in March 2011 and chair of IEDC this year.
He considers the leadership summits a vehicle to view all aspects of the industry. “Most of our communities share the same challenges and opportunities,” he said.
Langley puts forth two priorities for the more than 5,000-member IEDC this year: educating elected and appointed local, state and federal officials about the value of growing local economies and educating communities about “inclusive growth” to ensure all residents have a chance to succeed.
Langley said that traditionally, the path to community economic success was attracting new companies or expanding companies to a region.
Now, that path extends to preparing residents for the opportunity to succeed.
“It goes beyond traditional economic development,” he said.
Taxpayer incentives are traditional tools to attract economic development, but Langley said they are only one factor.
“The first and last question I get is about the quantity and quality of human capital to help my company grow,” he said.
Astleford at Visit Jacksonville, the city’s convention and visitors bureau funded by bed-tax dollars, said the summit not only produces an immediate economic impact, but it could generate future visits as well as individual and corporate moves.
Gordon at DVI said it was fortunate for such a large group of economic developers to visit Jacksonville.
“It’s important to have your peers in the industry recognizing Jacksonville for our value,” he said.
DVI is the Business Improvement District Downtown funded by commercial property owners through a self-assessment. Its key focuses are a clean and safety program that includes the ambassador services, creating experiences, marketing and information.
Gordon said IEDC visitors primarily stayed at the Hyatt or the Omni Jacksonville Hotel.
“All Downtown,” he noted.
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