by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The past, present and future of regional economic development gathered Friday at the St. Johns County Convention Center at the World Golf Village.
Sponsored by the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and presented by Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership, the half-day seminar focused on what the seven-county region is doing right, wrong and what must happen in order to take advantage of the area’s assets in the future.
“We have already worked as a regional partnership with Cornerstone,” said Jerry Mallot, executive vice president of Cornerstone, the economic development division of the Chamber. “We meet regularly with the primary staff members, but this is an opportunity for the elected officials and business leaders on the First Coast to examine the issues and interact on those issues.
“This reminds everyone how important it is we work together to solve those issues.”
That unity theme was prevalent through much of the seminar, which was attended by over 300 from the seven-county region — Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Clay, Putnam, Baker and Flagler — that comprises the Chamber. Examples of stressing the need to work as a region rather than as individual counties include addressing infrastructure and transportation on a multi-county basis.
“As the population grows, so does the demand on our infrastructure,” said Dr. Steven Wallace, Chamber chair and president of Florida Community College at Jacksonville. “In that endeavor, regionalization is a must. There are advantages in our ability to work together.”
Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin was part of a 10-minute introductory video during which the area’s assets were featured. Ferrin — and Mallot earlier — said the Port may prove to be one of the economic catalysts for the entire area over the next 10-25 years.
“Ten years from now, Jaxport will be at the center of it all,” said Ferrin. “The problem (right now) is not getting the cargo into the port, the problem is getting the cargo from the port through the region. We need to address the regional transportation infrastructure.”
Mallot said the biggest issue facing the Chamber and its members is the recent property tax legislation.
“It will affect every county in a significant way. Some are more prepared than others,” said Mallot, adding the legislation will affect rural counties like Nassau and Baker differently than it will Duval, which is consolidated. “It (the effect) will depend on how the counties have responded the last 10 years to tax increases.”
Mallot says the Northeast Florida area is being punished by legislation that was meant to stabilize inequities in a different part of the state.
“It’s hard to criticize government officials for being conservative,” he said. “The tax changes were aimed at South Florida.”
Mallot said he expects the Mitsui OSK Lines terminal currently under construction at the Port to serve as the catalyst for more Port business and potentially block-buster developments at the Port. He also said the area is a prime location for an increase in the life sciences industry.
Bob Farley, president of economic development for AngelouEconomics, was the keynote speaker. Farley’s company examines areas based on five trends: regionalism, industry targeting, entrepreneurship, young professionals and marketing and branding. He said the Northeast Florida region is becoming a hot spot for corporate relocation and headquarters due to the relatively low cost of living and doing business.
“In less than 10 years, the process of headquarters relocation has been cut in half,” said Farley. “That trend should continue. This area has had a very strong growth curve historically. The single biggest draw to the market is fast growth.”