Economic development focus of summit meeting

St. Johns County member of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Mica, held a summit on economic development today at the Northeast Florida Regional Airport at St. Augustine; attended by quite a few city and county decision-makers who are stakeholders able to make a difference in the area’s economic condition.

Mica opened the meeting at noon today — there was no printed agenda, the summit provided a forum for discussion of economic issues impacting the northeast Florida areas that are part of Mica’s congressional district.

Mica’s focus was job creation and expanding economic opportunities within the business community. “We have limited resources,” Mica said. “It is important that all of you are working together to get the most out of what is available.” Mica pledged to do his part, where possible, to support continued transportation and infrastructure, on the Federal level, that make it possible for St. Johns County to compete in what he described as a market to attract businesses that offer sustainable economic growth “where the competition is fierce.”

Mica clearly understands business. His twenty-five year career before politics began in Volusia County as a developer. In the 1980’s, Mica owned two cellular communications systems — one in Monroe, Louisiana and the other in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Mica says that he ran into the same problems with governmental delays and red tape that potential business owners run into today. “Permitting for businesses is unnecessarily slow,” Mica said. “We need to be able to put worthwhile projects on the fast-track for approval.”

Mica told attendees, “To give you an example of what some areas are willing to do to induce the kind of businesses who bring jobs to their community, in Louisiana, officials drove me to an attractive industrial park at the end of town and they showed me the property — beautifully landscaped, easily accessible, lots of room, but, completely empty.”

The congressman said that they held out the keys and said, “It’s yours.”

The only participant at the table who was not representing a public or private organization was Ponte Vedra Beach resident, Doug Worth. During a long career with IBM, Worth explained that he traveled the world establishing plants and manufacturing locations for the company. He said that he did just what Congressman Mica was doing today — he would assemble all the regulators and permitters at one table. IBM wanted to be sure that the company was not going to suffer delays and setbacks in a town or country where some renegade building official or self-important planning board was perched, ready to side-track their operation at every turn.

Worth also explained that as a location for IBM was being chosen, he would feel out suppliers, customers and partners to see if they would be interested in locating nearby. The economic impact of a decision to locate an IBM plant in Singapore or France was substantial. Another key consideration for IBM, according to Worth, was available education for employees and their children. “Our connection to the educational community, colleges and universities was significant,” Worth said.

St. Johns County Administrator Michael Wanchick said that he would consider past efforts to improve the image and solicit suitable businesses to locate or re-locate to our area as “good, but, not very well coordinated.”

Wanchick said “We are making long-range plans.” The County administrator explained about the decisions being made today, “five years from now, we don’t want to regret what we did.” Nonetheless, Wanchick emphatically stated that he wanted to get the message out there that St. Johns County is “open for business.”

Representatives with Grumman, one of the largest private employers in the area and a company substantially dependent on Federal contracts, said that they have the potential to hire “several hundred people over the next four years”. After the meeting, Jay Mulhall and Christine McGlade emphasized to Mica the importance of long term contracts in their business — four or five years, for example. Short term or annually bid contracts preclude Grumman from receiving the best pricing from their suppliers and ability to recruit the best qualified employees who want long term benefits.

Recalling the point made by Worth and the Grumman representatives, Mica emphasized the importance of being aware of opportunities for what he called, “spin off activities”. Mica used the example of Cecil Field in Jacksonville and the Mayport Naval Station as potential sources of additional business for Grumman and the St. Augustine airport.

Also attending today’s meeting was Deborah Parsons from the office of Senator Tony Hill. She explained to Congressman Mica the added value of our airport now that we have U.S. Customs agents located here. Mica said that was a good example of the need for everyone to be talking to one another — since he did not know that you could clear customs in St. Augustine.

Victor Raymos and Chuck Pacetti attended from the Board of Realtors, Shirley Fiano from Prosperity Bank, Tawnia Adams from Hancock Bank and Jim Wheeler from Regions Bank. Doug Smith and Julie Davidson were representing the Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce, Isabelle Rodriguez attended from the St. Augustine and St. Johns County Chamber. Edward R. Wuellner, Executive Director of the St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority and Airport Commissioner Kelly Barrera attended as did Cathy Brown representing the Council on Aging and Lt. Daniel E. Chitwood, Jr., representing St. Johns County Sheriff David B. Shoar.

St. Augustine Beach Commissioners Frank Charles and Ed George, St. Johns County commissioner-elect Jay Morris along with Commissioners Ron Sanchez and Ray Quinn, St. Augustine City Commissioners Nancy Sikes-Kline, Erol Jones, Don Crichlow and city staffers Mark Knight, Dana Ste. Claire, City Manager John Regan and Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield and First America Foundation incorporator Don Wallis also participated.

Flagler College President Dr. William Abare and St. Johns County School Superintendent Dr. Joe Joyner attended as well as Brigadier General Joseph Martin with the Florida National Guard, Ellen Avery-Smith, Nick Sacia and Katie Walton representing St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Council.

Tentatively, Congressman Mica said that sometime in mid-November, he would like to reconvene the summit with hopes of including some stakeholders who were not able to attend today. Mica also said that it may be beneficial to convene groups from specific areas of expertise; such as education, tourism, and marketing.

Photo credits: © 2010 Historic City News staff photographer