Date post: | 06-Aug-2015 |
Category: |
Design |
Upload: | apaplanning |
View: | 116 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Story County: an economic development partner
Identify
• County economic development functions
• Strategic economic development opportunities
APA Community Planning Assistance Team
Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Northampton, Massachusetts
• Team Leader
Deb Meihoff, AICP, Communitas LLC, Portland, Oregon
• City and Regional Economic Development Strategy
Catherine Pagano, AICP, Gunnison County, Colorado
• County Economic Development Strategy
Russell Soyring, AICP, Traverse City, Michigan
• Quality of life, downtowns, regulatory framework
Thomas Bassett, American Planning Assoc., Washington DC
• Student studio, research and logistics
Quality of Life
Sources:
www.countyhealthranks.org
www.bestplaces.net
Health: 3rd healthiest in Iowa Cost of Living: 4.6% below US average
Five Strategic Investments
1. Vision and long range planning
2. Strategic partnerships/investments
• Partnerships and leveraging
Five Strategic Investments
1. Vision and long range planning
2. Strategic partnerships/investments
3. Infrastructure investments
Strategic investments/downtowns/ED
Five Strategic Investments
1. Vision and long range planning
2. Strategic partnerships/investments
3. Infrastructure investments
4. Trails and recreation
• Quality of life and local economic development
Five Strategic Investments
1. Vision and long range planning
2. Strategic partnerships/investments
3. Infrastructure investments
4. Trails and recreation
5. County planning staff
For targeted assistance and projects
When is Visioning Needed?
When we hear conflicting statements of where we should invest community dollars.
When we can’t resolve important community issues.
Shared Values?
Celebrate local foods
Maintain rural character
Revitalize small cities
Protect water resources and natural areas.
Shared Values? Develop
sustainable energy.
Encourage Ames to flourish as as an economic center.
Focus on jobs to keep families here.
Long Range Planning Support
Regional Planning Grants
Community Challenge Grants
Community Development Block Grants
“To provide and protect the quality of life assets that make Story County and all the communities in it, a vibrant, sustainable place to live and work.”
Story County Development Plan Vision
The Giving Tree
"Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save 20-50 percent in energy used for heating.“ USDA Forest Service
Trails and Recreation
• Recreation activities contribute $18 million to economy
• Trail connections and spurs critical
• New trail between Story City/Ames and Roland
• New trail from Zearing to Collins
Trails and Recreation
• Network of connected trails
• Trail connections to wineries, local foods, waterways, and parks
• Attracts more visitors
Trails and Recreation
• Create and implement trail master plan
• Connect eastern cities to rest of County through trail system
• Include bike paths and bike lanes in capital improvement plans
Energy Efficiency
•Adopt Building Codes
•Promotes energy efficiency, protection of public health and safety
•Cost effective
•Local utility providers may offer rebate program
Energy Efficiency
• County leading way for energy efficiency improvements
• Promote energy efficiency to residential and commercial buildings
• Upgrades/retrofits paid for through cost/energy savings
Renewables
• Continued support of alternative energy
• Revise Land Development Regulations to allow small-scale renewable energy installation
Planning Staff & Municipality Assistance
• Downtown planning technical assistance
• Limited free GIS and Planning assistance to cities
• Fee-for-services for on-going, long-term services
• Address grant and project management
Local Foods
•Nearly all County residents could receive 100% of their produce demand from local farmers. •Potential $1 million sales from local produce in Story County •Opportunities for $3.3 million in retail sales; 3 new businesses; 19 jobs
Marketing efforts
• Clearinghouse of information
• Central location for Story County resources
• Coordination of existing efforts
• Local contacts
• Local programs/incentives
• Clear message to constituents about Story County role, plan, and resources
Single point of contact
• One staff person dedicated to applicant through regulatory process and all associated permitting
• Customer friendly streamlined process
• One person that has links to economic development contacts and resources
County Assistance
Additional staff (1 FTE) for:
• Local city assistance
• Apply for local grants in cooperation with partners
• Local foods
• Marketing efforts
Single point of contact for County organization
• Permitting process
• Economic development incentives/programs
Infrastructure Investments
MAXIMIZE: Make the most of what you have
• Guide development to existing
• Repurpose aging industrial and commercial centers
• Infill first
Infrastructure Investments
Existing investments in Story County
• Main Streets
• Prime farmland
• Roads / trails
• Vacant / underused employment areas
• Utility /water / wastewater systems
Infrastructure Investments
LEVERAGE: Public/private partnerships
• Creative financing
• Match to local incentives
• Formal agreements
Infrastructure Investments
Agreements as Development tool
• Pre-development agreements: County-City framework
• Development agreements: County-City and Developer
• Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) Service provision, revenues
Infrastructure Investments
COORDINATE: Strategic Investment Plan
Work as a single unit within county government
Prioritize economic opportunity areas
Involve utilities in decision making
Stay focused
Strategic Partnerships
LEADERSHIP: Money isn’t your only resource
•Promotion
•Community momentum
•Keeper of the vision
Strategic Partnerships
SUPPORT
•Small city assistance
•Proactive problem-solving
•Information clearinghouse
•Pre-development agreements
Strategic Partnerships
GROW RELATIONSHIPS: People do business with who they know
•Economic gardening
•Funders
•ISU and DMACC
•Iowa Economic Development Authority
•Brokers, architects, planners
•County Planning Commission
Story County Planning Organizational
•Planning and Development Department
•Planning and Development Commission
• Merge with Board of Adjustment (long term)
•Mission statement
Participatory process
Represent new roles
Reduce Energy Bills
•Wind Generators
•Ethanol
•Next generation biorenewables
•Energy efficiency
“each train of coal is a train of
dollars leaving Story County”
–from the APA-CPAT public forum
Next Steps
•Visible Quick Start
• Planning staff reorganization
• Mission statement
• Web site
• Internal strategic plan investment working group
•Comprehensive implementation
Strategic Investments
1. Vision and long range planning
2. Strategic partnerships/investments
3. Infrastructure investments
4. Trails and recreation
5. County planning staff
Build on guiding principles