|
Greetings!
The North Port Economic Development Corporation (NPEDC) is off to a great start.Since forming the corporation in August of 2011, the following has been accomplished:
- A Board of Directors has been selected and officers elected. The first board meeting was conducted on Oct 4, 2011
- An Advisory Board has been selected and the first meeting was held November 1, 2011
- A community discussion was held on November 9, 2011, with a keynote speaker from Enterprise Florida
- A website is up and running at www.northportedc.com where you will get the full story and lots of interesting information.
- A newsletter program has begun to keep subscribers up to date on the activity of the NPEDC.
- A number of articles have been written about the organization. click here to read them
PLUS
- 13 "Opportunity Acquisition" projects have been identified with potential for 260+ jobs and $12M in annual payroll
- The beginning of an economic strategy (to be introduced in 2012) has begun. The strategy will have potential for $20-$40 Million in construction
All of this has been accomplished with no government money. We are financed entirely from private investment and we could use your help.
If you have not already done so, please CLICK HERE to learn more about the benefits of joining this exciting non profit organization. To invest in the North Port Economic Development Corporation, CLICK HERE.Our projects are moving along and we expect to be announcing the opening of one within the next 90 days.
Please help us expand our readership and invite your friends to register and receive our newsletter.
Enjoy the newsletter and stay tuned to learn about an exciting future for North Port. |
|
|
Have a great day
Peter Bartolotta
Executive DIrector
North Port Economic Development Corporation
(941) 416-9297
peter@northportedc.com
www.northportedc.com
|
|
Your Opinion Matters
In each issue of the Economic Driver, we will be asking you to participate in our polls, and we will be publishing the results in the following newsletter. If you would like to submit a poll, please Click Here.
We have added new polls and need your input. CLICK HERE to take the polls.
Results of Last Months Polls
Do you believe you can make a difference in North Port's future?
Yes - 83%
No - 6%
Unsure - 11%
|
What target industry do you think is most important to North Port? Medical - 30%
Education 27% Hospitality - 23% Other - 13%
Retail - 7%
|
|
NPEDC Discussed on WENG Radio
 | | Peter Bartolotta NPEDC Executive Director |
Peter Bartolotta was interviewed on WENG radio on Saturday, November 12, 2011. The topic was the North Port Economic Developement Corporation. If you would like to listen to it, please go to www.wengradio.com/features/show-archive-podcast/ and scroll down to 2011-11-12-10-YOUR-COMMUNITY-JOURNAL. Enjoy
|
|
Community Conversation
The following was written by Mark Barbash, an independent consultant on economic development.
Big Ideas for Jobs report points out the obvious: Political will is the issue, not a shortage of ideas.
A group called Big Ideas for Jobs, which is a project sponsored by Annie E. Casey and Kellogg Foundations, and UC-Berkeley has released a 35 page report with a list of "big ideas" to create jobs, ranging from investment in infrastructure, facility upgrades, varioius types of hiring credits and others.
As I read the report, I was both heartened and a little bit distressed.
I was heartened because of the substance of the Report. It is filled with a wide range of proposals, vetted by some very smart and progressive minds around the country. These are truly big ideas, with big price tags and potentially major impact. There is no shortage of creativity in the US.
I was distressed when I thought about how to actually get some of these done. We are trapped in a political cycle that points to the next election, rather than the next generation. Our leaders have been forced into a discussion about tax and budget cuts instead of a balanced approach to job creation.
And at at the same time, the number of citizens who have EXHAUSTED their unemployment benefits are are becoming part of the permanently jobless has reached some type of record high.
No wonder the political pundits this morning were talking about the rise of a third party next year.
Here's a link to an interview with Karen Chapple, Director of the Institute at Berkeley.
http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2011/11/07/big-ideas-for-jobs-creation-a-qa-with-karen-chapple/
Do you believe our city elected officials are making economic decisions for the short term (election cycle) or long term? TAKE POLL
|
|
Community Economic Development News
NPEDC Names Advisory Board: The North Port Economic Development Corporation announced the Advisory Board. This board is made up of regional business leaders who will help create the focus of the NPEDC strategy. For a complete list of the board
of directors, advisory board, and the executive committee CLICK HERE.
 | | Advisory board members discussing economic strategies |
Community Discussion A Huge Success: The community conversation on economic development was a huge success. Business and community leaders from around the region met at the State College of Florida Venice Campus to discuss the economic future of our region. Interestingly, no elected officials from the city or county came. They missed a great discussion. To view a copy of the press release CLICK HERE.
 | | Participants mingle before the community discussion begins |
 | | Attendees at the community discussion sign-up to "Make a Difference" in securing economic vitality to our area. |
Vision North Port engaged in economic discussions: At the last Vision North Port meeting, citizens discussed North Port's role in renewable energy and an event center. The discussion groups will be reporting back at the next Vision North Port meeting scheduled for November 30, 2011 at Old World Restaurant. For details visit www.visionnorthport.com
SCOPE is seeking nominations for resident community change makers. If you would like to nominate someone CLICK HERE.
|
|
While the government is responsible for economic development, it is the private sector, who makes economic development happen, and we will focus our efforts on working with both the public, civic and private sector to create economic engines and catalysts for economic development.
The North Port Economic Development Corporation is privately funded.
TOP OF NEWSLETTER
|
|
|
|
|
|
