Why can’t the leaders of this county attract new businesses other than retail, healthcare, and hospitality / restaurants?

We need to attract industry and manufacturing jobs. Anyone have suggestions for the local government leaders?

With all the ideas about an economic stimulus package being discussed by the County Commission, what else could be done to atttact light manufacturing, product assembly, or product distribution and service companies to relocate here?

It’s not “Can’t”, it’s “Won’t”! Too many of our leaders seem to be vested in preserving the status quo of an elite “old guard”; the retirees; and the working class who must either find employment elsewhere and commute or telecommute, or work two or three of these low-paying jobs just to survive. This is the way that our current leaders want things to be. I wonder why we even have an Economic Development Council, since they seem to do nothing.

What we need to do is to get some candidates for office who will bring fresh ideas and who are not beholden to the grove owners, builders, and Real Estate interests. Then, we need to go to the polls on Election Day and put these people in office, removing the ones who are on the current “do-nothing” county commission.

The County Commission discussed the idea of raising impact fees to 75% or even 100% after a 6 month suspension of county impact fees. Does anyone believe that these are good ideas? Can we just forget the whole economic stimulus package idea, and move on with county business?

Thanks Commissioner Guy Maxcy. Now What? Who are you economically stimulating? Economic stimulus is a fiasco; ill conceived; unfair; and a disaster for all county property taxpayers.

Why should taxpayers fund targeted advertising for real estate and builders?

If you think that this is a moral outrage, and a conflict of interest by Mr Cool and his associates, then call or write to the Highlands County Commissioners. Demand that NO taxpayers monies be spent on real estate advertising regarding increasing the influx of people from other Florida counties.

I find it amusing that only people who have lived here all, or nearly all, of their lives want to spend money to advertise in other Florida counties. They say the grass is always greener on the other side.
If you take the time to research what is happening in Hillsborough, Miami / Dade, Orange, and other counties you may see that Highlands has avoided an economic disaster, by not overbuilding nearly as much as our neighbors.

Tourism and jobs are an important economic stimulus. Wasting taxpayers monies to pay local businesses bills for them is not in the best interest of anyone living here, other than a few realtors and builders who might personally benefit.

You are absolutely right! Carl Cool’s wife Maureen is a Realtor with ReMAX. Carl himself plans to go to work for ReMAX selling commercial real estate after his “retirement”. Realtors and builders are responsible for their own advertising expenses. Why doesn’t the local Board of Realtors pick up the tab for this advertising, instead of asking us taxpayers?

Voice,
Please allow me to differ slightly with you on this issue. I agree that the builders and and realtors would receive a benefit from increased demand for homes here in Highlands County. However, I think that all residents would benefit.
The article published a few hours ago reiterates a point that the County is likely to lose a substantial amount of property tax revenue due to depreciating property values. Increasing demand will result in another escalation of property values and a corresponding increase in future property tax revenues. Additional impact fees generated from greater demand would provide additional resources for infrastructure. More commercial and residential construction would create jobs in construction, subcontracting, and building supply businesses. In addition, with the new residents many other providers of goods and services here would benefit.
Since virtually everyone would benefit from increasing demand for homes here in Highlands County, it seems that the cost for generating that demand should be shared by builders and developers, realtors, and residents. A caveat should be added that if a marketing plan is decided upon that it needs to be well thought out, professional, and ultimately, effective.

Voice,
Disregard my earlier comment. I now realize they are just trying to sell a few highend homes, Realtors charge sellers for this and I now agree that taxpayer funds should not be used. I thought there was something more to it than that.

Wassup:

Not a problem! 

What is kind of freaky (to me) is the tone of the letter: “You are the KIND OF PERSON we are looking for”.  As one of Ray McIntyre’s cousins said to me: “The old guard wants three kinds of people in Highlands County- themselves, the retirees who will bring their pensions to spend, and the minimum wage (or less) workers to work in agriculture and in the low-paying service jobs.”

Of course, there will also be a need for doctors and nurses to serve the retirees and the rest of us. Anybody else who comes here and tries to open up a business- as a couple who are friends of ours did about nine years ago- will get stonewalled unless they have a friend who has connections to help them. This is literally what happened- nothing was done about their applications for permits, a business license, etc. until their friend took their paperwork to the county buildings and literally walked it through so that they could open their non-franchise restaurant.

Reminds me of the “No Irish Need Apply” signs that greeted my grandparents when they came to America.

Voice - which letter are you talking about? Please elaborate.

I have no issue with wanting retirees. But, then don’t turnaround and cry foul when there are no good economic reasons for people to relocate to Highlands County. If there are good paying jobs here, the real estate market will improve with no assistance from the county leaders.

The letter that will be sent out to the “target group” of people on the coast- as reported in the newspaper.

How exactly am I “crying foul”? I was simply documenting the trouble that two people I know had in opening their restaurant. They were from the Ft Myers area, had a successful restaurant, made their money there, and then moved here to open a business and enjoy a more laid-back lifestyle.