In reviewing my notes from the Thursday, May 14 meeting with Commissioner Gene Valentino and County Administrator Bob McLaughlin, the Commissioner mentioned several other cities that he had studied. They aren’t in the presentation synopsis that he sent the County Commission and Pensacola City Council, but they may be added by Tuesday.
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation: A private, nonprofit corporation which is funded by a coalition of private-sector investors, as well as the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, the San Diego Unified Port District, and the Cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Encinita, Escondido, Oceanside, Poway, Santee, and Vista.
Supervisors (akin to our Commissioners) appoint one member of the SDR – EDC Board of Directors from a list of candidates presented to the Board of Supervisors. The remainder of the Board (approximately 70 members) is nominated and appointed by various businesses, educational facilities, industries, and cities. Appointments are for a two-year term and are subject to the provisions in the EDC’s bylaws relating to resignation, removal and the filling of vacancies. http://www.sandiegobusiness.org/
Note: The City of San Diego also has a separate EDC (Southeastern Economic Development Corp.) appointed by its mayor and approved by the council.
Raleigh-Durham: Wake County Economic Development Commission
Form: Under the Chamber of Commerce
Web: http://www.raleigh-wake.org/
Fort Worth-Dallas: Both chambers run economic development
Web: http://www.dallaschamber.org/
Web: http://www.fortworthchamber.com/
St. Louis: Chamber, County and City have economic development groups, councils and agencies. The city has the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) which is an umbrella, not-for-profit corporation organized under Chapter 355 of the Missouri State Code. SLDC is directed by its own Board of Directors (appointed by Mayor and approved by council) and its approximately 75 employees serve as staff for SLDC and eight authorities and commissions. http://stlouis.missouri.org/sldc/busdev/Brochure-3-09.pdf
Phoenix-Scottsdale: Greater Phoenix Economic Council– a public-private economic development partnership supported by Maricopa County, 18 cities and towns and more than 140 private-sector businesses. It is an independent 501c3, non-profit corporation, with about half of its funding from Maricopa County and member communities and half from private-sector investors. It differs from the local chambers in that the local chambers focus on retention and expansion of businesses already located in Greater Phoenix. Over 60 directors on the board. Some are the mayors and council persons from the 18 cities and towns. There are 18 private sector Directors are elected by the Board of Directors from individuals nominated to the Nominating Committee. http://www.gpec.org/media/docs/FY09_Board_List.pdf