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EDC advances strategic plan; tourism master plan, workforce training and niche manufacturing highlighted
Summary
Commission staff reported progress on the county27s strategic plan and the tourism and hospitality master plan, and commissioners discussed targeted industry clusters, workforce training and how agriculture and seafood fit into economic diversification.
Robin told the Economic Development Commission on Oct. 19 that the county27s tourism and hospitality master plan (referred to as "THuMP") is nearing completion and that the master planning committee is reviewing a near-final draft. She said the tourism work will be folded into the broader EDC strategic plan and that staff hopes to present a final strategic plan to the commission and, if possible, county commissioners, before the end of the calendar year.
Commissioners and staff discussed several elements the draft should emphasize: (1) the role of sequestration and defense drawdowns as a catalyst for diversifying the county economy; (2) workforce development and education aligned with targeted industry clusters; and (3) clearer language distinguishing the type of manufacturing the plan targets.
Multiple speakers urged the plan to foreground workforce training. Tracy Harris (recognized in the draft credits as the commission secretary) and other commissioners stressed that specific training and education pathways should be visible in the plan to support funding requests later. Robin said she would add references to industry-cluster strategies tied to educational opportunities.
On manufacturing, speakers sought to avoid imagery of heavy, commodity manufacturing and to clarify that the county is aiming at advanced manufacturing, rapid prototyping, fabrication and assembly activities that do not require ports or rail. One commissioner asked for an explicit definition of the targeted manufacturing segment to avoid confusing readers who might assume the county seeks large-scale industrial facilities.
Participants also discussed agriculture and seafood27s place in the strategic plan. Several commissioners said agriculture and seafood are not merely footnotes to tourism but belong among the county27s traded clusters and should be recognized for their economic and cultural contributions. Robin said she would revise the draft to ensure agriculture and seafood are visible in the traded-cluster analysis and to avoid presenting them solely as agritourism supports.
Commissioners noted tangible local examples for the plan27s narrative: the county27s farm tours, the HomeGrown market (Hermanville) and other farmers markets that function as community gathering places and sales outlets for small producers. Phil Langley and other meeting participants described the farm tours and markets as successful outreach and examples of the county27s agricultural assets.
Robin said the department will continue editing the executive overview, add citations where facts are asserted, and prepare a concise set of strategies and an action plan. She asked commissioners to keep Nov. 9 and Nov. 16 available for possible work sessions and said staff will coordinate presentation plans to the county commissioners and the public once the draft is ready.
