Jefferson County ratifies MOU with Florida Commerce and establishes draft economic development committee

The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 ratified a memorandum of understanding with Florida Commerce to partner on state economic-development grants and initiatives and approved a resolution to form a draft economic development committee.

County staff told the board the MOU establishes Jefferson County as a partner with Florida Commerce so the state can route grant opportunities and economic-development prospects to the county. The board voted by voice to ratify the agreement.

The draft committee’s recommended composition — consistent with the county’s legislative delegation recommendation — calls for one county commissioner, one city commissioner appointed by the city, one business-community representative selected by the commission and a staff designee chosen by the county manager. Commissioners discussed adding seats for a school representative, a sheriff’s office member and additional business or resident representatives to avoid an even-numbered panel.

“We’ll be working with Carolyn Smith with the ARPC to create more of a committee that has a scope that aligns with what the county is looking for,” a staff member said during the presentation, describing the committee as a starter body that will be refined in the coming months.

Several commissioners said they prefer the commission chair to serve as the county’s representative on the state advisory council that accompanies the MOU; the board directed staff to include flexibility for appointing either a board member or another designee. The board also asked that staff identify a regular staff point of contact — likely in planning — to handle day-to-day coordination with Florida Commerce.

The board approved the action with no amendments to the MOU itself and asked staff to return a final committee structure and appointment timeline in the county’s December committee assignments.

Next steps: staff will finalize the committee’s membership criteria and return candidates for appointment when the commission sets committee assignments later this year.