News from FIOG

Help Shape the Future of Business and Economic Development in North Port

More than 16 people gave their input on the city’s economic state at a public session on Thursday, April 5, 2012 to update North Port’s Economic Development Strategic Plan. The session was one of three scheduled to gather resident feedback on what the economic development direction should be for the City of North Port in the next three to five years. To view photos of the event, click here. 

“An update to the Economic Development Strategic Plan is important in the City’s continued recruitment and retention efforts, and resident feedback is essential to this process,” said Economic Development Manager Allan Lane. “The plan will help the City determine the best course to move forward. The updated recommendations will help staff focus their efforts more efficiently, which saves dollars in the long run.” 

In 2007, the City released its first Economic Development Strategic Plan, which outlined specific steps that needed to be taken in order to position the City for future business and economic development opportunities. Since that plan has been in place, the City has been recognized across the region for its innovative programs.... read more.

Join FIOG and the City of North Port for this event! RSVP now on Facebook

Source: City of North Port

Incentives lure businesses to North Port

When the Adams Group, a commercial cabinet manufacturer, outgrew its facility in Punta Gorda a couple of years ago, the owners looked to North Port.

They were attracted by an existing building in the city's Park of Commerce off Toledo Blade Boulevard, and the potential to lure business professionals willing to commute from Sarasota. A city and county package of incentives and tax breaks sealed the deal, and the Adams Group opened for business in North Port in January 2011.

The Adams Group is one of the success stories of North Port business recruitment since 2008, when the city began implementing its first economic development strategic plan...

To read further, please visit Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Source: Chris Gerbasi for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

North Port Economic Strategic Plan featured in North Port Magazine

The March 2012 issue of North Port Magazine featured a two-page spread on the Economic Development Strategic Plan that the City of North Port and FIOG are currently in the process of updating. To read the article in its entirety, please click here.

Source: Joyce Cattelane for North Port Magazine

The City of North Port Focuses On Economic Development

The City of North Port has teamed up with FIOG to begin updating its Economic Development Strategic Plan in the coming months and will be looking for input from the North Port community.

In 2007, the City released its first Economic Development Strategic Plan, which outlined specific steps that needed to be taken in order to position the City for future business and economic development opportunities.

Since that plan has been in place, the City has been recognized across the region for its innovative programs. The plan included the identification of target industries for North Port; an intensive business retention program; a communitywide branding initiative; an aggressive strategic marketing campaign; and business recruitment efforts that resulted in success. The City estimates its efforts have added well over 500 jobs and more than 800 new local business registrations in the last four years.

“Much has changed in our local economy as well as the national and global economy since 2007 and it is time that we examine where we’ve been with our economic development activities and what we need to do to adapt to the changes, challenges and opportunities that the current economic recovery will present, now and in the future,” said Allan Lane, Economic Development Manager for the City. 

An update to the Economic Development Strategic Plan is important in the City’s continued recruitment and retention efforts. The plan will help the City determine the best course to move forward. The updated recommendations will help staff focus their efforts more efficiently, which saves dollars in the long run.

FIOG will assist the City in strategizing pathways to successes such as educating the public on the importance of economic development, capitalizing on the high impact of industrial, commercial and retail development, fostering a more diversified economy with greater job opportunities, reducing vacancies, improving infrastructure, increasing the tax base, and improving the overall quality of life.

The update to the plan will be carried out through a six-step process. It is estimated to take between eight to 12 months. A key portion of the plan is community input. The plan also will include an extensive viral marketing campaign, data collection, and market assessment.

For more information about the plan, watch the City’s December 2011 TV Show, “North Port Presents: The View From Here” on the City’s website at www.cityofnorthport.com. Click on “I want to” and “Watch North Port Videos.”
Residents also can call the Economic Development Division at (941) 429-7240 to learn more.

Certificate in Community Real Estate Development Program (CRED) Enjoys Banner Year in 2011. 

Fifteen days of classroom training can make a world of difference in many local communities, thanks to FIOG’s CRED program at USF.  CRED provides practical training for community developers and others in the industry and the tools needed to carry out successful affordable housing and community based real estate development projects.  In 2011, 13 professionals from both non-profit and for-profit organizations came together to achieve great things.

A good case in point is the 39th Street Neighborhood Revitalization Project, which provided funding and planning to create 26 new homes at North Bay Village, purchased and rehabilitated existing homes, beautified the neighborhood, and helped veterans with challenges enjoy easier access into their homes.

CRED students also partnered with the Friends of Families Foundation and the American Homefront Alliance to help reduce the risk of veterans and their families becoming homeless.  The over-arching goal is to help veterans have access to the services that have prevented them from becoming re-established in their communities, which might include anything from access to food, water and clothing or help with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The third project of the year was for Heroes Haven Homes, a program designed to help veterans overcome homelessness.  Because veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless, this CRED program was in alignment with “Opening Doors,” a Federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness among veterans in five years.  At Heroes Haven, 100 homes were made available to veterans and their families. 

CRED would like to provide special thanks to our sponsors; Housing Finance Authority of Hillsborough County, Citigroup Foundation, Fifth-Third Foundation, Housing Finance Authority of Pinellas County, and the State Farm Companies Foundation. 

Interested in a career in the growing field of code enforcement?

Register now for the Level II Code Enforcement Certification with FIOG and the Florida Association of Code Enforcement, Inc. (F.A.C.E.)

The field of code enforcement provides many opportunities for employment and career advancement. Code Enforcement is a necessary community service that helps keep communities safe and viable. F.A.C.E. and FIOG have teamed up to offer a course that will ultimately lead to a Code Enforcement Certification. It is taught by F.A.C.E. approved instructors and is ideal for people who wish to enter the field or those who wish to advance in their current position.

Level II Code Enforcement Certification classes will be held October 17th through 21st, with the certification exam on October 22nd. This training will help current code enforcement professionals who have already earned their Level 1 Certification understand more advanced managerial and code enforcement practices. These include organization of the enforcement unit, alternatives to code enforcement, how to handle the media through effective public relations, and performance and time management. Students will also be taught how to best handle personnel issues, manage records, enforcement, and public speaking.

The class will be held on the appointed days from 8am to 5pm. The cost per class is $480 for active F.A.C.E. members and $640 for non-members. Registration and payment can be completed online by visiting http://www.fiog.usf.edu. To obtain a purchase order, please contact Iris Lage at 813-974-2345 or ilage@use.edu. For questions regarding these upcoming classes, contact Vickie Molina at 813-974-9627 or lvmolina@usf.edu .