partnership for TomorrowCharting Success TogetherAn Initiative of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council

Campaign LeadershipLEADERSHIP

Board of Directors Strategic Planning Taskforce

Stan BatemonSt. Clair County Commission

Tommy BowersAlabama Power Co.

Ken CroweSt. Clair County Commission

Jeff BrownSt. Clair County Commission

Ed Gardner, Sr.Previous Exec. Dir., St. Clair EDC

Drew GoolsbyMetro Bank

Joe KellyTCI Sales

Lyman LovejoyLovejoy Realty

Paul ManningSt. Clair County Commission

Jimmy RobertsSt. Clair County Commission

Dana WebbRetired, Alabama Power Co.

Don SmithExec. Director St. Clair EDC

Bob BarnettBarnett Jones Wilson

Stan BatemonSt. Clair Co. Commission

Tommy BowersAlabama Power Co.

Bill BowronRed Diamond

Terry CappsAirport Authority

Linda CrowePublic Building Authority

Bill EllisonDeveloper

Michael BarberPell City School System

Jason GoodgameGoodgame Company

Joe FunderburgMayor of Pell City

Ed Gardner, Sr.Former EDC Director

Drew GoolsbyMetro Bank

Terry GreenWindstream

Joe KellyTCI Sales

Joe LeeCity of Moody

James McGowanCity of Pell City

Lyman LovejoyLovejoy Realty

Jenny SealsSt. Clair Co. Board of Education

Randy MasonCenturyLink

Judy MerrittJefferson State Community College

Don PerryMetro Bank

Nan PriestSt. Vincent’s Health System

Dana WebbRetired, Alabama Power Co.

Spencer WeitmanNational Cement

Warren McCullarsAlagasco

Zachary GentileFord Meter Box

William “Butch” IsleyCity of Springville

partnership for TomorrowCharting Success TogetherAn Initiative of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council

Impact of 1,000 JobsEveryone wins when an existing business or

industry expands or when new business is created in St. Clair County. Not just the newly employed workers and their families, but the entire public and private economic network benefits when new jobs are created. Benefits accrue in the form of increased payroll dollars, greater capital investment and a broader tax base. Ultimately, the entire quality of life in our community is enhanced every time a new job is created.

A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals that for every 100 new jobs created in a city/county, there are 64 additional jobs created to support and service the initial 100. In other words, 100 hundred new jobs necessitate 64 new jobs in food service, retail, automotive, real estate, banking, etc. A study by Jacksonville State University confirms that one thousand new jobs in St. Clair County will result in more than six hundred support and service positions.

In addition, 1,000 new jobs will boost annual retail sales in our community by as much as $32.5 million. The charts below show how those sales are distributed.

There are many good reasons for supporting the expansion of new and existing business and industry for St. Clair County through its Five-Year Strategic Plan. The remarkable “ripple effect” those jobs have on an area’s economy is dramatic.

The figures below clearly illustrate the importance of developing new jobs. St. Clair County wants to target those higher paying jobs that will complement, not compete, with existing business and industry. Existing businesses, that have supported the county through good times and bad, form the backbone of the economy. The positive economic impact is exactly the same whether the new jobs come from new business or existing; thus, the strategic plan will concentrate its efforts in both areas.

Center for Economic Development and Business ResearchCollege of Commerce and Business Administration

Jacksonville State University

• Adds $60 Million Annually to Personal Income

• Boosts Sales of Goods and Services by $108 Million

• Creates 10 New Retail Establishments

• Adds 620 Support Jobs• Increases Family Units by 1,000

• Increases Housing Demand by $87 Million

• Increases Bank Deposits by $86 Million after 5 years

• Increases Tax Revenues per year by $5.9 Million

IMPACT

partnership for TomorrowCharting Success TogetherAn Initiative of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council

St. Clair EDC HistoryHISTORY

The EDC has had the distinct advantage of having two highly effective Ed Gardners at the helm in its early years, both coming with the educational and work experience that empowered the EDC to greatness. During that time, Governor Riley characterized the St. Clair County EDC as “the best economic development organization in the nation.”

Today, EDC Executive Director Don Smith has built on the Gardners’ strong foundation, taking EDC to the next level.

Ed Gardner, Sr. previously served as Deputy Undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, D.C. He later served as Chief of the Planning and Economic Development and thereafter Director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. In these positions, Gardner was responsible for a broad range of programs to stimulate economic and community development throughout the state of Alabama.

Ed Gardner, Jr., the next executive director of the EDC, was employed in 2004 and quickly established himself as the economic development professional to lead St. Clair County. Ed, Jr. like Ed, Sr. brought with him some unique credentials that were advantageous for the EDC.

Building on the success of his father, he brought all of the interested parties together to expand existing businesses and recruit desirable new businesses. Ed and his staff worked tirelessly with local businesses, Jefferson State Community College, the cities of St. Clair County, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the counties surrounding St. Clair County and the lead industrial recruiting organizations, such as the Metropolitan Development Board, Alabama Power Co. and the Alabama Development Office to chart a course to improve the St. Clair County community’s economic well-being.

Continuing a track record of success stories, Smith’s experience and leadership have served the EDC well. He has been a professional economic developer since 2004. Smith first joined the EDC in 2007 and has been involved in announcing more than 2,500 new jobs and $466 million in new investment in St. Clair County. He has also been involved in obtaining millions of dollars in grants from various entities for the benefit of the community.

Smith graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration focusing on taxation and accounting and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute. He has spoken on the topic of economic development throughout Alabama and is currently an active member of seven boards in the state, focusing on economic and workforce development.

Announcements 2007-2013 • 2,510NewJobsCreated• $73,159,000NewPayrolls• $466,350,000Commercial&IndustrialCapitalInvestment• $3.3MillionGrantsAwardedLocally• $1.2MillionNewAnnualPropertyTaxesforEducation• $364,000NewAnnualSalesTaxRevenuesforEducation

partnership for TomorrowCharting Success TogetherAn Initiative of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council

Goals 2014 - 20191. Identify&marketanadditional500acresofsitessuitableforspecificusers (rail,office,corporateheadquarters,&manufacturing)incooperation withSt.ClairCountyanditsmunicipalities.2. Obtainan“AdvantageSite”designationforasiteinSt.ClairCounty.3. Announce $ 150 million in new capital investments.4. Announce $ 50 million in additional payroll from new jobs created.5. Announce$3millioninadditionaltaxrevenueforschools.6. Announce1,500newjobsthroughoutthecounty.7. Holdabiannualseminartopublicizenewandexistingincentivesforbusinessexpansion.8. Survey100existingSt.ClairCountybusinessestodeterminegrowthpotential and business needs.9. Aidinformingpartnershipsbetweenemployersandeducatorsinordertoprovidea trained workforce to meet local demands. 10. Holdabiannual“EconomicDevelopmentSummit”toeducateelectedofficialsonretail and industrial development.11. PublicizeandrecruittoSt.ClairCounty’shealthcareassets.12. PublicizeandincreaseSt.ClairCounty’spost-secondaryservices.13. Holda“SmartGrowthSummit”forelectedofficialstobecomefamiliarwithbestpractices inzoningandcommunityplanning.14. Establishaprogramtocross-markettourismeventsthoughoutSt.ClairCounty.15. HelpmunicipalitieswithDowntownHistoricDistrictstoestablisharecruitmentplan for services and retail.16. DevelopabrandingcampaignforSt.ClairCountywhichincludesitsbusiness-friendly assets, tourism, and recreation.17. MeetpartnersindividuallyonceayeartoupdatethemonEDCprogressandupcoming economic development initiatives.18. Assistinrecruitingasignificantretailanchortooneormoreinterchanges inSt.ClairCounty.19. WorkwithlocalChambersofCommercetodevelopprogramsforsmallbusinesses.20. EstablishmarketingpacketsforeachcommunityinSt.ClairCountytobeused by developers in commercial recruitment. 21. ImprovetheappearanceofPartnershipPark.22. SupportLeadershipSt.ClairCounty’seffortstoidentifyandeducate emergingcommunityleaders.23. SupportthecreationofanactiveLeadershipSt.ClairCountyAlumniAssociation.24. Performafeasibilitystudytoidentifythepossibilityofasmallbusiness incubatorinSt.ClairCounty.25. Increaselocalparticipationonboardsandcommitteesinregionalefforts.26. Meetannuallywithlocalshoppingcenterowners.27. PromoteEDCservicestopartnersandotherentities.

GOALS

partnership for TomorrowCharting Success TogetherAn Initiative of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council

Strategic Plan 2014 - 2019STRATEGIC PLAN

I. Site & Infrastructure Development:• IdentifySitesSuitableforSpecificUsers(rail,office,corporate)• AdvocateandCoordinateaCountywideWaterandSewerInfrastructureMap• AdvocateandCoordinateaTechnologyRoadmapforSt.ClairCounty• EstablishProgramforCreationofNewIndustrialBuildings• CoordinateandEstablishMoreCommerceParksinCooperationwithMunicipalities• AdvocateandCoordinatePartnershipsforSiteDevelopment andInfrastructureImprovements

II. Marketing & Communications• DevelopaBrandingCampaignforSt.ClairCountytoHighlightStrategicAssets• PromoteEDCServicesandResourcestoPartnersandOtherstoEnhance St.ClairCounty’sCompetitiveAdvantage• PublicizeandRecruittoSt.ClairCounty’sHealthcareAssets• CreatePartnershipswithLocalOrganizationsforaCohesiveMarketingApproach forTourism&RecreationalOpportunitiesThroughouttheCounty• CreatePartnershipswithLocalOrganizationsforCross-marketing St.ClairCountyEvents&ShoppingDistricts• AssistMunicipalitiesonSolutionsforMarketingDowntownDistricts• EstablishanInternalMarketingCampaigntoBetterEducatetheCitizensofSt.Clair CountyAboutCurrentandFutureProgressandChallengesforEconomicDevelopment

III. Planning & Collaboration• AdvocateComprehensivePlanningThroughoutSt.ClairCountyanditsMunicipalities• CollaboratewiththeCountyanditsMunicipalitiestoPrioritizeLong-term GoalsforEconomicDevelopmentInitiatives• DevelopInitiativesforSmartGrowth• FacilitatePartnershipsonLocalandRegionalLevels• IdentifyandEngageResourcesthroughouttheRegiontoHelpwithStrategicIssues• AdvocateBeautificationPlansforMunicipalities

partnership for TomorrowCharting Success TogetherAn Initiative of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council

Strategic Plan 2014 - 2019IV. Recruitment & Retention

• RecruitNewDiversifiedBusinessInvestmentIntoSt.ClairCounty• EducateBusinessLeadersRegardingBusinessRecruitmentandRetention• PublicizeExistingandNewIncentivesforBusinessExpansion• RecruitmentofJobsIncreasingtheMedianIncomeinSt.ClairCounty• TrackandPublishKeyEconomicIndicatorsImpactingLocalBusiness/Industry• SurveyExistingBusinessandIndustrytoDetermineAnnualLaborNeeds• EstablishaCountywideSystemtoTrainLocalWorkersforLocalCareers• AdvocateandCoordinateSmallBusinessInitiatives• EncourageGrowthofSt.ClairCountyHealthcareProviders• IdentifyAgriculturalEconomicDevelopmentOpportunities

V. Leadership• EducateCommunityLeadersandGarnerSupportforEconomicDevelopmentInitiatives• EducateElectedOfficialsontheEconomicDevelopmentProcess• EngageNeworUnreachedCommunityLeaders• HelpMunicipalitiestoObtainResourcesandEstablishPartnershipsfor CommunityPlanning• EncourageLeadershipSt.ClairCountyAlumniInvolvementinCommunityEfforts• IdentifyOpportunitiesforLocalParticipationinRegionalEfforts

VI. Education & Workforce Development• DevelopPartnershipswithIndustry,Post-Secondary&K-12Educatorsfor WorkforceTraining• EducatetheCommunityAboutSpecificWorkforceNeeds• MatchRecruitmentEffortswithLocalSkillsandTrainforLocalIndustryNeeds• CommunicatetheImportanceofGoodEducationforSustainableEconomicDevelopment• AdvocateImprovedWorkforceSkillsandWorkforceDevelopmentPrograms

STRATEGIC PLAN