County looks to job growth in plan
Focus on economic development the next phase of Co. strategic plan
Another part of Polk County’s strategic plan will likely be up for vote during the August session of the Board of Commissioners, and this time the focus is on how to create more job opportunities and attract industries.
Though commissioners were calling this portion of the strategic plan the “jobs” section, which is being handled by Commissioner Jason Ward, its major focus is how to better work with cities and local organizations on promoting economic development.
County manager Matt Denton said the board met during a productive open session on July 22 to work out some of the details of how to move forward in generating opportunities for financial growth in Polk.
“They debated about different elements of the plan, which deals with how the county will participate in, support and help finance economic development activities in the county with different organizations such as the development authorities and municipalities,” Denton said.
The commissioners agreed on four basic points during the session: reviewing current policies tied to economic development, providing better assistance in funding for initiatives around job growth, and implanting key portions of Blueprint Polk plan created in 2012 and in implementing the Development Authority of Polk County’s own strategic plan.
“We all came up with those goals as a board, and worked to come up with different strategies on how we’re going to work toward implementing them,” Ward said.
He said the important thing won’t be in spending money, but getting county citizens, employees and local governments and organizations working together toward a common vision statement: give the people more opportunities.
“There are a lot of things we can do that can make us look more professional and enticing for industrial development, yet don’t cost anything,” Ward said.
Other simple improvements that can pay dividends in the future is updating the entry signage into Polk County, and putting up directional signage along the major roadways to help visitors know where they’re going.
Ward too also looks toward development of spec buildings and industrial sites that draw corporate partners into the area as one area that has been paying dividends for Polk’s future.
Yet he feels one key ingredient still missing is a large industrial site.
“The county and the cities have made substantial investments in land, and I don’t know in the near term if its possible for us to go out and get a large site,” he said. “I think it’s definitely something we need to do in the long term.”
A draft for the county’s jobs portion of the strategic plan will be up for approval and the initial stages of implementation during the Aug. 4 regular session of the Polk County Commission, set to meet at 7 p.m. in the county’s board room at the Polk County Police Department.
There are still three more areas remaining for the county commission to tackle on setting up goals in their strategic plan: public safety, infrastructure and county employee relations.
The next open meeting for the strategic planning session has not yet been officially set. Check back in the Standard Journal for more on when the meeting will be held.