DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — Walton County’s Economic Development Alliance was receptive Thursday to some pointed suggestions aimed at improving the local business climate.
Alliance members — three county mayors, the County Commission chairman, county administrator and a Realtor — thanked the Institute of Senior Professionals for preparing a strategic planning report that sometimes is critical of how the county has pursued economic development in the past.
“This is what a strategic plan is all about,” EDA Director Steve Jaeger said after members of the Senior Professionals presented 23 pages of findings. “We’re going to take this report and look at it very closely … this is extraordinary. Thank you for your efforts.”
The report, which already had been presented to the County Commission, found that past economic development efforts had fallen woefully short.
It said part of the reason could be attributed to a failure of former economic developers to state measurable goals.
Jaeger, who became director in May, promised “quantifiable goals and results.”
Jaeger also told the professionals that the EDA website, last updated two years ago, will soon receive a much needed facelift and that he is receiving training to keep its content fresh.
The EDA took another step in the direction recommended by the Senior Professionals when it voted to put up $2,750 to partner with Gulf Power in seeking certification for the Mossy Head Industrial Park.
The financial commitment means Jaeger will be required by June 28 to produce “an extremely detailed report” on the land set aside 10 years ago for the industrial park.
The report will list the site’s attributes and deficiencies, and provide details such as a list of existing infrastructure and infrastructure to be added, Jaeger said.
If the Mossy Head project is certified, it will be among the first industrial park sites in Florida to receive the designation. The certified site will be more marketable, Gulf Power representative said, and its availability will be placed on lists of industries “well suited for development at Mossy Head.”
Three county commissioners and several residents attended Thursday’s meeting. Some came with questions about the EDA’s goals and comments about its direction.
Art Miller, the member of the Senior Professionals who spoke the longest, told board members he and his group appreciated the accolades they received for their report, but would be more pleased to see results from it.
Miller said he was “pleasantly surprised” at the meeting’s attendance and the reception his group received.
“Nobody feels like we’re sticking them in the ribs,” he said. “They’re trying to figure out how do we get unstuck, how do we get on track here?”
The EDA board also voted to offer $275,000 of its $289,000 bankroll to purchase about 30 acres of the defunct Owls Head development near the Freeport Industrial Park.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Tom McLaughlin at 850-315-4435 or tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomMnwfdn.