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Bill Curtis Law Offices of Curtis

& Associates, PA

Jason Barrett Flagler Hospital

Christina Langston St. Johns County School District

Larry Lake, Ph.D. BayView Healthcare

Rob Matthews Matthews Design

Mark Pinto The Fiorentino Group

Victor Raymos St. Augustine &

St. Johns County Board of Realtors

 

 

EDC Leadership

Executive Committee

Chair: Jason Barett, FACHE Vice Chair: Victor J. Raymos Immediate Past Chair: Bill Curtis Members: Larry Lake Christina Langston Rob Matthews Mark Pinto Ex-Officio: Michael V. Scine, Chair, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Staff

Isabelle Rodriguez, President & CEO Declan Reiley, Vice President, Economic Development Bob Porter, Government Relations Manager

2015-16 EDC Leadership

Mission 

The mission of the Economic Development Council is two fold: to bring new business and industry into the community and to help existing business and industry to prosper.  

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Introduction The Economic Development Council (EDC) continues to serve as a positive resource providing year-round support to business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs who are seeking to start, expand or relocate enterprises in St. Johns County. Inside, you will find 62 establishments representing new and expanding local businesses. This list is categorized by primary projects and other economic activity. These categories serve both our job generation goals as well as our non-residential tax base expansion goals. These goals are achieved with collaboration of federal, state, regional and local partners. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council would like to specifically recognize the following partners for positive contributions to economic development in St. Johns County and throughout Northeast Florida.

St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners

St. Johns County Tourist Development Council

City of St. Augustine

Northeast Florida Regional Airport

CareerSource of Northeast Florida

City of St. Augustine Beach

Florida Department of Transportation

Florida Governor Rick Scott

JAXPORT

JAXUSA Partnership

SCORE

Small Business Development Center at UNF

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitor & Convention Bureau

St. Johns County Industrial Development Authority

St. Johns County School District

Town of Hastings

U.S. Commercial Service

UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)

VISIT FLORIDA

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Trends for St. Johns County The increase in the Average Annual Wages for the private sector from 2014 to 2015 is a consistent 4.3% from the previous year. The private sector jobs for St. Johns County grew by less than half (2.5%) of the previous year’s growth rate of 5.6%.

Source(s): Department of Economic Opportunity; St. Johns County Office of Management & Budget

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We are pleased to see a growth in the total commercial tax base for second year in a row and a more significant level for this year with $2.04 billion mostly due to an improved commercial category. This is positively affecting the percentage of commercial tax base compared to the total tax base. Indeed after 5 years of decline the percentage of commercial tax base increased from 2014 to 2015 by 0.2%.

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Demographic Profile In 2015, the population in St. Johns County , Florida was 226,640. Between 2005 and 2015, the county’s population grew at annual average rate of 3.5%.  The county has a civilian labor force of 101, 244 with a participation rate of 61.8% Of individuals 25 to 64 in St. Johns County , Florida 42.2% have a bachelor’s degree or higher which compares with 30.9% in the nation.  The median household income in St. Johns County , Florida is $65,575 and the median house value is $240,400.  Source: JobsEQ 

 

   Source: JobsEQ 

    

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                 Source: JobsEQ 

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   Source: JobsEQ 

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Source: JobsEQ

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Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Over and above the regular meetings arranged for companies in St. Johns County, the EDC also administers an existing industry business visitation program to express interest in and concern for the issues faced by local businesses in the community. At a minimum, professional staff meets directly with 24 employers each year in the county. Objectives of this program include: Demonstrate to existing firms that the community appreciates their contribution to the local economy Encourage expansion that leads to sustainable job growth Help businesses solve their problems and challenges Assist local businesses in gaining awareness of available resources Build the community capacity and cooperation to sustain growth and development activities Provide information and understanding for all local leaders of the strengths and weaknesses of the business

climate.

Economic Advocacy In FY2015-16, the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Council and its partners worked to promote St. Johns County as an attractive location to expand or relocate a business. This multi-faceted effort included participation in select conferences, hosting special events and direct communications with potential prospects for expansion or relocation. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce also coordinated more than 150 targeted network and education events in FY2015-16 to promote business development. Among the events listed above, professional staff also…

…Worked with Enactus Chapter, Flagler College, EDC Executive Committee and City of St. Augustine toward long-term goal of establishing Startup In a Day online business registration tool

…Participated in FPL Illumination event with six site location consultants

…Facilitated an economic impact analysis for City of St. Augustine concerning the sanitary sewer extension to West Augustine

…Assisted marketing consultant hired by St. Augustine Shipyard

…Assisted NFRA and their marketing consultant with air service development

…Coordinated the promotion of St. Johns County for a two-page manufacturing ad for regional manufacturing magazine

…Led and directed 2016 Governor’s Reception

…Participated in VCB State-of-the-Tourism Industry event

…Sponsored the Florida Virtual Entrepreneurship Center

…Represented Saint Augustine and St. Johns County at governor's community leadership dinner in Tallahassee

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The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council regularly engage in direct advocacy efforts with local, state and federal policymakers to promote sound public policies which support business growth and expansion. The elected leadership of the State of Florida – from the Governor, Legislators and Executive Branch agency heads – is keenly focused on Florida’s economic climate and St. Johns County’s elected officials regularly make economic development a key public policy priority. The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce has established a standing Public Policy Committee. The Public Policy Committee advises the Board of Directors on adopting public policy positions - support, oppose or affirmatively take no position, but educate members - and assists with advocacy efforts at the state, local and federal level, including attending advocacy events/meetings. The Committee helps draft the Chamber annual legislative agenda and recommends changes to be approved by the Board of Directors. Direct advocacy is necessary to ensure St. Johns County continues to have a regulatory environment which is attractive to business and which provides small businesses and new start-ups with the opportunities needed to grow and expand. Two popular programs which provide opportunities for members of St. Johns County’s business community to directly interact with current and prospective policy makers include the annual Day@TheCapitol program and the Politics in St. Johns events held during election cycles.

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Economic Development Education Economic Development Council Quarterly Breakfast Events Each year, as part of its educational mission, the Economic Development Council produces four educational forums known as “EDC Quarterly Breakfast” events. These large-scale events are attended by St. Johns County’s most successful business leaders and feature presentations by economic and public policy experts. These special events provide unique networking opportunities and are designed to educate business leaders on issues and trends impacting the health of the St. Johns County economy. Our FY2015-16 EDC Quarterly Breakfast Series included:

November 2015

January 2016

April 2016

August 2016

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FY2015-16 Announcements Primary Industry – Basic industries consist of small and large businesses that sell primarily to customers outside the region or “external” customers. Basic industries are critical to economic development because they bring revenues from outside customers into the local economy and support the non-basic businesses. Other Economic Activity – Non-basic industries consist of primarily small businesses that sell to local customers, including basic and non-basic businesses. Total Economy = Basic + Non-basic industries PRIMARY INDUSTRY Company Easterday Farms Produce (Elkton) Gas-South (St. Augustine)

Team SLR Scott LaGasse Racing Headquarters (Historic St. Augustine)

KeHE Distributors (Elkton) Venditio Bikes (Elkton) OTHER ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Company Ace Hardware (Historic St. Augustine) B Street Eats (Maple Street Biscuit Company) Balanced Physician Care P.A.V Barbara Brennan School of Healing (Ponte Vedra Beach) Big Fish Yoga (Nocatee) Bog Brewing Company (St. Augustine) Broad River Tavern (Palencia) Cat’s Paw Marina LLC - SBA Loan Approval (St. Augustine) Christopher & Banks (Outlet mall) Coastal Wine Market (Nocatee) Cordova Inn (Historic St. Augustine) Diane’s Natural Market (St. Augustine) DRiV Fitness (St. Augustine) Dunkin’ Donuts (Nocatee) Embassy Suites (St. Augustine Beach) Flavor Palette Ponte Vedra Beach) Fresenius Medical Care Clinic (St. Augustine) Global Maritek Systems (SBA Loan Approval) H&M (Outlet mall) Hilton Garden Inn (US 1) Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House (Anastasia Blvd.) Hotel San Marco (Historic St. Augustine) Hotel Vilano (Vilano Beach) Hustler Hollywood (St. Augustine) J Turner & Co. (Sawgrass Village) JT Mattress Liquidators (Outlet mall) La Quinta Inn & Suites (New in 2017; 50 rooms) Lionstone Advisors (St. Augustine) Lisa Kelly Voice Academy (Ponte Vedra Beach)

M Shack/M Hospitality Group (Nocatee) Maple Street Biscuit Company (Historic St. Augustine) Marker 8 Hotel & Marina (St. Augustine) Mbque/M Hospitality Group (St. Augustine) Metro Diner (Sawgrass Village) Metro Diner (US 1) Nona Blue Modern Tavern (Sawgrass Village) Nopetro CNG Fueling Station (St. Augustine) North Avenue Capital, LLC (Ponte Vedra Beach) Old Navy (Outlet mall) Papa Murphy’s Pizza (St. Augustine) Party City (St. Augustine) Pineapple Post (Sawgrass Village) Scout & Molly’s (Sawgrass Village) Senior Benefits on Northeast Florida (St. Augustine) Smart Stay Inn of St. Augustine LLC (SBA Loan Approval) Smoothie King (Palencia) Swarovski (Outlet mall) The Floridian (Historic St. Augustine) The Learning Experience (Nocatee) The Renaissance Hotel (St. Augustine) The Rosy Cheek (Historic St. Augustine) Tijuana Flats (Nocatee Town Center) Tijuana Flats (U.S. 1 and S.R. 207) Torrid (Outlet mall) Verizon Wireless (Nocatee) Woodmen Life (St. Augustine) Wyndham Garden Sebastian (St. Augustine)

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Funding the EDC The work of the Economic Development Council to support the relocation and expansion of businesses in St. Johns County is funded by both private and public contributions. In FY2015-16, private funding accounted for approximately 63% of the EDC efforts, a contract with St. Johns County accounted for approximately 31% of funding and payments from third party contract work accounted for approximately 6%.

The funds were used for St. Johns County participation in the JAXUSA Regional Economic Development Partnership, which serves Northeast Florida as well as the EDC’s direct efforts in business retention and expansion, business recruitment, expansion and community education on business-related matters. See Addendum 2 for Source and Uses of Funds.

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Addendum 1: JAXUSA Partnership Annual Report

Addendum 2: Sources & Uses of FundsFY 2015‐2016

FUNDING SOURCES‐ FY 2015‐2016

County Contribution 125,000         30.55%

Other Contracts 24,000           5.87%

Private Contributions 260,176         63.59%

TOTAL FUNDING 409,176        

USES

PERSONNEL (Allocated) 245,947        

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS 23,651          

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP 45,000          

MARKETING AND OPERATIONS 73,184          

BUILDING, TAXES, INSURANCE 21,395          

TOTAL EXPENSES 409,176        

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