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Hernando Today

A Half-Million For Economic Development

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 18, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Fierce competition for business recruitment prompted members of a standing committee Tuesday to recommend the county set aside $500,000 to help retain and attract industry.

The half-million would be used at the discretion of Office of Business Development Director Michael McHugh, using still-to-be-determined criteria established by county commissioners.

The proposal will go before county commissioners April 14 for a fuller airing and vote.
County Administrator David Hamilton, in an unscheduled appearance before the business and economic development committee's debut meeting Tuesday, said it is imperative the county move forward with this incentive because the "competition for newly emerging businesses is now at an all-time high."

"We need the resources available to the county to have the ability to counter offers with a package that will see these businesses consolidating their operations in Hernando County," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the money will come out of the budget reserve stabilization fund, a general fund account set aside in case of a significant economic downturn.

That fund currently sits at $3 million.

Instead, the money would be put into what he calls a "dedicated industrial development fund" earmarked for economic development.

"Essentially what we are doing is, instead of holding it for revenue concerns in our internal budget, we are moving forward due to the (economy) to further our economic development efforts in primary industry, which would ultimately bring jobs to the county," Hamilton said.

"In other times, we would not have recommended such a move from our fund," he said. "But given the competition to hold the jobs we have and recruit others, McHugh needs to be able to say - without delay - that he has access to a half-million dollar fund."

Hamilton stressed McHugh would still need county commissioner approval before expending any money.

It gives McHugh "a large tool to play with" but does not give him an open checkbook, he said.

This idea emerged out of the Comprehensive Plan for Recovery (CPR), proposed earlier this year by Commissioner Jim Adkins.

That plan, which is also scheduled for debate in April, recommended Hernando County do more to encourage proactive business recruiting and create more jobs.

Committee members Tuesday welcomed Hamilton's idea and voted 4-0 to send it along to county commissioners for debate. Adkins was absent from the meeting.

"I want (McHugh) to have all the tools he can have," engineer Nick Nicholson said.

"I applaud you for this," Realtor Laurie Pizzo said. "I think this is fantastic. We can't put people in homes if they don't have jobs."

Only civic activist Janey Baldwin expressed reservations.

"I am shocked," Baldwin said. "I can't believe that you actually let him (Hamilton) bring this before you before the county commission has heard it. What was the big hurry?"

Baldwin called it a "slap in the face" of county commissioners.

But Commissioner and Committee Chairman John Druzbick assured Baldwin the entire board will hear the matter before anything is formally passed.

"This will protect the county and give us that advantage to secure some of this new business," Druzbick said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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