Workshop  Town of Cross City and BOCC Location: Dixie County Public Library 16328 SE Hwy 19, Cross City, FL 32628  May 7, 2024-5 5:00 PM  Thel Board meetings are audio recorded. The public can hear and participate. in the meeting via conference call by  dialing 11917/900-1022 and enter code. 32628. David Osteen, Commissioner District5 Jody Stephenson, Commissioner District1 Mark Hatch, Commissioner District3  COMMISSIONERS  STAFF  Paul Gainey, Acting Assignment County Manager Martha McCaskill, Acting Assignment. Assistant County Manager and Administrative Asst/Grant Coordinator John. Jenkins, Assistant County Manager Chana Watson, County Attorney Leon' Wright, Building and Zoning Official Barbie Higginbotham, Clerk of Court Kelly Koschatzky, Deputy Clerk TOWN COUNCIL  Kenneth "Tank" Lee, Mayor, and Town Council Member Seat! 5  John Driggers. Jr., City Manager Ryan Fulford, Town Council Member Seat 3 Kirk Merhefka, Town Council Member Seat: 1 George Edmonds, City Utilities Supervisor Karen' VanAernam, Cross City Restore and Renew Kay McCallister, Tourism Council Ruth Ann Lovelace, Cross City Restore and Renew  Carol West, Dixie Chamber of commerce/Dixie County Education Foundation  Workshop Meeting Minutes- - May 07,2024-5 5:00PM- - Page I of6    1. CALLTOORDER  The Workshop was called to order at! 5:00 PM by Town Council Member Seat 3, Ryan Fulford.  2. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG led by Town Council Member Ryan Fulford.  The Invocation was led by Pastor Brooks oft the Church of God and the Pledge to the American was  Flag  3. INTRODUCTIONS 4. Ryan Fulford members:  Mr. Fulford began the meeting with introductions.  Mr. Fulford stated they have established a new local Economic CouncilTeam consisting of the following  County Commissioner Mark Hatch Karen' VanAernam Cross City Restore and Renew Kay McCallister Tourism Development Council John Driggers City Manager Ryan Fulford Town Council Member 5. RETAILS STRATEGIES  Carol West Dixie Chamber of Commerce/Dixie County Education Foundation  City Manager. John Driggers stated Duke Energy Assistance Retail Strategies Survey awarded the County $25,000 last year and wanted to know ifi the County would receive it again this year. Ms. Karen' VanAernam stated the funding is there for two consecutive years, but the County must  reapply.  Mr. Driggers responded he would complete the application tomorrow.  6. JEFFH HENDRY AND DIANE SCHOLZ OF1 THE NORTH FLORIDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  PARTNERSHIP (NFEDP)  North Florida Economic Development Partnership (NFEDP). Jeff Hendry stated he desired to bring some knowledge and education about economic development to the community. He started by explaining how Economic Development, a deliberate set of programs, policies or activities is intended to improve  the quality ofl life.  Workshop Meeting Minutes- - May 07, 2024- 5:00P PM- - Page 2 of6    Mr. Hendry explained that the (NFEDP) is one (1) oft three (3) officially designated rural regions in the State of Florida, done by the executive order oft the governor. He stated every five years they put together data built on distress factors about poverty and education rates and average wages compared tot the rest of Florida. He stated they have a Board of Directors consisting of 34 members and each oft the fourteen counties gets two appointments to serve on the Board, one must be a County Commissioner and the other an Economic Development Member. He said Dixie County's Commissioner on the Board is Commissioner Mark Hatch and the Economic Development Member is Karen VanAernam. He also stated that the mission of (NFEDP) is to build the competitiveness ofe each oft the Counties to be able to recruit new business andi industries to come to their County. He said they also work with existing as well  ass struggling businesses tot find resources to help them expand.  Mr. Hendry asked the attendees what economic development meant to them.  There were many answers from the group: such as Growth, jobs, quality ofl life and bringing in new He said the targeted industries they're looking at are manufacturing, logistics and distribution and providing stability to the community. He stated that the program helps counties apply for grants and marketing, as well as building competitiveness and foundations upi front for Counties. Mr. Hendry shared what Economic Development is not. He: said it is not an event, the actual ribbon cutting, the end result, it's doing the little things rightt to get there. It's not a one-off event. Mr. Hendry defined the Strategic Sights Inventory (SSI) Program as a program that helps counties identify greenfield sites that could be viable for economic development within the County. He said the program performs analysis oft the properties looking at infrastructure in place to support a particular Mr. Hendry further explained the importance ofr relationships with those ini the community as well as funders to grow. He recommended getting involvedi in the State of Florida meetings and such to show our need and get help with our community. He said leads can come from everywhere, bei involved. Mr. Hendry also spoke regarding confidentiality. He said that 288.075 of the Florida Statutes exempts Economic Development projects and private recruitment from the public records law. He said this is because companies participating may not want competitors to know they want to expand and relocate or1 their employees to get the feeling they may have to relocate, also community conversation and misinformation could ruin prospects of attracting al business. He said they don'twant Mr. Hendry stated that once a project comes into the County it is important for the local officials to let  business for the county.  type of business as well as analyzing the labor market in the County.  tov violate trust with these companies.  them know how grateful you are to have them in the County from time to time.  Workshop Meeting Minutes- - May 07, 2024- - 5:00 PM - Page 3 of6    Commissioner. Stephenson made the statement that he thought Dixie County willl have to put more incentive into this than other areas because the County has no interstate, no railroad, it is out of the Mrs. Carol West said thati is true and not true, she said we have an airport and other advantages ini this Mr. Hendry agreed and said we must be who we are. He said Dixie County is one oft two counties that have an airport and that is a tremendous asset, and we also have ai four-lane highway. Mr. Lucas Rollison owns al local metal business and he spoke up and said theyj just had their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, but before they decided to build in Dixie County, they were offered $80,0001 to goto another county and over $100,000 to go to South Georgia. He said he stayed here because his heart is Mr. Hendry stated that businesses will have to calculate the long-term advantages and goals, not) just5 or SO years from now, but longer. He stated that having these types of businesses that are here because their heart is ini the community is great fori the County. He also added it is very important to attract  way unlike other counties. County that others don't have.  here.  industry. Questions:  Mr. Howard Hart, owner of the Hardware and Building Supply Store in Steinhatchee stated he was born in Dixie County and started his business in 1985 as a 2,400 Sqft building, and iti is now over: 12,000 Sqft. He said from his point of view some of the problems with development have come from County Commissioners who have told people what they are able to build or not build on their own property. Mr. Hendry stated that roughly 70-75% ofj jobs created int the County are by existing business, not by new recruitment. He also stated that there are: some unbelievable opportunities for this County.  6.R REFRESHMENTS  Town Council Member Ryan Fulford announced: al break for refreshments.  7., JEFF HENDRY AND DIANE SCHOLZ OF THE NORTHFLORIDA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  PARTNERSHIP NFDPI/Continued)  Mr. Hendry shared a personal story and said he got a call 3 years ago from Minnesota and it was CEO looking for relocation in parts of Alabama, Georgia, or North Florida and they decided to move: and build in Suwannee County. He stated it was a three (3) year process andi it didn't happen overnight. He said they had to provide an inventory of property as well as energy capacity reports prepared for the  Workshop Meeting Minutes - May 07, 2024- = 5:00 PM - Page 4 of6    company's review. He: said it took a while, but after three (3) years it happened. He encouraged the He said they have performed a strategic sites inventory on some potential properties, and they are working with the County and several others on the project. Mr. Hendry spoke of the Retail Strategies Group that is working with our communities to recruit retail businesses that want to come into the communities. He displayed and explained maps that show the County and the advantages of the County that can be of benefit to investment companies. He stated that one of the greatest assets to this areai is the Airport and thei fiber broadband internet. He: said thati is a huge selling point for our County. He added that people could come and work remotely from other states and Counties. Mr. Hendry stated the grant for retail strategies for Dixie County came from Duke Energy and he thanked them for their contribution. He said Retail Strategies recruit retail businesses that are looking to come into the County. He said the process is usually about at two (2) year process. He said they also look at what market they could capture if you had a retailer come into the County. He said that Retail Strategies has stated that Dixie County can capture $230,000,000 at its full capacityi if businesses are here in this County. He also stated Retail Strategies is actively looking for urgent care, patient-first Dixie County Education Foundation Chamber of Commerce, Carol West spoke and said in April of this  County to hangi int there and build a competitive advantage.  oriented business as well as fast food and hotels in Dixie as well. year. Mr. Jeff Hendry was named Economic Developer of the year. Ms. West thanked Mr. Hendry for his dedication and hard work.  Mr. Hendry: says His company wouldn't be anything they are without Diane (his coworker) and he's sorry  she couldn't bei int tonight. 8. QUESTIONS  None presented at this meeting.  Workshop Meeting Minutes- - May 07,2024-5 5:00 PM-F Page5of6    9. ADJOURN  The meeting was adjourned by Town Council Member Mr. Ryan Fulford.  BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DIXIE COUNTY,FLORIDA 25  DUNTY,A  Jody  Spasa,VEcairman  YsN-Rif Barbie ignholamCleak-Audior  PLEASE BE ADVISED that ifay person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with matter considered. at such meeting or hearings, he/ she will need a record ofthe proceedings, andj respect fors such any purpose, he/ she will needi to ensure that a verbatim record oft the proceedings is made, which record includes the  to  testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.  "Persons with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations to participate in this (352) 486-4931 (Voice & TDD) or via Florida Relay. Service at (800) 955-8771." 4:00 PM on the Friday Preceding the Board meeting, at (352) 498-1200.  should contact of Court, by  proceeding  The Boardi meets thej first Thursday ofe each month at 10:00 AM and the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM. Individuals that would like to be placed on the agenda should call Barbie. Higginbotham, Clerk  Workshop Meeting Minutes - May 07,2 2024 - 5:001 PM - Page 6of6