Craven turns to consultants to develop an economic development plan | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    We've previously reported about the changes Craven County's Board of Commissioners have been making in their economic development program. They "accepted" the resignation of the former director, just as has Beaufort County. Craven, unlike Beaufort, has not replaced the former director. They have redefined the role of the non-profit in a significantly different manner than has Beaufort.

    Now we learn that they are taking a different planning approach, while Beaufort has no apparent planning strategy, at least nothing that has been made public. Beaufort's approach in the past has been to make its decisions in secret meetings. Craven, on the otherhand, is launching a process somewhat similar to what is being done in Greenville and Washington of bringing in an outside consulting firm to collect data and recommend a strategic plan. The Sun Journal reports:

    Craven County has now officially hired a national consulting firm to quickly develop a strategic economic development plan.

    After issuing a request for proposals in October, Craven County Board of Commissioners have approved a $65,000 contract the Alexandria, Va., firm of RKG Associates.

    County interim economic development director and Assistant County Manager Gene Hodges, said the company was one of four which submitted a proposals and the one recommended by the special work group currently advising the county.

    "This firm has vast experience performing economic development analysis and is developing strategies for communities nationwide," Hodges said.

    RKG Associates was selected, in part, because they have significant experience in working with military communities to help position them in the event of changes with the military's presence.

    "The firm will be engaged with the special work group throughout the process and will ultimately present their plan to the board of commissioners," said Hodges.

    The strategic plan is expected in to be complete in about 120 days, said Jack Veit, Craven County manager. Depending on its recommendations, more money could have to be spent to implement the plan.

    Funding is in the county economic development budget, said Hodges, as is the money to include Craven County's available business property into a database accessible by prospective business and industry.

    Click here to read the rest of the story.

    Commentary

    We're not sure Craven is using the best approach but we do think they are at least trying to do some planning for economic development. We have not had that in Beaufort County but rather it has been a "fly by the seat of your pants" approach shrouded in secrecy. We have a new director and if Al Klemm can ever get the wording straight we may have a new set of by-laws. But we've seen no signs of the current leadership, including the County Manager and Board of Commissioners, doing any strategic planning for economic development.

    We think that should change. Beaufort needs a strategic plan. The plan should include a framework for how and what kind of data is going to be used to define the current and projected needs and to establish an assessment system for how we are going to measure the effectiveness of the county's economic development program.

    We believe a major part of such a planning process should be an inventory of what we now have, including the needs of small businesses already located in Beaufort County. It should also include a review of other communities for "best practices."

    But the absolutely most important part must be an assessment process that has valid and reliable measurable objectives. One of those objectives should be reducing the cost of energy for local businesses.

    Moreover, we wonder why Beaufort does not work more closely with Greenville and Pitt County. They are doing the planning and now would be the time to at least know what each is doing. We have felt for a long time, and said so a number of times here, that the most important economic engine in Eastern North Carolina is the Vidant medical system. Vidant has how taken over Beaufort County's medical system but we have seen no signs that any synergy for a broader based economic development strategy is being worked on. We have to wonder if Beaufort would not be wiser to focus more on health care economic development as opposed to what it has traditionally done.

    Warren Smith, the person most knowledgeable about economic development that we know of in Beaufort County has suggest that the Economic Development Commission and the Committee of 100 replace its failed leadership and start anew. We and others have called for Al Klemm to step aside and let new blood come in. He has refused. But worse than standing in the door, he has demonstrated no vision whatsoever about what could be done to stimulate economic growth and development in Beaufort County. Klemm essentially talks about continuing to do "more of the same" that has produced the failures we have suffer under his leadership. That needs to change.

    If Klemm does not have the integrity to do the right thing, then the Board of Commissioners either must replace him or accept responsibilities for the consequences of not doing so.

    Folks, we're headed for another Hospital fiasco.

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