JCDA Board, Stakeholder, & Community Survey Findings · 7/24/2020 · Strategic Planning Committee...

JCDA Board, Stakeholder, & Community Survey Findings

July 24, 2020

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Surveys and Conversations Summarized

Jefferson County Development Authority

Presentation Includes:

• Discussion with Strategic Planning Committee

• Board Interviews

• Themes from Stakeholder conversations

• Community Survey results

Important Themes that Emerged


• Ensuring the County’s cherished quality of life while growing the economy and providing more jobs for all county residents

• Balancing the recruitment of new business with support of existing business

• Leveraging the historic and agricultural dimensions of Jefferson County while spurring growth

• Funding the JCDA

• Restoring trust in JCDA and create a transparent organization that is seen as serving all

Strategic Planning Committee Meeting


Goals of the strategic planning process

• Committee places an importance on awareness and transparency, aspiring to shape the County’s future growth from the collective voice of the community

• Intention to receive balanced input from all stakeholder constituencies to build equitable economic development

• Desires a growth model that serves JCDA’s constituency, that is both aspirational and realistic, and that develops a County where its residents can positively invest, work and live

The Big Questions


Questions receiving 2 to 5 stars. Six committee members. Each received 5 stars.

How can we diversify our revenue?

What is and should be the relationship of JCDA to the County, municipalities and the industrial park?

How do we start thinking regionally?

How do we collaborate and with whom?How do we resolve conflicts between county and municipalities and state?What kind of power do we have to impact economic development?Where can we add value in ensuring this is a wonderful place to live?What are the needs of the community and how can we make a difference?

Strategic Planning Committee


Discussion on Mission

• Economic development vs economic welfare

• JCDA is about facilitating places where people want to invest, work, and live

• The law does not have to limit our mission – can be broad, creative

• Invest: “I care about business”

• Work: “I care about workers”

• Live: “I want a good Quality of Life”

• Quality of life implies recreation and transportation solutions

Strategic Planning Committee


Discussion on Economy

• Economy is great; nearly full employment

• Economic well-being includes job creation, job retention, tax base enhancement,

quality of life, health of community

• Majority of workforce commutes outside of County

• Tourism is low-hanging fruit

• Need more lower level workers

• Kids graduate from college, but no jobs here

• Large retirement community

• Tax base not increasing

Board Interviews


• 6 additional JCDA Board Members Interviewed, Including 1 Recently Resigned Member

• 4 Common Themes Emerged

• Positive outlook for the economic future of Jefferson County• County needs a sustained revenue program beyond selling Burr Park

commercial lots• Board members united in attracting small business and light manufacturing

the County.• All felt collaboration with other agencies and the State are vitally important

to a growth trajectory.

Board Interviews


Common Concerns

• Realization that facilitating future revenue growth could challenge the quality of life balance desired.

• Need balance between growth in small business and light manufacturing, with preservation of equine and agricultural sectors

• Question of how to create a revenue stream that will work for the short- and long-term benefit of the County, and balancing this with collaboration and transparency, sustainability and economic vitality.

20 Stakeholder Conversations


Theme 1 – Consensus exists on desire for smart, intelligent medium growth

• Follow the Envision Jefferson 2035 Plan

• Integrate the community’s priorities on quality of life

• Build business from Jefferson County’s current categories

• Bring in new industry that compliments existing business and/or introduces

something new

• Balance small business with large commercial and government agencies

• Advance opportunities for both blue- and white-collar jobs

• Minimize the need to commute while still valuing that as an option

• Retain more young people

• Increase the tax base

• Build infrastructure to keep pace with growth

• Find synergies and linkages between above elements of smart growth



Theme 2 – Barriers to growth need to be addressed

• Lack of community consensus on plan for growth

• People’s attitudes fueled by Rockwool experience which drives away new

opportunities

• High expectations of those who move here for services that lower taxes cannot

support

• Lack of readily available high speed internet

• Lack of universally available natural gas

• Mishmash of zoning regulations of different communities

• NIMBYism



Theme 3 – The role of the JCDA is clear

• Oversee economic development in Jefferson County per short-term plan based on Envision Jefferson 2035 long-term plan

• Succeed in attracting new business to Jefferson County per short-term plan• Promote Jefferson County as an extraordinary place to do business• Identify candidates based on agreed-upon plan• Recruit actively• Sell aggressively

• Maintain and support the growth of existing industries and businesses• Offer training and support

• Establish clearinghouse of opportunities for grants and jobs in the County

• Open door and clear obstacles to success• Work collaboratively with other organizations that contribute to both economic

and community development in the County and focus on related issues



Theme 4 – The Road to Success for JCDA is clear

• Hire a dynamic director who will build consensus in the community while advancing the economic development work of the JCDA.

• Create a short-term (5-year) plan to actualize the goals and objectives of the Envision Jefferson 2035 plan, and which JCDA can accomplish and the community will endorse.

• Restore trust in the JCDA board, staff, processes and good-will toward the community.• Be transparent• Get public input on key decisions• Build one-on-one relationships with key leaders• Reach out proactively to community partners• Establish ways to gather community input beyond attending meetings• Define and launch ongoing PR about benefits JCDA brings the community• Delineate best practices and • Advocate for the state legislature to strengthen the infrastructure in Jefferson County

especially broadband and natural gas.

Community Survey Overview


• 994 respondents

• In contrast to 20 interviewees:

• Advocate for focus on strengthening existing business to be # 1, with recruiting new businesses # 2

• Most anti – manufacturing in general, do not distinguish “light” vs “heavy”

• More indication of distrust in comments

Phrases that Best Describe Jefferson County


1) Historical Region2) Beautiful Landscape3) Tourist Destination4) Great Location

Which of the following do you believe would be the most important for expanding economic prosperity while maintaining the high quality of life in Jefferson County?


1) Agri-Tourism (wineries, farms as tourism destinations)

2) Tourism and related services3) Small businesses4) High-tech services

* Large commercial businesses and Warehouse distribution centers received the lowest support at only 5 – 7% responding to these.

How familiar are you with the Jefferson Comprehensive Plan?


* Majority of responders were not familiar with the plan

If you are familiar with the plan, are you in agreement with the general direction of the strategic direction and development priorities?


* Of those familiar who responded, 50% are in agreement, 50% are not.

YES endorse NO do not endorse


Somewhat familiar

55.56%115

–A little familiar

28.99%60

–Very familiar

12.56%26

–Not at all familiar

2.90%6

TOTAL 207

ANSWER CHOICES–

RESPONSES–

–Somewhat familiar

31.07%64

–A little familiar

29.61%61

–Not at all familiar

26.21%54

–Very familiar

13.11%27

TOTAL 206

In what ways should JCDA work to strengthen economic prosperity in Jefferson County?


Top 2:

•60% - Providing more services for businesses that already exist (e.g. training opportunities for employees, assistance for start-ups, etc.)

•56% - Advocating for better infrastructure for businesses (e.g. high speed internet, better transportation options, availability of natural gas)

COMMENTS re Strengthening Economic Prosperity Comments


• YES TO•high speed internet, transportation, and support for industries that are already

in Jefferson County (i.e. making it easier for restaurants to obtain liquor licenses)•Clean energy •Agriculture and agri-tourism•Education and family friendly activities

•NO TO•Manufacturing jobs•Natural gas

•Multiple requests for a Costco, more retail (i.e. shopping malls), access to quality health care, movie theatres, developed parks and recreation activities.

•Vast majority of respondents responded negatively to Rockwool’s presence in the county.

How do you currently keep informed about the JCDA’s activities?


Comment/Other Themes:

•Vast majority - Social Media (Facebook)/NextdoorNeighborhood App•Friends, Word of Mouth•Other organizations•Some had not kept informed but may plan to in the future

How would you like the JCDA to communicate with you?


Comment/Other Themes:

•Transparency•Community dialogue and public interaction•Focus groups with diverse representation

What are your suggestions for making the JCDA Board Meetings more accessible to the public?


75% - Broadcast the meetings via Zoom or other media 74% - Provide more public notice about upcoming meetings 34% - Hold meetings in the evenings 6% - Other

Comment/Other Themes •Record meetings and make them accessible to the public•Transparency•Share agenda ahead of time•Hold meetings when people can attend (evenings, Saturdays)

How long have you lived in Jefferson County?


Where do you work?


Which of the following industries best describe the work you do?


Top 5:

•Education•Government•Retired•Information Technology/Technical Services•Professional Services (accounting, legal, consulting)

Closing Comment Word Cloud


Closing Comment Summary


•457 (about 45% of total survey respondents)

•Comments were strongly AGAINST Rockwool and heavy industry coming into Jefferson County, and some indicated that they will move out of the county if Rockwool is built. Theme of significant

•There was one repeat comment (repeated at least 24 times):

No heavy industry. No more air emitters. No more PILOT agreements. No more non-disclosure agreements. Support and grow local industry, small businesses and startups rather than trying to bring in large out-of-state corporations at a great expense.

•Survey responders overall want to promote Jefferson County’s strengths (landscape, agriculture, access to nature) and build upon that.

Preferences & Themes in Closing Comments

• Energy Efficiency/Renewables• Small Business Infrastructure• Transparency re: JCDA• More retail & shopping opportunities• Senior living/housing• High speed internet/Broadband• Improving & maintaining roads,

transportation, road signage• Affordable family activities, recreation,

parks, pools• Professional job opportunities• Cleaning up Charlestown• Access to high quality medical care• Update WVA ABC laws to promote

winery businesses

• Rockwool & other heavy industry

• High density housing developments

• High taxes & “impact fees”

For Against


Survey & Interview Participants


Strategic Planning Committee Members

Other Board Members Interviewed

• Sean Feigo• James Gatz• Bob Gillette• Christy Huddle

• Dave Dinges (pending)• Chris Gaidrich• Gary Kable• Amanda McDaniel

• Neil McLaughlin, Chair• Patsy Noland• Mike Tolbert

• Greg Mason, through January 2020• Michelle Sudduth, Chair• Julia Yahasz, Co-Chair, through April 2020

Survey & Interview Participants


Stakeholders Interviewed

Community Survey • 994 survey participants from the Jefferson County community

• Jim Auxer, Mayor, Corporation of Shepherdstown• Wayne Bishop, Mayor, Corporation of Harpers Ferry• Danny Chiotos, Energy Efficiency Program Manager,

Mountain View Solar & Owner, Vandalia Energy Services• Bill Clark, Executive Director, Eastern Panhandle Regional

Planning & Development Council – Region 9• Todd Coyle, Jefferson County GAP• Helen Dettmer, Mayor, Corporation of Bolivar• Pete Dougherty, Jefferson County Sheriff• Ed Gaunch, Secretary, West Virginia Dept. of Commerce• Josh Householder, President, Jefferson County Chamber of

Commerce, CNB Bank executive• Cindi Hull-Miller, Associate Dean of Career Advancement

Education, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College• Catherine Jozwik, President, Eastern Panhandle Green

Coalition

• Allen Keyser, Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency

• Debra Martin, State Director, West Virginia Small Business Development Center

• Ben Martz, Dean, College of Business, Shepherd University

• Duke Pierson, Mayor, City of Ranson• Chris Rucker, Vice President of Strategic Services,

Valley Health, President, Valley Regional Enterprises• Bob Shefner, Executive Director, Jefferson County

Community Ministries• Bob Trainor, Mayor, City of Charles Town• Elizabeth Wheeler, Administrator, Jefferson County

Farmland Protection Board• Christine Wimer, President, Jefferson County

Foundation

JCDA Board, Stakeholder, & Community Survey Findings · 7/24/2020 · Strategic Planning Committee...

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