The Garden City Telegram
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Building trust
Published 6/27/2009 in Commentary : Editorial
Much of the work that goes into economic development takes place behind the scenes.
Businesses considering new locations often prefer confidentiality when they're weighing one site against another.
The Finney County Economic Development Corp., meanwhile, is like any economic development agency that feels pressure to honor those wishes if they're to remain in the running, while also trying to satisfy public interest in possible developments.
It's a tricky balancing act that, if nothing else, tempts us with the possibilities. The FCEDC board recently offered some details on a number of intriguing prospects: a warehousing and distribution firm; a renewable energy production operation; and a manufacturer that could deliver some 800 jobs at the height of operations.
In offering details on another prospect specializing in research and development, FCEDC officials reported that incentives would center on utility rates, land and other infrastructure improvements since there's no cash readily available to offer.
Therein lies the dilemma. The FCEDC needs funds for incentives, but a lack of public trust has stood in the way.
Many citizens apparently don't feel comfortable enough with the FCEDC to lend more financial support. Voters twice rejected a plan to fund economic development efforts through a countywide quarter-cent sales tax.
Yet the prospects keep coming. While that's encouraging, the FCEDC still needs a significant success story -- news that they've lured a good-sized employer offering above-average wages, for example.
When the FCEDC hits that home run — and we're cheering for that to happen — it will help erase public skepticism that, unfortunately, has stood in the way of more aggressive economic development efforts.
The FCEDC currently is gearing up for another discussion with its funding partners — the county, cities of Garden City and Holcomb, and Garden City Community College — on the future of local economic development. Funding support no doubt will be a topic.
The partners should be encouraged by the latest prospects. Encouraged enough, hopefully, that they commit the funding needed to arm the FCEDC with what it needs to compete with other communities — many of which are offering far more to land businesses that deliver the economic benefit this region needs.
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