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3. Overall Goals and Objectives- EDC Chair Ruffin Slater <br />Ruffin Slater said that on March 8th the State of the Economy Breakfast will be held, and <br />there is always good feedback, but it is hard to know how to react to it. That is part of the <br />purpose of this planning process - to have some measurable goals. He said that a plan is a <br />necessity. The plan has some strong social and environmental elements in it. The overarching <br />goal is to have 5,000 new jobs in Orange County by 2009 and $125 million in additional property <br />tax base. <br />He pointed out the slide presentation and introduced the chairs of each work group. <br />Overall Goal: <br />Create 5,000 new private sector jobs and increase the assessed value of non-residential <br />property by $125 million in Orange County by June 2009. <br />Business-focused Strategies: <br />Business Climate: Public private partnerships will have formed to create a stronger business <br />climate and Orange County will have a clear set of guidelines, standards and procedures <br />designed to sustain and nurture existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurship, and attract <br />targeted employers <br />Infrastructure: Infrastructure will be in place to support the county's economic development <br />goals of increasing the commercial tax base and retaining and attracting targeted businesses. <br />Worker-focused Strategies: <br />Workforce Development: Effective systems will be in place to train and support residents and <br />those who work in Orange County. At least 75 percent of new jobs in the county -for both new <br />and expanding businesses -will be filled by county residents. <br />Quality of Place: Orange County will have thriving partnerships ensuring that the county is a <br />great place to live and work, attracting and retaining the creative community of innovators, <br />artists and civic leaders that will drive the desired economy. <br />4. Business Climate Objectives and Action Steps-Margaret Connell <br />Business Climate: Public private partnerships will have formed to create a stronger business <br />climate and Orange County will have a clear set of guidelines, standards and procedures <br />designed to sustain and nurture existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurship, and attract <br />targeted employers. <br />• Develop clear criteria defining desirable businesses for the next five years <br />• Identify barriers <br />• Provide outreach, recognition and/or expedited service to new and existing businesses <br />that meet the development criteria. <br />• Form partnerships both within and outside the county to create a stronger business <br />climate and market the changes to existing and potential employers <br />• Focus public education efforts on sustainability issues, looking at the social, economic <br />and environmental contributions of local businesses <br />