Opportunity Knocks

Employment opportunities are few and far between these days. The unemployment rate in Florida remained in double digits throughout 2011 and the outlook for 2012 looks to be just as dreary. That holds especially true for rural communities across the Sunshine State decimated by the economy and the bursting of the real estate bubble. At the start of the decade, life was good, there was opportunity for growth and everyone was flush with optimism. Then in 2007–08 real estate prices crashed — and so too did the hopes and dreams of many communities that had visions of a better tomorrow.

Opportunity Knocks Rural counties get wired for economic development by Lee Gordon

Employment opportunities are few and far between these days. The unemployment rate in Florida remained in double digits throughout 2011 and the outlook for 2012 looks to be just as dreary. That holds especially true for rural communities across the Sunshine State decimated by the economy and the bursting of the real estate bubble. At the start of the decade, life was good, there was opportunity for growth and everyone was flush with optimism. Then in 2007–08 real estate prices crashed — and so too did the hopes and dreams of many communities that had visions of a better tomorrow.

Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist have talked prominently about job creation. But it was former Gov. Jeb Bush who literally got the ball of opportunity rolling with the launch of Opportunity Florida — not just a vision, but a grassroots effort to enhance business and job creation in rural Florida. On its website, Opportunity Florida boasts that it is a champion for business and “an aggressive economic development organization committed to growing the regional economy.” Its goal is to create opportunities for regional businesses by providing resources and

knowledge while leveraging connections in the nine counties that it serves.

“Rural Florida per capita incomes are 34% less than urban Florida,” said Rick Marcum, the agency’s executive director. “What is the challenge to rural? The challenge now, and for a long time, is going to be a lack of infrastructure. Companies that are expanding or relocating are looking for ‘shovel ready’ sites, and we usually need to get a grant to accomplish the task.”

Opportunity Florida, a 501(c)6 Florida corporation represents the first legislatively designated Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC). Established in 2000, it includes Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty and Washington counties. Last year, Scott added a ninth county, Wakulla.

Opportunity to Make a Difference

Marcum and his staff work diligently on Opportunity Florida’s mantra: When a person gets up in the morning and goes to work, they never notice or care that they have crossed a county line. Simply put, if something good happens in a neighboring county, it’s good for all.

On the agenda for Opportunity Florida in 2012 are two key priorities. First and foremost is successfully completing a project designed to give broadband Internet to the nine rural counties that make up the RACEC. The counties will primarily benefit through a $24 million federal broadband grant and by being able to use $10 million of local in-kind assets (such as existing city and county water towers and communication towers). The grant money is being shared with the South Central RACEC and Florida’s Heartland Regional Economic Development Initiative, Inc., which together cover six counties, including Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, Glades, Hendry and Okeechobee.

When the network is done, the world will change for rural Florida.

“If we fail at that there will be no economic development,” said Marcum, “Without high-speed Internet, you cannot compete. It is fundamental to all business and all regional economies. Right now, my leadership tells me to forget strategic plans, forget the many meetings and keep our eyes on the prize — and that is completing our broadband grant.

“This is an all-consuming program and probably the hardest event of my career. But hopefully, by August or September of 2012, we will be 85% complete and well on our way
to success.”

Marcum sees this high tech network as the single most important mission of Opportunity Florida. Without it, he believes there will be no economic development in the counties and the distinct likelihood that existing businesses may migrate out of the region.

“We already have a brain drain when our children get degrees and there is no place for them to work here and they are forced to leave,” Marcum told those attending the Northwest Florida Broadband Summit in October 2011. “Opportunity Florida’s 50 percent ownership of the Florida Rural Broadband Alliance, LLC, is our greatest opportunity, because the most fundamental question a business prospect asks when considering locating in the region is, ‘What is your Internet capacity?’ ”

Once that game-changing project is complete, Marcum and his staff will focus their attention on the port in Port St. Joe. A deep water port with rail access to the major east-west transportation corridors provided by CSX and I-10 will make the region, “a force to reckon with in the state of Florida, and for that matter, all the Southeast U.S.” The Port Authority has already been receiving inquiries about operators and cargo operations.

“Opportunity Florida is one of our best cheerleaders and promoters,” said Tommy Pitts, executive director of the port of Port St. Joe. “The ports are regional economical development engines. The development in those counties will support port development. We are having preliminary discussions to support each other in these counties.”

Opportunity Florida is funded by the county commissions, towns, utilities, local economic development organizations and businesses within the region. Scott has also provided support through the state’s Department of Economic Opportunity, with a staffing grant.

Leading by Example

As for Marcum, he’s part lobbyist, part cheerleader — but mostly a champion for the nine counties he and Opportunity Florida represent. He returned to Florida in 2003 as the third person to serve as the executive director of Opportunity Florida. His background is in the financial/real estate sector, first as the executive director for the Walton County Economic Development Council, then working in New Mexico as the executive director for the Northern New Mexico Regional Development Corporation. What drew him back to the Sunshine State was an opportunity to use what he learned out West and apply it to a state that desperately needs jobs.

“There are many states that encourage/instigate regional cooperation via such organizations (i.e. the Northern New Mexico Regional Development Corporation). And most grants now look for regional initiatives and cooperation,” noted Marcum. “Prime examples are the two broadband grants that cover the three RACEC organizations in Florida. Most all the grants awarded went to regional groups and organizations.”

According to Marcum, regional efforts are a very strong trend, especially regarding tourism and rural infrastructure. Since 2003, there has been a good deal of growth in the area served by Opportunity Florida. Aside from the broadband grant and the port in Port St. Joe, Opportunity Florida has designated logistics and distribution as its number one targeted industry.
While real estate had been considered the backbone for the region’s future growth, Marcum chooses to look at the glass half full, knowing that Opportunity Florida was born not to focus on problems, only solutions.

“With the widening of the Panama Canal, we remain encouraged about our regional opportunities in logistics and distribution,” said Marcum. “There are other targeted industries, but as the world’s global economy and trade expands, we will seize on some very good things. Also Gov. Scott has targeted huge growth for the entire state in international trade … and Opportunity Florida hopes to be right there with him.”

Opportunity Florida has already expanded from eight counties to nine, and it works with the two other RACEC areas that cover north central Florida (from Jefferson to Putnam County) and south central Florida to make sure that rural areas have a strong vision for the future, as well as a voice at the state capital.

Despite the high unemployment numbers across the state, Marcum is quick to point out that the counties that make up his area across I-10 have not seen the devastating effects that have plagued much of South Florida. Businesses up and down Highway 20 have remained fairly stable, although the same can’t be said for those located closer to the coast.

“I would say that the real pain has been endured in Franklin and Gulf County,” Marcum said, “However, revenue for all our governmental operations has taken some very big hits. So there is opportunity knocking, and our challenge is to make sure we have the ability to open the door.”

While the broadband Internet project is the focus of Opportunity Florida to attract new business and jobs, the port in Port St. Joe also has the potential to be a major job creator. Some benefits:

» Support manufacturers within the region looking to ship their products — as well as companies looking to import raw materials.

» Benefit the Apalachicola Airport.

» Cargo can be easily moved to distribution centers that already exist in Jackson County via Highway 71 or the Gulf Coast Parkway, Highway 231.

» There’s plenty of available and affordable land for future manufacturing sites within Opportunity Florida’s nine rural counties.