Story County’s Role in Economic Development

Community Planning

Assistance Team

Story County: an economic development partner

Identify

• County economic development functions

• Strategic economic development opportunities

APA Community Planning Assistance Team

Wayne Feiden, FAICP, Northampton, Massachusetts

• Team Leader

Deb Meihoff, AICP, Communitas LLC, Portland, Oregon

• City and Regional Economic Development Strategy

Catherine Pagano, AICP, Gunnison County, Colorado

• County Economic Development Strategy

Russell Soyring, AICP, Traverse City, Michigan

• Quality of life, downtowns, regulatory framework

Thomas Bassett, American Planning Assoc., Washington DC

• Student studio, research and logistics

Quality of Life

Sources:

www.countyhealthranks.org

www.bestplaces.net

Health: 3rd healthiest in Iowa Cost of Living: 4.6% below US average

Industrial Downtowns

Renewable Energy

Agriculture

Tourism

Econ

om

ic d

evelo

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everyw

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Five Strategic Investments

1. Vision and long range planning

Guiding principles

Five Strategic Investments

1. Vision and long range planning

2. Strategic partnerships/investments

• Partnerships and leveraging

Five Strategic Investments

1. Vision and long range planning

2. Strategic partnerships/investments

3. Infrastructure investments

Strategic investments/downtowns/ED

Five Strategic Investments

1. Vision and long range planning

2. Strategic partnerships/investments

3. Infrastructure investments

4. Trails and recreation

• Quality of life and local economic development

Five Strategic Investments

1. Vision and long range planning

2. Strategic partnerships/investments

3. Infrastructure investments

4. Trails and recreation

5. County planning staff

For targeted assistance and projects

Community Visioning and

Long Range Planning

What is Visioning?

Community defines future Core community values and goals identified

What is Visioning?

Helps the community visualize the future citizens desire

When is Visioning Needed?

When we hear conflicting statements of where we should invest community dollars.

When we can’t resolve important community issues.

Shared Values?

Celebrate local foods

Maintain rural character

Revitalize small cities

Protect water resources and natural areas.

Shared Values? Develop

sustainable energy.

Encourage Ames to flourish as as an economic center.

Focus on jobs to keep families here.

Visioning should be the first step in a Long Range Plan

Iowa State University Ag.

Dept. Photo

Long Range Planning Support

Regional Planning Grants

Community Challenge Grants

Community Development Block Grants

“To provide and protect the quality of life assets that make Story County and all the communities in it, a vibrant, sustainable place to live and work.”

Story County Development Plan Vision

“A rural/small town lifestyle with easy access to urban amenities.”

Story County Development Plan

Colo – One key business

Town Anchors

The Giving Tree

"Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30% and save 20-50 percent in energy used for heating.“ USDA Forest Service

Story City

Opportunities: Downtown

Ames

Trails and Recreation

Trails and Recreation

• Recreation activities contribute $18 million to economy

• Trail connections and spurs critical

• New trail between Story City/Ames and Roland

• New trail from Zearing to Collins

Trails and Recreation

• Network of connected trails

• Trail connections to wineries, local foods, waterways, and parks

• Attracts more visitors

Trails and Recreation

• Create and implement trail master plan

• Connect eastern cities to rest of County through trail system

• Include bike paths and bike lanes in capital improvement plans

Energy Efficiency

•Adopt Building Codes

•Promotes energy efficiency, protection of public health and safety

•Cost effective

•Local utility providers may offer rebate program

Energy Efficiency

• County leading way for energy efficiency improvements

• Promote energy efficiency to residential and commercial buildings

• Upgrades/retrofits paid for through cost/energy savings

Renewables

Renewables

• Continued support of alternative energy

• Revise Land Development Regulations to allow small-scale renewable energy installation

Planning Staff & Municipality Assistance

• Downtown planning technical assistance

• Limited free GIS and Planning assistance to cities

• Fee-for-services for on-going, long-term services

• Address grant and project management

Local Foods

Local Foods

•Nearly all County residents could receive 100% of their produce demand from local farmers. •Potential $1 million sales from local produce in Story County •Opportunities for $3.3 million in retail sales; 3 new businesses; 19 jobs

Marketing efforts

• Clearinghouse of information

• Central location for Story County resources

• Coordination of existing efforts

• Local contacts

• Local programs/incentives

• Clear message to constituents about Story County role, plan, and resources

Single point of contact

• One staff person dedicated to applicant through regulatory process and all associated permitting

• Customer friendly streamlined process

• One person that has links to economic development contacts and resources

County Assistance

Additional staff (1 FTE) for:

• Local city assistance

• Apply for local grants in cooperation with partners

• Local foods

• Marketing efforts

Single point of contact for County organization

• Permitting process

• Economic development incentives/programs

Infrastructure Investments

MAXIMIZE: Make the most of what you have

• Guide development to existing

• Repurpose aging industrial and commercial centers

• Infill first

Infrastructure Investments

Existing investments in Story County

• Main Streets

• Prime farmland

• Roads / trails

• Vacant / underused employment areas

• Utility /water / wastewater systems

Infrastructure Investments

LEVERAGE: Public/private partnerships

• Creative financing

• Match to local incentives

• Formal agreements

Infrastructure Investments

Agreements as Development tool

• Pre-development agreements: County-City framework

• Development agreements: County-City and Developer

• Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) Service provision, revenues

Infrastructure Investments

COORDINATE: Strategic Investment Plan

Work as a single unit within county government

Prioritize economic opportunity areas

Involve utilities in decision making

Stay focused

Strategic Partnerships

LEADERSHIP: Money isn’t your only resource

•Promotion

•Community momentum

•Keeper of the vision

Strategic Partnerships

SUPPORT

•Small city assistance

•Proactive problem-solving

•Information clearinghouse

•Pre-development agreements

Strategic Partnerships

GROW RELATIONSHIPS: People do business with who they know

•Economic gardening

•Funders

•ISU and DMACC

•Iowa Economic Development Authority

•Brokers, architects, planners

•County Planning Commission

Story County Planning Organizational

•Planning and Development Department

•Planning and Development Commission

• Merge with Board of Adjustment (long term)

•Mission statement

Participatory process

Represent new roles

Reduce Energy Bills

•Wind Generators

•Ethanol

•Next generation biorenewables

•Energy efficiency

“each train of coal is a train of

dollars leaving Story County”

–from the APA-CPAT public forum

Next Steps

•Visible Quick Start

• Planning staff reorganization

• Mission statement

• Web site

• Internal strategic plan investment working group

•Comprehensive implementation

Strategic Investments

1. Vision and long range planning

2. Strategic partnerships/investments

3. Infrastructure investments

4. Trails and recreation

5. County planning staff

Build on guiding principles

Thanks

•Story County Supervisors

•Story County Planning and Zoning

•Public and stakeholders attendees

•American Planning Association

•Iowa State University planning students

•APA CPAT members