governmental services - GORacine.org

FUND: GENERALPUBLIC WORKS & DEVELOPMENT SERVICESECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTJulie Anderson, Director of Public Works & Development ServicesOPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSEThe Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), a private, non-profit corporation, wasestablished in 1983 as a partnership between government, business, and community interests to promote jobcreation and long-term business investment within the County. Its mission is to ensure Racine County’s economicvitality by working with its partners to support innovation and creativity that leads to business investment. TheRCEDC continues to utilize private, state, and federal funds to implement economic development programs madepossible, in part, through Racine County’s annual budget allocations.Services of RCEDC and related partners: Working with companies interested in establishing a location in Racine County through the RCEDC businessrecruitment program – Jobs for Racine County Working with existing Racine County companies to identify expansion opportunities through the RCEDCBusiness Retention and Expansion (BRE) program – Jobs for Racine County Marketing Racine County through RCEDC’s “Jobs for Racine County” program and Real Racine Long-term, fixed-rate financing for business projects through RCEDC’s affiliate, Business Lending Partners(BLP) Single point of contact for economic development for federal, state, and local government levels Inventories of available land, buildings, and business parks Community development and local government partnerships to provide the infrastructure for economicdevelopment Workforce development at the Racine County Workforce Development Center Private industry support for training, technology transfer and product development through Gateway’sintegrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center (iMET) Small business assistance through the UW-Parkside Small Business Development Center, CommunityEconomic Development Corporation, and Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative CorporationEVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURESPerformance measures for RCEDC are developed and evaluated by the RCEDC Executive Committee and EDPImplementation Team and reviewed annually.2013 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIESTo create an entrepreneurial culture in Racine County.To focus on a pro-active business recruitment program and a business retention and expansion (BRE)program that will create and retain jobs, create additional tax base, and increase personal income in RacineCounty.To utilize the existing natural and cultural resources, recreational opportunities, and business locationadvantages to promote a positive image of Racine County to existing residents and those outside the County.To take advantage of the development opportunities that exist by virtue of our location in the Chicago-Milwaukee corridor and to properly link land use with future business development county-wide.To link education and training in a manner that provides a competitive workforce to meet the present andfuture needs of local employers and to create opportunities for low-income, disadvantaged, and minorityindividuals to prepare for and obtain employment.PAGE 24 - 1