By B.C. Manion
The city of Zephyrhills appears to be getting serious about its economic development efforts.
At press time, city council members were scheduled to vote July 23 to bolster efforts to help local businesses expand and lure new companies to the East Pasco County community.
The four options that council members were scheduled to consider range from $50,000 to $100,000.
City leaders have been talking for months about creating an economic development group aimed at increasing employment opportunities for local residents. They also want to give young people a reason to remain in Zephyrhills rather than move away to pursue careers elsewhere.
This most recent initiative follows years of talk about boosting efforts to spur the city’s economy, several speakers at a July 11 economic summit at city hall said. The event drew about 60 people.
“We discuss, discuss, discuss and we plan, we plan, we plan and there’s no action,” said Zephyrhills Mayor Steve Van Gorden. “We must act. I believe firmly that we are at a crossroads in Zephyrhills. Our kids’ futures are at stake. Our community is at stake.”
The current effort to create an economic development group, complete with a structure and funding to support its work, grew out of the work of an Economic Development Task Force that was led by former Mayor Cliff McDuffie.
After that group completed its work, Van Gorden and city manager Jim Drumm called for a steering committee to propose the structure and funding for an independent economic development group that would be housed at the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.
Once the economic development group is established, it would have an advisory board including representatives from Main Street Zephyrhills, the chamber, city staff, the Pasco Economic Development Council (PEDC) and industry stakeholders.
The steering committee recommended these four options:
—Spend up to $100,000 on economic development efforts. Of that, the chamber would receive $50,000 to provide administrative, managerial and leadership support to the economic development group. The budget also includes $25,000 for startup, marketing and operational support and $25,000 to cover half the salary of a city position that would be assigned to work on economic development efforts.
—Spend up to $75,000 to support economic development efforts. This option would allocate $50,000 to staffing the economic development group. It also would earmark $15,000 for marketing efforts and $10,000 for 20 percent of a city staff person’s time.
—Spend up to $50,000 to support economic development efforts. This option would allocate $30,000 to contract with the PEDC for a half-time position that would be devoted to economic development for Zephyrhills. It also includes $10,000 for marketing efforts and $10,000 for a chamber economic development liaison. It also identifies a city staff member to serve as a contact person.
—Spend up to $75,000 to support economic development efforts. This option involves contracting for a full-time staff member from the PEDC to work on economic development for Zephyrhills.
John Scott, president of the chamber, said his board of directors voted unanimously to support the first option.
“The Zephyrhills business leaders favor local economic development initiatives,” Scott said. “Local stakeholders are a natural resource for expertise.”
Not only are local stakeholders most knowledgeable about the area’s needs, they are also the most engaged, Scott said.
Whatever decision the city makes, it is time to move forward with a bold action, Van Gorden said. The city must have the mindset that when it makes decisions, it is seeking to create conditions that foster economic growth, Van Gorden said.
“It’s no longer OK to do business like we’ve been doing. It’s not OK,” Van Gorden said. Any investment the city makes would be tied to a measurable plan of action, he added.
“We want tangible results,” Van Gorden said. “What’s going to happen in 60 days? What’s going to happen in 90 days? What’s going to happen six months from now? And what’s going to happen in a year?
“As business leaders, community leaders, civic leaders you need to hold myself and my colleagues accountable,” Van Gorden continued during the summit.
Zephyrhills has been struggling economically, but it has much to offer, Van Gorden said. “We build from a place of strength.
“We have a proud heritage,” Van Gorden continued. “We’re the drugstore on Fifth Avenue. We’re Zephyrhills High School. We’re the Founder’s Day Parade. We are community. We are Zephyrhills. Our roots are strong.”
The city also has world-class medical facilities and a recreational facility that attracts people from all over the globe.
“Sky Dive City is a mecca of international skydiving,” Van Gorden said. “When they do things at Sky Dive City, they bring in people who stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, buy our goods and services.”
Van Gorden also noted the city’s proximity to major industrial areas.
“We are poised to be major players, major players,” Van Gorden said. “I’m not talking about incremental change. I’m talking about transformational change that will impact our community for years to come.”
Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the chamber, said she’s excited about the prospects of bringing all of the city’s stakeholders — the business community, the chamber, Main Street, elected leaders and city staff together — to work on common interests.
Mikkelsen said she loves her job, but also has her frustrations.
“As passionate, as capable as we are, and as willing to work to make this community better, we tend to work in silos, and it’s frustrating, and its very, very ineffective,” Mikkelsen said.
The worst thing that could happen at this point is inaction, Mikkelsen said. The city needs to move forward to chart its own destiny, rather than playing a reactionary role.
