HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1079 (2)had only 25. He said that performance today, earned the Statesville -Mooresville area the official
designation from Site Selection Magazine.
Melanie O'Connell Underwood, Executive Director of Economic Development for the
Mooresville -South Iredell Community Development Corporation, and Terry Orell, Interim
Director for the Greater Statesville Development Corporation, were both in attendance at the
meeting, and Chairman Tice thanked them for their exception work and for the national
recognition.
APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE BOARD
Presentation from the Mooresville -South Iredell Chamber of Commerce Regarding
the Economic Development Strategic Plan: Economic Developer Melanie O'Connell
Underwood said the county had helped fund a Comprehensive Economic Study Plan. She then
presented the plan and highlighted some of the action items as follows:
• Build a stronger support system for entrepreneurs and small businesses; form an
entrepreneur association.
• Local leadership should have a more visible role and be more closely connected
to the positive developments that are taking place in the region.
• Form an expert advisory panel to regularly brief local elected leaders on issues
facing the region.
• Explore the opportunity to construct a direct transportation route to the Statesville
Regional Airport from Mooresville.
• Connect the region's community college and workforce training providers with
the training needs of existing employers, and the future targeted industries more
effectively.
• The M -SI region should expand its efforts to attract and retain professionals age
25-44.
• Provide more open space for recreational activities for the young and active
segment of the population.
• Support and expand the role of the Iredell County Transportation Advisory Board
to tackle the region's local transportation infrastructure constraints.
• Create a single comprehensive land use plan for the entire MSI region.
• Agree on the MSI region's economic development vision.
• Sign a collective compact agreement to implement the recommendations outlined
in the Economic Development Strategy.
• Provide additional resources to the M -SI Chamber of Commerce Economic
Development Department by embarking on a nationwide five year fundraising
initiative.
• Create a fully staffed Business Retention and Expansion Program to improve
efforts to support existing business.
• Spearhead a regional approach to economic development.
• Identify target industry champions, commit to training the local workforce and
local tourist organizations, and identify local media champions.
• Increase general external marketing initiatives.
Commissioner Johnson said the study was one of the most comprehensive economic
development plans that he had seen during his twelve years on the board. He said that it took in
many different factors, and it would take many people pulling together to make it effective.
Johnson said $50,000 sounded like a lot of money for a study, but it could be funds well spent if
coordination occurred.
Presentation from Mr. Stan Clardy Regarding the Confederate Monument
Rededication (1906-2006) and a Celebration Scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2006: Stan
Clardy, Chairman of the Iredell County Confederate Monument Celebration Committee,
requested permission to place a rededication marker at the front base of the Confederate
monument as part of an upcoming celebration. He said the granite marker was designed to be
placed into the ground flush with the grass, and it was 12" x 36." Clardy said the wording
would be: "Centennial and Rededication of Monument - In memory of the Iredell County
Confederate Soldiers, May 6, 2006, Deo Vindice." He said similar to 1906, the marker and