Minutes 05/07/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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36 THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1998 Council next considered the budget of the Patrick Henry Development Council. Ms. Sherry Ramsey, Executive Director, was present to address Council. The first item discussed was a requested increase of $12,500, which was characterized by Ms. Ramsey as a request by Mr. Reynolds, in order to change the balance of financial support of her organization by the City up to a 45% level, thus changing the County' s support to 55% from 60%. Mr. Reynolds agreed that this was his initiative. Ms. Ramsey then proceeded to provide information on the efforts of her organization to market and promote the City and Henry County, showing new marketing material, discussing other related efforts, and citing examples of the effectiveness of these measures. She pointed out that her budget request was for the same level of funding as the previous three years, and pointed out changes in costs for compensation~ computer equipment, lease costs for space, advertising expenses, and a new part-time industry consultant. Council Member Teague asked what the additional funds Mr. Reynolds was recommending might be used for, and Ms. Ramsey stated that the funds would be used to provide more advertising and marketing materials for the City' s Clearview and Rives Road projects, as well as more direct mailings to site consultants. Ms. Ramsey also pointed out that although workable leads had dropped by 12.5% since 1997 the definition of"workable lead" had also changed, from simple contacts to those to whom full site packages were sent. She also stated that magazine leads had also been eliminated from this group. When asked by Vice-Mayor Crabtree what the Council and others could do to help with economic development Ms. Ramsey stated that efforts should be focused on growing a population of higher wage earners, and a higher quality of jobs versus simple numbers ofjobs. She stated that, with unemployment rates as low as they were currently the community did not have to settle for lower paying jobs at this time. Mayor Adams asked how competitive the local community was in going after these higher paying jobs, and Ms. Ramsey responded by stating that the community competed well in the region, but not well outside the immediate region. Vice-Mayor Crabtree suggested that a greater emphasis needed to be placed on the community's ability to successfully draw from a much broader region for its work force, and not be perceived as just drawing from Martinsville and Henry County. Council Member Haskell then stated that strong emphasis also needed to be placed on successfully marketing the City' s industrial and business