PALMETTO — Small business leaders had the floor Tuesday afternoon at a forum hosted by the Manatee County Board of Commissioners.
The forum, designed to hear about economic challenges among the local business community, presented commissioners with issues on construction, foreclosures, access to capital and skilled workforce.
“I have people with excellent (business ideas), well thought out business plans and they can’t get access to capital,” said Steve White, a business consultant with the Central Economic Development Center in Bradenton. “The stumbling block is loans for startups, even for new businesses to expand.”
White said he’s seen cases in which an entrepreneur’s proposal gets support from local bank officials but then is rejected by underwriters who are based out of the area.
“They see it as high risk, and the collateral is not there,” White said.
The county-hosted forum at the Manatee Civic and Convention Center drew about 100 local business professionals. County commissioners hosted the forum to gage how the recession is impacting the private sector and to give consideration to suggestions for improvement.
Much of the forum was dominated with discussion from professionals in the home building industry. Officials from Neal Communities, Medallion Homes and the Home Builders Association of Manatee-Sarasota County said they’d like to see the county’s planning department expedite its review process for building permits.
Carlos Beruff, president of Medallion Homes, said a speedier review system will help home builders bring jobs to the area more quickly.
“If you want an immediate jobs now impact, nobody does it better than our industry,” Beruff said.
However, local Realtor Maryann Lawler said there is still an overwhelming number of distressed properties that need to be cared for in the county due to the foreclosure crisis.
“We’re trying to absorb our inventory,” Lawler said. “I would love to not see new construction being built but renovation and refurbishing of homes that have sat vacant for so long.”
In April 2009, county commissioners implemented a 50 percent reduction on impact fees for two years to help spur construction of new homes and commercial buildings. Impact fees are charged on new construction to help pay for new roads and public services needed as a result of the development.
At the forum, several business leaders said they’d like to see an extension of the impact fee discount that is to expire in July 2011.
“Companies expanding are looking at that program as an incentive for them to expand,” said Eric Basinger, executive director of the Manatee Economic Development Council. “I think it’s a worthwhile incentive. I think it would continue to stimulate the economy.”
Educators in the audience said the county needs to focus on educational partnerships that will help build a talented local workforce for employers to recruit.
James Humphrey, chief financial officer of Roskamp Institute, said he wants to see the county support growth and education in the biotech industry.
“The main concern is the lack of a skilled workforce, especially in the biotech arena,” Humphrey said. “We’re currently recruiting four positions and all of the qualified applicants are out of state.”
Jane Pfeilsticker, an associate professor of natural science at State College of Florida, said she would like to see Manatee and Sarasota counties partner on offering local educational opportunities in biotech.
“We need to efficiently train our students for high-paying jobs,” Pfeilsticker said.
The Board of County Commissioners say they plan to review the issues and suggestions presented and a prepare a response to the public later.
“It’s tough economic times out there and we need to make things work,” said Commissioner Donna Hayes.
