Lakeland Economic Development Council Inc

“The board of directors reviews the form 990 before it is filed and designates one of its members to discuss any questions with the cpa who prepared the return.”

“We monitor any interests with our board of directors and key employees that could result in a conflict. We have an executive board that monitors compensation with outside consultants, as well as reviewing and monitoring what other economic development councils compensate staff.”

“An annual evaluation conducted by the ledc chairman and president that is reviewed by the ledc executive board, led by wesley beck, ledc chairman at the november board meeting.”

“The organization makes it governing documents, conflict of interest policy and financial statements available to the public by having them available in the corporate office and by mail/ email upon request.”

“By attracting new companies as well as facilitating the expansion of existing companies in the lakeland, fl area. The goals of the organization are to retain and grow existing businesses; create jobs and investment; grow targeted industry sectors; high-skill/high-wage employment growth; support entrepreneurialism and new business creation; promote infrastructure and development, market lakeland, fl as a premier location for business and facilitate partnerships to enhance growth. The ledc's primary role is to help create jobs and capital investment by attracting new companies, as well as facilitating the expansion of existing companies in the lakeland, florida area. Day-to-day operations at the ledc are staffed by five full-time employees, and one to two paid interns at any given time. The ledc's board of directors are made of volunteer community leaders.”

“Ledc board & staff held its ninth annual retreat. The retreat agenda included: -ledc omember survey results - emily rogers omembership engagement ofuture leaders obusiness development update oincentives oinnovation district & rda olakeland leads -catapult obuilding update obudget omembership oprograms ostaff & advisory board opriorities osmall business fund oindependence -city of lakeland obroadband ocity manager olakeland first ocra report ledc kicked off the year with two events (the joinery & heritage garage grand opening) that combined had 400 in attendance. Despite being forced to go to an online meeting format in march, ledc's team created a robust line-up of speakers and panels for our meetings that consistently had 70-80 of our members join in and participate. -the joinery - kicked off the year with a grand opening social at lakeland's newest and only food hall with approximately 300 in attendance. -heritage plaza parking garage - approximately 130 ledc members and lakeland city officials dedicated lakeland's only public private parking garage. Catapult's blue dog bbq catered the event. -organizational culture panel - emily rogers hosted a panel on cultivating and sustaining a healthy organizational culture featuring brian philpot at agamerica, paul noris at bank of central florida and mark cabrera at saddle creek logistics. This event took place in catapult's classroom. -tampa maid foods tour - we had an in-person tour for our food manufacturing members at tampa maid food's new 16,000 sf r&d showcase facility. -community covid update - elaine thompson at lakeland regional health, chris mcarthur at black & brew and patriot coffee and paul noris at bank of central florida updated ledc members regarding covid's impact on their businesses and our community in real time. -ledc member survey - emily rogers gave a report on ledc's 2020 member survey and hosted a panel of members that included; dale dreyer at centerstate bank, karen turner at lockheed martin, callie neslund at mosaic, jason witty at southern glazer wine and jay chastain at chastain skillman. -real estate update - ashley cheek hosted a panel update on residential, retail, office and industrial real estate featuring rich lefrois at central florida development, bob krueger at brennan investments, brandon clark at the ruthvens, mike houghton at palmetto capital, and kim mckeel with keller williams. -inc. 5000 - steve scruggs hosted a panel of lakeland's inc. 5000 members featuring; bill tart at draken international, andy norman at gmf steel, kevin transue at yes.fit, and ledc past chair brian philpot at agamerica.”

“Member survey in 2017, we conducted research to learn more about the two primary concerns that weighed on the minds of lakeland ceos - talent acquisition and retention. In 2020, we brought you an update that included an economic and business outlook, ceos' perspectives regarding organizational culture and a timely report on how covid impacted lakeland companies. 120 of ledc's 140 members filled out the survey. Major findings: -71% of ceos believe lakeland's economy will improve over the next 12 months -when expanding, companies' priorities in order are talent, followed by incentives, available real estate and workforce training -80% of ceos plan to hire in the next 12 months. Sales, it, engineering and customer service reps were at the top of the list, and in that order. -lakeland is becoming more attractive to job candidates. The ones that don't move to lakeland list our location, reputation of public schools, amenities, housing and partners job as their reason. -flexible work hours and option to work from home are skyrocketing as key benefits and incentives -22% of respondents expect the need of their real estate footprint to decrease covid member calls & response in march, april and may, ledc staff called all 140 ledc members twice to check in with them regarding the effects of covid on their businesses and how ledc could assist. There were many examples of ways we were able to help individuals and companies but none more compelling and effective than the work ledc members, aci, and carpenter company did for lakeland regional medical center regarding ppp (shields and masks). The light video campaign ledc and catapult members, indie atlantic films, kevin o'brien, nate fleming & randall productions produced two videos of encouragement for our community focusing on generosity, giving back, perseverance and the explosive growth and development that continues to happen in the midst of extremely difficult circumstances facing our community and nation. This campaign was extremely successful with the videos receiving over 100,000 views to date. This success motivated ledc's team to create a long-term initiative regarding social media campaigns. Social media campaign building off our success with the light video campaign, ledc's staff pitched a more in-depth long-term ledc social media campaign to the board at its retreat. -narrative: owe want people to understand and support our vision owe want to humanize the ledc owe want to be a company that people would advocate for -goals: oinform - use the platform to tell our own story. Others are using their social media platforms to tell a story about the ledc, many times, in a negative light oeducate - take the opportunity to educate a new audience. The ledc will use this space to tell people who we are, why we exist, how we do things, and what we do. -success: omore followers oless negativity omore engagement blogging ledc posted 7 new blogs in 2020, initiating our 4th year in this online space. In 2020, blogs heavily focused on lakeland and ledc's response to covid: -downtown outdoor seating, a post covid-19 solution and a pedestrian-only kentucky av. -covid-19: a lakeland business update part i & ii -the other side: post covid-19 roadmap -the light videos part i & ii newsletter ledc vp of business development continues to provide a high quality online monthly newsletter that highlights growth and development projects, ledc meetings, etc. City commission january pitch ledc president encouraged the city commission to begin considering a long- term solution to the hospital lease. Recommendations included considering new sources of revenue and potential cuts. -new sources of revenue highlights: ohospitality tax (greenville example) olake mirror center, fire station and lakeland electric redevelopment -cut highlights: olake mirror center complex - 900,000 annual losses ocleveland heights - 1,200,000 annual losses orp funding center - 4-5,00,000 annual losses”

“Incentives incentives continue to be a big part of ledc's business development strategy. We actively worked on two of those in 2020: -manufacturing - the city commission has funded and is moving forward with guidelines for the formally approved manufacturing incentive ledc lobbied for in 2019. Funding for this incentive will come from lakeland electric, water and wastewater departments, as well as a small portion from the general fund. Olakeland's manufacturing incentive is based on job creation and capital investment by the successful applicant. This incentive will not be a cash payment or tax abatement. This incentive will only be used to pay for infrastructure related costs including: -water line extensions or impact fees -wastewater line extensions or impact fees -electric transformers or dual feeds -transportation impact fees, traffic lights and turn lanes -atve - polk county's tax abatement incentive was scheduled to sunset in 2022. Polk county decided to put the issue on the ballot a year before the incentive sunset. Ledc and cfdc collaborated to support this ballot initiative which extends the life of the tax abatement measure another 10 years. 74% of polk county voters supported this ballot initiative. Parking garage ledc celebrated the opening of lakeland's first private-public downtown parking garage in downtown lakeland on february 3rd. This 824-space garage is a partnership developed by and for aspyre properties, midflorida, lakeland regional health, and the city of lakeland. Again, ledc's high skill investors were key in making this a reality, led by aspyre's wesley beck. Catalyst plans despite covid and a recession, the city commission, thanks in large part to commissioner mccarley, kept 1 million in their budget for incentives as part of the catalyst plan. In addition to that 1 million, city commissioners agreed to give up to 250,000 of catalyst incentive dollars to summit consulting for their new 135,000 square foot facility in downtown lakeland. Future leaders ledc agreed to create three new feeder groups of future lakeland leaders: -new high skill member reps -new ledc members -future leaders board of directors ledc's commitment: -provide a non-voting position on ledc's board for the future leaders chair -ashley cheek, vp of business development will staff the future leaders board -ledc & ylakeland will provide capital for projects, campaigns, etc. -ledc will provide staff and provide administration for monthly meetings -ledc will fund, plan and staff future leaders retreats ledc's goals: -identify, train and mentor future ledc, catapult, and even city commission leadership -give future leaders administrative, financial and influential resources to explore and test their how might we questions for lakeland -give future leaders a voice and platform to publicly and influentially share and work on their vision for the future of lakeland -give future leaders the opportunity to create the lakeland they want to live in, they want their children to grow up in and move back to”

“OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.”