John Foust - JCEDC Refusals
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Jefferson Banner - Opinion John Foust - JCEDC Refusals |
JCEDC Refusals by Introduction The letter below was sent by Jefferson Development Corporation Board member Gaylin Morgan to a number of his fellow JDC Board members. In the past, the JDC paid Jefferson's dues to participate in the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation. (Spelling or typographical errors are present in the original.) ----------- From: Gaylin Morgan <gfmorgan@charter.net> I can't attend the JDC meeting tomorrow due to a medical appointment in Madison -- so let me speak my piece here. The JCEDC is not in serious trouble as some of the negobots would have you believe. This year the relationship was switched to a contractual arrangement. It's taken some time to get the reporting procedures of the contract worked out. A meeting is scheduled for 7/17 between JCEDC Executive Committee and Bill Hausen and Phil Ristow to clarify what the County is looking for in feedback. The JCEDC Board and Executive Committee is eager to do whatever is necessary to work with the County Board in meeting their economic development needs and yet not compromise the relationship with the business community. Economic development works best with the private sector when outside the bureauocracy of government. As a private non-profit corporation, JCEDC has engaged the support of every communittee in Jefferson County, been the receipient of three grants not available to governmental bodies, and partnered with the private sector in ways government cannot. JCEDC works with prospects and directs them to all communities in the county. It provides the single point of contact and resource portal that industry prefers. They maintain an active working relationship with Forward Wisconsin, Department of Commerce and the commercial and industrial real estate community and site consultants. For $5,000 per year, it's a bargain for Jefferson County and for each of the participating communities -- especially for Jefferson during this period when our own JDC is in such a state of upheaval and the economy is headed for a slowdown. I urge my fellow JDC directors to remain an active partner with JCEDC. |