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John Mattson
Member
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 01:56 pm |
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Kim,
I am open to just about any business, but any business must be planned accordingly. I am briefing the Commission tomorrow on some Propositions that I think should be on the May ballot addressing just such issues (would rather provide specifics after I present to the Commission, but can e-mail to you individually).
From the perspecitve of the industry that I work in (government/defense/technology), just down the road off 81 in Winchester a new FBI building is going up and there is a new FEMA office moving in Charles Town. I think we could have drawn these, and similar types of industry, to our area. However, without support businesses, they won't even think about coming here - even if they do get a good tax break.
Another issues is the Skills Assessment Survey. I have never seen the results of this survey and they are not posted to any web page. Many of our residents know other business owners and have connections, but if we as a whole don't know what the skills of our neighbors are, how can we realistically convince businesses to move here?
I have also seen a high turn-over rate for many local small businesses. We need to do something more to help these small business out - maybe a one-year tax break, no taxes until they get established after a year.
When I attended a Commission meeting a month ago, two individuals were being interviewed for the Economic Development Authority. One of the questions Commissioner Swain asked each of them was, "do you think we need a full-time EDA Director"? To me that is a common sense (or lack thereof) question. As I later found out, the EDA currently only meets monthly and they meet starting at 5:00 PM and many of the members are more interested in getting home than having an effective meeting. This is nonsense. How can anyone expect to bring any new business when the one committee who's function it is, only meets once a month and doesn't ahve a full time director?
I looked at the Berkeley Springs Chamber of Commerce web page where it list the Demographics; which includes the Top 10 Employers in Morgan County - I was very suprised by the list.
We need to do a lot more to draw new business here and not every new business has to resolve around tourism and development.
I have to run to a meeting, but I definitely want to add more to this dicsussion and want to know how you feel about my thoughts here.
Thanks,
John
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Kim Wills
Member
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Posted: Tue Mar 4th, 2008 12:58 pm |
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As you are aware, many businesses in the area have recently closed. The residents of Morgan County are being forced to commute farther away for a job. What types of businesses would you, as a County Commissioner, support coming to Morgan County?
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