A presentation made by SEDF staff to Shawnee, OK City Commissioners in order to determine their appetite for economic growth

1. “People by and large become
what they think about
themselves.”---William James
An Alternative Approach to the
Economic Development Process

2. One size does not fit all…
 What is the communities appetite for economic development?
 Pro-Growth or Status Quo?
 Regional& Global Economy or Slow Growth?
 What is achievable, versus what is a wish?
 Insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results.

3. Being competitive…
 Comparable Oklahoma communities larger than 30,000 in
population have dedicated economic development funds.
 Those communities view economic development as a tool to
increase jobs, attract capital investment, raise the per capita
income of the their citizens and add sales tax collections.
 Those “other” communities do not have the same resources as
Shawnee, yet have seen positive growth numbers through
retention and creation of jobs, along with attracting new money
to their communities.

4. What does dedicated funding
really mean?
 Not having to ask the City to financially assist with every project.
 Undertaking long term economic development goals that will
have a quantifiable community benefit.
 Allowing for sustainable targeted marketing of the community.
 Establishing a closing fund to fill in the gaps that often occur in
economic development projects, including retail.
 Taking the politics out of economic development and assuring the
citizens that projects are evaluated on an objective basis, using a
measurable, scientific impact analysis tools.

5. What else will it allow?
 The creation of a new public trust that works on behalf of
the citizens, with all assets being owned by them.
 The formation of which will be guided by the City
Commissioners, who will appoint one of their own, plus six
other business representatives, who serve on staggered
terms.
 It would allow for faster response time to business
prospects, subject to the requirements of the Oklahoma
Open Meeting Laws.
 Letting others who shop here help pay for our economic
development activities.

6. How do we get there from here?
 Commissioners decide that this is worthy of a public vote.
 A steering committee and volunteers are gathered.
 A campaign plan is developed and funded by private funds.
 Community input is continually gathered at publicly held
meetings on the subject.
 If passed a new public trust is formed to undertake the
economic development efforts for the community.
 City Commissioners determine who the trust members are.

7. Specifically what would the funds
be used for?
 Economic Development programs that assist with the creation or
retention of well paying jobs.
 Capital improvements for infrastructure items that will have a
direct impact on job creation, increasing sales tax collections and
attracting new money to the community.
 Operational costs of the new public trust, including marketing, all
programs and overhead expenditures.
 Developing shell buildings for attracting aviation and
manufacturing jobs.
 Programs designed to attract capital, add jobs and raise the per
capita incomes in Pottawatomie County.