Fort Pierce city officials presented an overview of ongoing economic development initiatives, redevelopment efforts and strategic priorities at the Dec. 8 City Commission meeting.
Community and Economic Development Director Sheyanne Harnage and Planning Director Kevin Freeman presented the Comprehensive Economic Development Overview, which was requested as part of the city’s strategic plan process.
“This was a requirement in the strategic plan that we provide an economic comprehensive plan update,” said City Manager Richard Chess. “The key for us is get the priorities into the comprehensive plan clearly spelled out.”
The presentation outlined where the city is today including current conditions, active programs and strategic priories as well as next steps.
Economic development priorities include:
• Jobs corridor development
• Lincoln Park investment
• Small business support
• Downtown revitalization
• Port of Fort Pierce growth
• Workforce housing
• Tourism and branding
“The ideas listed in priorities are all underway in some form so far. I think the idea with the conversation that we’re having today is really making the community and the business community and developers aware of that by having them in our comprehensive plan,” said Harnage.
“Annually, it needs to be brought back to the City Commission to analyze how we are doing these things,” said Freeman. “It is a lot of work. We know the elements. We’re all aware of them. We all work with them every day. I think we’re way behind on that.
“In essence, that update is done to ensure that the comprehensive plan is still in compliance with the strategic plan.”
Harnage explained that the city is shifting from “historic citrus and fishing routes in commercial activity” to more of a mixed economy with healthcare, government and marine manufacturing, education, tourism and retail.
“Our opportunities are really all centered around workforce development and improving the wages and opportunities of our institutional employers and manufacturing firms that are coming on line now,” said Harnage, who touched upon the need to develop underutilized properties, of upcoming surveys and the Lincoln Park Master Plan that is underway.
“We’re juggling lots of balls here in terms of getting everything aligned. But we’re on a program where we have all the pieces in place. We will be able to look at the data and analysis and move on to the goals and objectives. We have to have the goals and objectives to get to the correct policies. They have to be intertwined,” Freeman said.
Making the community aware of the many projects that are already moving forward and what’s to come is a priority.
“I hear it consistently now that people are excited about the undertaking that we’re involved in. I think your message is correct,” said Commissioner Michael Broderick. “We need those properties developed so we can get those jobs.”
“We have to help put it in the bucket so they can see their tax dollars at work. What we’re doing is paying attention to how we’re methodically moving so what that does is excite the community, gives it hope and aspirations,” said Commissioner Curtis Johnson Jr.
“My wish would be for us to remember what’s really, really valuable about Fort Pierce and keep that, and adapt to whatever is modern,” said Mayor Linda Hudson.
“The whole western part of the city is growing. We’re going to have a whole bunch of extra citizens pretty soon living in those houses out there.
“As much as we want to embrace the new Fort Pierce, we also want to keep what’s valuable of the old Fort Pierce.”