Strategic Plan
During the summer of 2018, Franklin County Economic Development and Planning procured a consultant to evaluate the Department’s Smart Works suite of programs and formulate an Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) to guide County economic development policy over the next 5 years. The EDSP establishes a resident-centric framework for economic development, suggesting areas in which EDP might continue its commitment to business engagement and private sector job creation while also accomplishing other strategic objectives of the County. In practice, this approach means that the criteria for evaluating whether an incentive is warranted would not be solely based on the quality of jobs or economic impact, but on the other community benefits that might be gained as a result of the project. The entire plan was based on a foundation of solid data and stakeholder input that is summarized in a SWOT Analysis.
While the Strategic Plan identifies priorities, the department will be required to develop action-ready programs and policies. The first priority of the Strategic Plan is affordable housing. Staff has developed action-ready recommendations – The Affordable Housing Implementation Framework - for consideration by the County Commissioners.