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Vincent Dolan
President & CEO,
Progress Energy Florida
Chair, Tampa Bay Partnership
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Proven Leadership, Proven Results = True Regional Value
The
Tampa Bay Partnership is the regional organization that works
with its partners to market the region nationally and
internationally, to conduct regional research and to coordinate
efforts to influence business and government issues that impact
economic development.
Since its inception, this mission of the Tampa Bay
Partnership has leveraged public-private resources to address
the big issues facing Tampa Bay proving our region works best
when we work together.
The
Tampa Bay Partnership works with its partners through an
inclusive process to determine the true priorities of the
region.
Working collaboratively, the Partnership is continuously building upon initiatives,
evaluating effectiveness, and evolving to meet the changing
needs of
our
cities, counties, business organizations and the
region overall.
We remain
steadfast in our mission.
We appreciate your
leadership and support as that is the core of what will
shape our region's prosperity going forward. As
always, I invite your input on any aspect of what we are
doing.
An article in Sunday's
Tampa Tribune calls into
question the value and effectiveness of the Partnership.
We feel the
facts - and their value - speak for themselves. We wanted to
use this opportunity to highlight some of the good work we,
as a partnership, have accomplished together
that benefits our region. We encourage you to
read through our
Value Proposition to
get a summary of the value the Tampa Bay Partnership has
provided to the region over the past several years. Some of the top
highlights include:
- Created the first
ever
Regional Business Plan for Tampa
Bay to provide a road map for the region
and all its communities on where the jobs of the future
will come from. Secured a $540,100 Economic Development
Administration grant on behalf of the eight-county
region to fund the research portion of this work.
Over 140
volunteer leaders have already committed to lead this
effort to grow jobs for our region. We continue to
recruit leaders to help move this important work
forward.
-
ONE BAY: Livable Communities
creates and secures community adoption of a regional
vision for Tampa Bay. Engaged over 10,000 citizens
in the work toward the final vision. ONE BAY visioning
efforts now include healthy communities and education.
-
Formation of the Tampa Bay Area
Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA)
and their subsequent development of a Regional
Transportation Master Plan which includes foundations
from the ONE BAY regional vision.
- Recruitment of
SRI International and
Draper Labs to kick
our game up on university research and
commercialization.
- Raised $1.7 million
and organized the campaign committee for the
first ever transit referendum in
Tampa Bay. While the referendum was not
successful in Hillsborough, post-election surveys
confirmed we were successful in persuading a majority of
voters in Tampa, and in developing a strong coalition
throughout the county to support transit. In most
communities, this is a process that takes several
efforts and extends over many years. Currently, Pinellas
County is using insights from the campaign to move
forward with their Alternatives Analysis.
-
Expansion of the region to eight
counties with Citrus County requesting to
join the Partnership in 2010.
- Launch of
Front Row Tampa Bay,
four days of major business forums and events that will be
aired before a live audience and, through Web TV, the
nation. Front Row Tampa Bay provides a hosting and
communications platform to proactively and collaboratively
promote and showcase Tampa Bay leading up to, during, and
after the 2012 RNC.
While some might perceive that the Partnership should narrow its
focus to simply market the region to outside businesses, a
recent review of economic development project announcements
submitted from our economic development partners shows that over
60% of projects and jobs that the economic development community
counts as successes originate from existing businesses already
located in the region that are expanding or starting up.
Effective
economic development must include strengthening
the climate and infrastructure for businesses already operating
in Tampa Bay and for businesses that will naturally develop
here.
The regional business plan provides research-based insights and
direction to enable Tampa Bay to identify and support our most
powerful drivers of economic growth for many years to come as we
transition into a more diversified and robust economy.
Jobs & Quality Places
for Regional Economic Prosperity
2012-2014 Strategic Plan
We welcome the
opportunity to share these successes with you and others who
work with us as our partners. And we always encourage
your active engagement in this work. Thank you for your
support and leadership.
Sincerely,
Vincent Dolan
Chair
Tampa Bay Partnership
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