The Holmes County Development Commission hopes a new branding campaign and seeking out possible rural development grants will give developers more reasons to glance in Holmes County’s direction.
It’s no secret rural counties rely – and thrive – heavily on state and federal grants that help economic expansion projects transpire.
Realtor Mike Alvis intrigued commissioners by reading an article highlighting how Washington County commissioners committed $2.8 million in funding over the next 20 years for matching grants and development of industrial parks in the county.
“Those matching grants are a big thing,” Alvis said. “In my opinion, we’ve got to start exploring as many possible new revenue sources as we can explore.”
While HCDC tries to keep sights on regional development, Alvis said competition in neighboring counties is quickly increasing to land new clients and projects for expansion. This turned the conversation to the commission’s need for a member well-versed in grant writing and research to seek rural development grants.
Executive director Raymon Thomas then asked commissioners to help him produce a marketing brochure on what Holmes County has to offer as a place to live, work and play around a major thoroughfare. The goal is to give potential grant sources and outside investors something attractive to look at that showcases Holmes County’s strong points.
Thomas reported he met last month with economic development non-profit group Opportunity Florida for help submitting a proposal to a manufacturing outfit. He also submitted a proposal through Florida’s Great Northwest to an electronics assembly company seeking a 6,000 to 8,000-sq. foot building with ample parking and a high-tech delivery bay.
Thomas submitted a proposal to another manufacturing firm looking to expand in Florida or Texas that could provide 35-50 new jobs. The company needs a 25,000 to 50,000-sq. foot building, which Thomas said HCDC could seek a grant from USDA to help construct.
Whether these proposals get noticed remains to be seen. HCDC is still submitting proposals to parties interested in the Ponce de Leon industrial site. Thomas went to county commissioners recently and asked them to provide machinery and an inmate crew to get land cleared and the building cleaned out on the site for showing.
The Master Planning Committee reported reaching a service agreement with Stantec, the architectural firm hired to design a master plan for an industrial park on the 250-acre property located off the north side of U.S. 90. A motion passed to accept the amended contract.
As industrial park projects move forward, commissioners will channel efforts to spreading the word on what the county uniquely offers and finding capital to back growth initiatives.
