Economic Development Subcommittee Notes
Tuesday, May 27th, 2014 Meeting
Issue Areas
For Individuals:
- Lack of available jobs, especially jobs that pay a livable wage
- Need for more technical, hands-on training to provide skills that help individuals secure better-paying jobs
- Drug use leads to poor job performance and failure of drug tests lose jobs, high turnover as a result
- Felony records bar individuals from employment
- Financial literacy is also a concern – need training to help individuals learn how to manage their finances in order to protect and create wealth
- One group member though that individual motivation is an issue, that people don’t “value work”
- Need business plan assistance for individuals
For businesses:
- Businesses don’t pay livable wages
- Need more connections between training provided at LCC (and other places) and local businesses – what training is needed to hire local residents for better paying jobs?
- Business recruitment, retaining and attracting quality businesses and making sure that their contracts ensure a long-term presence in Kinston
- Small businesses need more support
- One group member felt that zoning is a barrier to business development
- Some discussion and disagreement over empty shell buildings – some felt that they are a good tool to attract businesses, others felt that these vacant buildings contribute to blight and are a misuse of resources
Structural issues:
- Lack of mental health services to address drug abuse problems
- Lack of understanding among group members of how economic development process works – what is the business recruitment process? How can this subcommittee support these efforts?
- Existing Economic Development decision-makers/power-holders in Kinston are not representative of the community – County ED Board, Committee of 100, and Chamber have very few (or none in some cases) people of color on their executive boards.
Potential Solutions
For Individuals:
- More (more individuals participating, more availability) and better (technical, aligned with local business needs) job training
- Mental health services to decrease drug abuse
- Financial literacy training
- Business plan assistance
For Businesses:
- Business plan assistance and other supports as necessary
- Any incentives to businesses or contracts with businesses should be tied to 1) the provision of jobs to local residents, 2) jobs should pay a livable wage, and 3) ensure the long-term presence of a business in Kinston
Structural issues:
- Produce a report on exclusion patterns among local Economic Development groups (Committee of 100, Chamber, County ED)
- Increase African American membership on these boards