St Tammany Parish Steering Committee Strengths Weaknesses Assessment

St. Tammany Parish Steering Committee Strengths & Weaknesses Assessment January 29, 2003

Agenda n n Results of Leadership Survey Interview Findings & Preliminary Strengths & Weaknesses Report (Opportunities & Threats will come later) n Update on Leadership Workshop

Leadership Survey n 110 questions on n n Quality of Life Education Government Leadership Labor Transportation Utilities Real Estate Capital Markets • Seventy responses out of 300 mailed (~25% response rate)

Strengths Question (strong =3, neutral =2, 1= weak) Value 1. Crime level 2. 8 1. Executive level housing 2. 7 3. Elementary school quality 2. 7 3. Access to southern market 2. 7 5. Quality of secondary education 2. 6 5. Air quality 2. 6 5. Quality of restaurants 2. 6 8. Adequate police protection 2. 5 8. Proximity to other in-state markets 2. 5 8. Adequate fire protection 2. 5 8. Attractiveness of physical environment 2. 5

Weaknesses (In Reverse Rank Order) Issue (3 = strong, 2= neutral & 1=weakness) Value 110. Available public transportation 1. 1 109. Traffic movement in St. Tammany Parish 1. 2 109. Adequate air freight service 1. 2 107. Traffic carrying capacity of streets 1. 3 107. Adequate commercial air service 1. 3 107. Available apprenticeship training 1. 3 104. Industrial marketing program 1. 4 104. Available quality jobs 1. 4 104. Fully served industrial sites 1. 4 104. Availability of post secondary vocation technical training 1. 4 104. Available intermodal shipping 1. 4 104. Available venture capital 1. 4

Interviews n n 30+ confidential interviews in total 13 with major employers n n 3000+ jobs Sample of manufacturing, headquarters, technology, office & warehouse employers

Overall Findings n Many large locally controlled companies n n n half launched by regional entrepreneurs Overall business climate in this region is rated as “good” by employers Quality of Life rated as “excellent” with few problems with national relocations n Softness with scientists and advanced tech sector because of Louisiana image

Labor Findings n n Labor market is excellent for offices and good for manufacturing No complaints about basic skills of applicants Productivity is rated as “very good” with little problems from turnover or absenteeism Some softness in IT because of small talent pool

Labor Force Entrants n n The local labor market produces more applicants than commonly thought Job growth can exceed 2. 5 percent without changing unemployment rates

ANALYSIS OF COST & OPERATING DATA

OPERATING COSTS Gulf Coast Competitors n Mobile n Biloxi-Gulfport & Hancock County, MS n Houma n Jackson n Lafayette n Baton Rouge n New Orleans

National Market Access • Region not located to serve distribution sensitive companies

Regional Market Access • Eastern St. Tammany within 20% of Atlanta

Gulf Coast Market Access • Gulf Coast position is good

Office Positions • Moderate cost with excellent talent pool

Technology Positions • Higher wages suggest a smaller talent pool

Manufacturing Positions • Moderate costs for manufacturing

Power Costs • Moderate costs except for the largest loads

Occupancy Costs • Moderate cost but limited inventory for office or plant

Business Park Prices • Higher prices than Dallas, Houston or Raleigh

Water & Wastewater • Capacity is limited for business parks & prices are high

Construction & Taxes • Higher than MS in costs and double in property tax

Overall Strengths & Weaknesses Compiled From All Sources

Strengths Worker productivity & labor relations I C L E ü ü Manufacturing labor supply Quality of Life ü ü Access to Global & Gulf Coast markets ü ü Quality of schools ü Office & headquarters labor supply ü ü Entrepreneurial climate ü ü Interstate highway access ü Cost of office & warehouse leases ü ü I=Interviews, C=costs, L=Leadership Survey, E=employers ü ü ü

Neutrals I C L E Business/Government Cooperation ü ü Construction Costs ü Office wages ü ü Manufacturing wages ü ü Electrical rates ü I=Interviews, C=costs, L=Leadership Survey, E=employers

I=Interviews, C= costs, L=Leadership Survey, E=Employers Weaknesses I C National market access ü Business park supply and price ü Supply of warehouse, flex & office space ü Tax rates & state tax policy ü Water and wastewater rates and capacity ü L E ü ü ü Traffic congestion ü ü Affordable housing ü ü Zoning & permitting ü Conference & meeting facilities ü Support for economic development programs ü Supply of info tech workers ü ü ü ü

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS n n n Targeting (Threat & Opportunities) Land Use evaluation Leadership workshop n n n Economic development 101 Socio-economic trends & St. Tammany Parish Vision for the future – a small-group consensus envisioning process Economic development priorities – a small group process Path forward

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS FINAL STRATEGY n Development of strategic actions to address key economic development issues n Review of vision, goals, and action plan by steering committee n Initial draft for public review n Public presentations for feedback n Final plan