Page 44 - Life_In_Naples_Magazine_January_2015
P. 44
why does
by John S. Cox, CCE, CEcD, IOM IT MATTER
President & CEO
“I f Greater Naples is to continue to evolve as both a lifestyle entrepreneurial cluster already growing here, and QUICKLY. The
destination and a thriving, diverse economic region, a y hope of keeping employers in business is growing a talent
onl
balance must be struck between the desire to preserve
“A reoccurring concern that appeared throughout the
the qualities that draw residents and visitors and the strategies and pipeline.
tactics that will enhance the ability of local economic developers and Opportunity Naples public input was the area’s high cost of living
other professionals to retain, expand, attract, and grow quality jobs and lack of quality affordable housing options for middle income
in Collier County. In fact, the synergy between these two missions families or young professionals. In addition to higher-than-average
ho
can ultimately be profound and complimentary.” –Opportunity me prices, Collier County had the highest average apartment
Naples Competitive Assessment (March 11, 2014, page 1). rents of all the comparison communities.”
FACT 4: The City of Naples population at just over 19,000 is
This isn’t our first rodeo and by that the lowest its been in a decade. Young people can’t afford to live
I mean this community has worked for there and those who can often live in other locations around the
decades to diversify the economy. This country as well. The only hope of keeping a city and an economy
community will have to focus on that alive is to see young professionals, attracted to a quality of place,
forever in hopes of creating a balanced who will either come from somewhere else or stay planted if they
economy which is sustainable over time. have grown here – and build their businesses and their families here.
We are neither balanced nor sustainable “In 2012, nearly one in four children in Collier County was
today. living in poverty. Collier County had the highest child poverty rate
FACT 1: 90 percent of the Collier of all the comparison communities, with the exception of Florida.
County Government Budget is based Between 2007 and 2012, the poverty rate increased by 5.5 percent
upon RESIDENTIAL TAXES. The points in Collier County and by 0.6 percentage points in the City
only hope of keeping the taxes on our homes from rising is adding of Naples. Collier County’s 2012 poverty rate of 15.4 percent was
other taxable features to this economy. higher than the comparison counties, but less than Florida or the
“Only three sectors – agriculture, mining and accommodation U.S. The data further illustrates the income inequality within Collier
and food services – are projected to have enough Collier County County.”
residents aged 24 to 44 to replace those workers aged 45 and over FACT 5: While we are an affluent community–more so than
as they retire. The remaining sectors are projected to have shortages, most around the world – we also have great poverty. A difference
with most to a greater extent than the national projected shortages.”– between us and many other centers of wealth is that we have the
www.opportunitynaples.com/documents. money, the resolve and the leadership to eradicate poverty. The
FACT 2: We are importing AND exporting our workforce now. only hope of improving is to admit and address our weaknesses;
The only hope of keeping existing businesses and recruiting new is first taking care of our own and second demonstrating a standard
to grow, educate, employ and retain our own workforce. of living – a quality of place (Think Blue Zone) to others who will
“Likewise, there will be an occupational shortage in Collier
want to move here and add to our prosperity.
County if qualified workers aged 24 to 44 are not recruited to the It matters because we want and expect and work for a quality
area to replace retirees. Gaps are projected in all but five Collier of place unlike any other where residential taxes are balanced by a
occupational categories. Public input regarding skills gaps included diversity of industries, where workforce grows and a talent pipeline
concern over workers leaving the Greater Naples area due to the is developed which allows our children to acquire world class skills
seasonality or unavailability of full-time employment. The lack of a to start and grow their own businesses; where young people live by
diversity of employment for recent college graduates and “trailing the thousands because they can afford to due in part to available
spouses” of healthcare professionals was also cited as a concern.” high skill, high wage jobs; and where we have improved the quality
FACT 3: We have identified a labor shortage which extends of life in every way to the extent that the needs of our communities
into the future and which can only be mitigated by closing skill are met and we stand as an example to the world.
gaps, focusing our resources on the issue and fostering the nascent Opportunity matters. Seize it!
44 Life in Naples | January 2015
by John S. Cox, CCE, CEcD, IOM IT MATTER
President & CEO
“I f Greater Naples is to continue to evolve as both a lifestyle entrepreneurial cluster already growing here, and QUICKLY. The
destination and a thriving, diverse economic region, a y hope of keeping employers in business is growing a talent
onl
balance must be struck between the desire to preserve
“A reoccurring concern that appeared throughout the
the qualities that draw residents and visitors and the strategies and pipeline.
tactics that will enhance the ability of local economic developers and Opportunity Naples public input was the area’s high cost of living
other professionals to retain, expand, attract, and grow quality jobs and lack of quality affordable housing options for middle income
in Collier County. In fact, the synergy between these two missions families or young professionals. In addition to higher-than-average
ho
can ultimately be profound and complimentary.” –Opportunity me prices, Collier County had the highest average apartment
Naples Competitive Assessment (March 11, 2014, page 1). rents of all the comparison communities.”
FACT 4: The City of Naples population at just over 19,000 is
This isn’t our first rodeo and by that the lowest its been in a decade. Young people can’t afford to live
I mean this community has worked for there and those who can often live in other locations around the
decades to diversify the economy. This country as well. The only hope of keeping a city and an economy
community will have to focus on that alive is to see young professionals, attracted to a quality of place,
forever in hopes of creating a balanced who will either come from somewhere else or stay planted if they
economy which is sustainable over time. have grown here – and build their businesses and their families here.
We are neither balanced nor sustainable “In 2012, nearly one in four children in Collier County was
today. living in poverty. Collier County had the highest child poverty rate
FACT 1: 90 percent of the Collier of all the comparison communities, with the exception of Florida.
County Government Budget is based Between 2007 and 2012, the poverty rate increased by 5.5 percent
upon RESIDENTIAL TAXES. The points in Collier County and by 0.6 percentage points in the City
only hope of keeping the taxes on our homes from rising is adding of Naples. Collier County’s 2012 poverty rate of 15.4 percent was
other taxable features to this economy. higher than the comparison counties, but less than Florida or the
“Only three sectors – agriculture, mining and accommodation U.S. The data further illustrates the income inequality within Collier
and food services – are projected to have enough Collier County County.”
residents aged 24 to 44 to replace those workers aged 45 and over FACT 5: While we are an affluent community–more so than
as they retire. The remaining sectors are projected to have shortages, most around the world – we also have great poverty. A difference
with most to a greater extent than the national projected shortages.”– between us and many other centers of wealth is that we have the
www.opportunitynaples.com/documents. money, the resolve and the leadership to eradicate poverty. The
FACT 2: We are importing AND exporting our workforce now. only hope of improving is to admit and address our weaknesses;
The only hope of keeping existing businesses and recruiting new is first taking care of our own and second demonstrating a standard
to grow, educate, employ and retain our own workforce. of living – a quality of place (Think Blue Zone) to others who will
“Likewise, there will be an occupational shortage in Collier
want to move here and add to our prosperity.
County if qualified workers aged 24 to 44 are not recruited to the It matters because we want and expect and work for a quality
area to replace retirees. Gaps are projected in all but five Collier of place unlike any other where residential taxes are balanced by a
occupational categories. Public input regarding skills gaps included diversity of industries, where workforce grows and a talent pipeline
concern over workers leaving the Greater Naples area due to the is developed which allows our children to acquire world class skills
seasonality or unavailability of full-time employment. The lack of a to start and grow their own businesses; where young people live by
diversity of employment for recent college graduates and “trailing the thousands because they can afford to due in part to available
spouses” of healthcare professionals was also cited as a concern.” high skill, high wage jobs; and where we have improved the quality
FACT 3: We have identified a labor shortage which extends of life in every way to the extent that the needs of our communities
into the future and which can only be mitigated by closing skill are met and we stand as an example to the world.
gaps, focusing our resources on the issue and fostering the nascent Opportunity matters. Seize it!
44 Life in Naples | January 2015
