St. Tammany Parish Steering Committee

Strengths & Weaknesses Assessment

January 29, 2003

Agenda Results of Leadership Survey Interview Findings & Preliminary

Strengths & Weaknesses Report(Opportunities & Threats will come later)

Update on Leadership Workshop

Leadership Survey 110 questions on

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 30+ confidential interviews in total 13 with major employers

3000+ jobs Sample of manufacturing,

headquarters, technology, office & warehouse employers

Overall Findings

Many large locally controlled companies 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 Softness with scientists and advanced tech

sector because of Louisiana image

Labor Findings

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 The local labor market produces more

applicants than commonly thought Job growth can exceed 2.5 percent

without changing unemployment rates

Enter EnterParish Public Private Total College Labor ForceWashington 284 35 319 94 225Tangipahoa 948 106 1054 388 666St. Tammany 1800 332 2132 962 1170Hancock 457 0 457 206 251

TOTAL 3489 473 3962 1650 2312

Souce: Computed from BESE's Composite District Reports

Graduates in 2000

New Entrants into St. Tammany Labor Market

ANALYSIS OF COST & OPERATING DATA

OPERATING COSTS

Gulf Coast Competitors Mobile Biloxi-Gulfport & Hancock County,

MS Houma Jackson Lafayette Baton Rouge 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

Business Park Prices in 2002

$- $1.00 $2.00 $3.00 $4.00 $5.00 $6.00

Jackson

Hammond

Savannah

Melbourne

Austin

Charlotte

San Antonio

Baton Rouge

Houston

Raleigh

Jacksonville

Dallas

St. Tammany

New Orleans

Los Angeles

Su

bu

rb o

f M

etr

o A

rea

($/Square foot of land)

Source: Society of Industrial & Office Realtors web site; Hammond & Jackson data from project records

•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

I C L E

Worker productivity & labor relations

Manufacturing labor supply

Quality of Life

Access to Global & Gulf Coast markets

Quality of schools

Office & headquarters labor supply

Entrepreneurial climate

Interstate highway access

Cost of office & warehouse leases

I=Interviews, C=costs, L=Leadership Survey, E=employers

Neutrals

I C L E

Business/Government Cooperation

Construction Costs

Office wages

Manufacturing wages

Electrical rates

I=Interviews, C=costs, L=Leadership Survey, E=employers

Weaknesses

I C L E

National market access

Business park supply and price

Supply of warehouse, flex & office space

Tax rates & state tax policy

Water and wastewater rates and capacity

Traffic congestion

Affordable housing

Zoning & permitting

Conference & meeting facilities

Support for economic development programs

Supply of info tech workers

I=Interviews, C= costs, L=Leadership Survey, E=Employers

STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Targeting (Threat & Opportunities) Land Use evaluation Leadership workshop

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 PROCESSFINAL STRATEGY Development of strategic actions to

address key economic development issues

Review of vision, goals, and action plan by steering committee

Initial draft for public review Public presentations for feedback Final plan