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Amid hope for 2021, we need a plan to rebuild economy

04 Jan 2021 10:18 AM | Deleted user

As we embark on 2021, we still have a long way to go for the health of our country’s citizens and the economy. We are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel with the rollout of new vaccines and only hope that this will help us conquer the pandemic that has paralyzed the world.

It will then be time to rebuild from the damage that was caused to individuals, families and businesses. At GCBX (Gulf Coast Builders Exchange) we represent the commercial contracting industry. While our members support many organizations and charities, GCBX supports them. So, while we know many people have suffered through this pandemic and we all need to do our part, our focus at GCBX is to support businesses that employ thousands in the community and support the local economy.

To do the heavy lifting necessary to rebuild the local economy, we need government officials and bureaucracies to support and partner with businesses on the policies necessary to assist with the recovery of the local economy.

We have seen local governments mobilize like never before in assisting citizens and businesses with grants and loans during the crisis, but the rebuilding stage hasn’t even begun and by all assessments it may take many years for the recovery.

We have seen encouraging signs that local government and the business community are working together such as the extension of the temporary reduction of certain building permit fees. Each of the commercial construction projects affected by this policy employ potentially hundreds of individuals during construction phase and then long into the future once the structure/building is completed and the business is opened. Additionally, the business will pay taxes which ultimately benefit the entire community.

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We need local governments and the community to focus on an economic development strategy that gives our area a competitive advantage for high-wage, high-skill jobs. We need to develop a plan we can all agree on and ultimately support. Our community has many assets that make it a desirable place to live and work, but we can’t depend on that to lure businesses to the area. We must work together to be competitive and provide the opportunities these jobs offer to the citizens of our region. These efforts will benefit the entire community for the long term.

We need stability and leadership in local government. The city of Sarasota has taken a brilliant and decisive step in that direction by naming Marlon Brown interim city manager and Pat Robinson interim deputy city manager after City Manager Tom Barwin announced his retirement. Both of these individuals know the community well and have proven their leadership. We look forward to the positive impact they will have on the City of Sarasota. We only hope that the City of North Port will show the same type of leadership as it goes through the process of finding a new city manager.

We are grateful that Manatee County has hit the pause button on discussing the potential termination of the county administrator. The discussions to terminate Cheri Coryea’s contract didn’t provide the stability necessary during these uncertain times. We look forward to her leadership and the leadership of the Manatee County Commission to guide the community over the course of the rebuilding process.

First and foremost, we need to take care of the health of our community. This crisis isn’t over and we have to accept that, but we need to plan to rebuild and strengthen our community, businesses and families once the pandemic is behind us. Make no mistake, a healthy economy requires a healthy community, so please take all necessary measures to protect your health and the health of those around you.

We hope the end of this crisis is within our grasp, but then we need to be prepared to rebuild and recover from the damage created and yes, while we are all in this together, it will take all of us to recover.


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