It’s well known that Martin County residents prioritize our community’s quality of life and organize to preserve it. This collective characteristic is in many ways rightly credited with what makes us distinct by design.
Many citizen-led organizations participate in this process, which entails scrutiny and even a little skepticism but almost always a sincere smile and fair shake. So, when the Martin County Taxpayers Association (MCTA)—a local institution in watchdogging public agencies—invited us to speak at its recent annual luncheon, we gratefully embraced the chance.
The opportunity did, however, come with one string attached: We had to open for Sheriff William Snyder, an inspiring speaker in a far more interesting line of work than ours.
As one of the oldest (if not the oldest) organizations of its kind in Florida, MCTA works to protect taxpayers’ rights and monitors legal and legislative developments that impact residents’ pocketbooks and businesses’ bottom lines. MCTA’s position toward economic development—specifically its support of “tax and economic development incentives to attract investment and stimulate job growth”—resonates nicely with our core mission of helping existing and expanding businesses.
From generalized services such as business advocacy to specific ones such as site selection and market research/business intelligence tailored to individual industries, the Business Development Board of Martin County employs a multitiered strategy to long-term economic strength. That includes cultivating entrepreneurs and forging partnerships to advance local talent while bolstering growth in our Hubs of Excellence such as aviation-aerospace, marine, agri-business, healthcare, IT and clean tech.
Some results take time to blossom, others are measurable now. We provided specifics to MCTA on our success in attracting direct capital investments exceeding $125 million, assisting in the creation or retention of 294 jobs and impacting nearly 1 million square feet of commercial real estate. We even teased (more details to come) announcements of an international company’s incoming North American headquarters alongside other exciting new investments and acquisitions.
We also appreciated the chance to address our overall budget and spending, share more about our campaign to attract private investors, and discuss the broad representation of our board of directors.
The BDB is committed to transparency—without which we would never have earned support by the Martin County Commission for a 10-year contract for services.
Our adherence to this principle is why we value the roles of MCTA and other likeminded organizations, which inform the public, uphold accountability and produce outcomes that benefit everyone. Best of all, their contribution speaks to the shared recognition and responsibility that animates our motto and sincere belief that, “A stronger economy is everyone’s business.”
Thank you, MCTA, for your essential role in building up our economic resiliency which provides for the high quality of life and services we desire for our families and businesses.
This article can also be found in the August 6, 2023, Friends and Neighbors of Martin County Newsletter.
