Annual Meeting Activity
JEDCO Members Weigh In On Development Priorities

JEDCO Members who attended the Annual Meeting on January 28th were asked to identify their top five priorities from a list of potential action steps being considered for the Johnston community.  The priorities were divided into three categories including: having a great business environment, marketing Johnston to business leaders, and creating a great quality of life for residents and businesses. Looking at all three categories the following potential action steps were identified as being the post most important.

  • Eliminate blighted, run down and underutilized properties. (40%)
  • Review and streamline the development/permitting/inspection processes. (40%)
  • Identify businesses to target and develop recruitment focused on those businesses (36%)
  • Ask owners and business managers about issues that create barriers to success and work with them to develop strategies to address the barriers. (36%)
  • Develop a plan/strategy to address the sunset of the Tax Increment Financing Districts (28%)
  • Assure all public utilities (streets, water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer) are in place to support business and residential growth in the community. (24%)
  • Diversify the property tax base with a mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses. (20%)
  • Develop a business retention and expansion program to ensure regular outreach to the business community. (20%)