EG’s work is praised

Tuesday, April 08, 2008
By Kristin Longley
klongley@citpat.com—768-4917

One year ago this week, Jackson County commissioners slammed The Enterprise Group during its biannual progress report, calling the economic development agency disconnected and slow-moving.

This spring’s report was a far cry from that scene, from the information presented—Chinese business representatives were to be in town today—to the man in the hot seat.

Instead of offering criticism, commissioners listened quietly Monday as new Enterprise Group CEO Scott Fleming described his tactics for retaining businesses, training the local work force and attracting new companies to Jackson County.

Lending credibility to his plans, Fleming said The Enterprise Group was to meet with the Chinese officials to discuss local opportunities for them. The meeting was to take place this morning at Bella Notte Ristorante, he said.

Local business owners from a variety of fields will meet with the Chinese. Businesspeople from the two countries will get to know each other and give them a chance to possibly locate their businesses in the Jackson area.

Chinese representatives from six or more businesses will be given gifts from The Enterprise Group and a Michigan-shaped basket filled with products made in Jackson, courtesy of the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Fleming also said he is talking with a technology firm from out West about local development. He referred to the company using the code name ``Global Solutions’’ to protect its anonymity.

Along with Enterprise Group Economic Development Director Amy Torres, Fleming announced the agency’s new Web site, www.enterprisegroup.org, which also can be accessed from www.selectjackson.com.

Their report to commissioners came in the form of an ``Economic Development Scorecard’’ that Fleming pledged to deliver periodically. Categories include business-attraction activity, business retention calls and events and seminars. Future categories are planned for businesses that are threatening to leave, of which there are a few, and businesses that are growing and asking for assistance, he said.

``There’s more accountability going on at the EG than there was before,’’ Fleming said. ``There are other projects we’re looking at for increasing the credibility of The Enterprise Group.’’

This time last year, The Enterprise Group’s then-CEO Steve Czarnecki contended that luring businesses away from other counties was unethical and basically ``stealing.’’ Instead, Czarnecki, who is now retired, said he preferred to let other companies know that Jackson County was ``open for business,’’ which was unacceptable to some commissioners.

The Enterprise Group’s agreement with the county says it will ``market and sell Jackson County to companies outside the county and structure deals to bring them to the county.’’

Commissioners praised Fleming and Torres for their approach.

``This is the most impressive and optimistic presentation The Enterprise Group has made in the years I’ve been a county commissioner,’’ Commissioner Philip Duckham said.

Commissioner Mike Brown added: ``It is so good to hear you’re going to use money to market Jackson.’’

-- Staff writer Chris Gautz contributed to this story.