Title
Economic Vitality Action Team (EVAT) to Present Economic Vitality Strategic Plan 2018 (EVSP2018) Update
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
Economic Vitality Action Team (EVAT) encourages the County Council to ask County staff to put the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan 2018 (EVSP2018) Update on the May 22 County Council Consent Agenda for Acceptance or Approval
Body
The Economic Vitality Strategic Plan 2018 presented for your review offers a 10-year vision of what is desired from our local community in the future, within the context of the current and predicted economic environment.
These report updates and replaces the initial EVSP developed and adopted by the County Council on April 5, 2010.
This plan was created by the current members of the County Manager’s Economic Vitality Action Team (EVAT). The EVAT was first established in May 2010 according to guidelines in EVSP2010 Appendix D, which deemed that the group be advisory to the County Manager and comprised of County department representatives, as well as members of relevant industries who are committed to the economic prosperity of Los Alamos. The current members who contributed to the EVSP 2018 are:
Paul Andrus, Director, Los Alamos County Community Development Department
Joanie Ahlers, Los Alamos County Economic Development Administrator
Harry Burgess, Los Alamos County Manager
Micheline Devaurs, Business Operations Program Manager, Richard P. Feynman Center for Innovation Los Alamos National Laboratory
Tony Fox, White Rock Resident, Los Alamos County
Doug Hintze, Manager of Environmental Management, Los Alamos Field Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Kathy Keith, Executive Office Director, Community Partnerships Office, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Steve Lynne, Deputy to the Los Alamos County Manager
Ian Maes, Realtor, RE/MAX FIRST of Los Alamos
Linda Matteson, Assistant to the Los Alamos County Manager and Project Manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park
Charlie Nakhleh, Division Leader, Theoretical Design Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Cindy Rooney, Chief Executive Officer, University of New Mexico-Los Alamos
Kelly Stewart, Marketing Specialist, Los Alamos County Economic Development Division
Patrick Sullivan, Executive Director, Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Dave Woodruff, President and Chief Executive Officer, Zia Credit Union, Los Alamos
Over 10 months, EVAT conducted an extensive review of the 2010 plan goals and actions to determine what had been accomplished, what issues were still relevant, and what new issues, and initiatives, as well as County projects and priorities such as the branding, wayfinding, tourism and Comprehensive plans. Through this process, the group determined that the four existing primary goals of the EVSP were still relevant and of primary importance for the economic growth and sustainability of Los Alamos.
The plan recognizes LANL as the County’s principal economic driver and most valuable asset, but also recommends prioritizing housing, quality of life and economic development goals and actions as they directly address the Lab’s most pressing needs for recruitment and retention.
This plan is divided into three areas of focus: the past, the present and the future. Section I reviews the goals of the 2010 EVSP, including the actions completed. Section II provides a snapshot of the County’s economic development landscape in 2018. Section III presents future goals, in order of priority, to be accepted by Council and implemented during the next ten years. Section IV is an action plan that defines the roles, responsibilities and timeline for planning and managing execution of these initiatives during the next five to 10 years. Reasonable and realistic metrics for action will developed for each action to measure performance.
The action team will review the action plan annually and recommend appropriate revisions that advance the goals of the plan, in alignment with the County Council’s strategic goals.
Alternatives
Council may choose to not put the EVSP2018 on the March 20 regular County Council session for acceptance or approval.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
All County expenditures recommended in the EVSP2018 are covered in the FY19 Los Alamos County budget approved by Council on April 17, 2018.
Attachments
A - Economic Vitality Strategic Plan 2018 Update