Need something else!

[chrisv]

Well said, ShallowsNole.

Compounding the issue for me and many others is this 'cost of living' calculation that HR departments of major organizations use in determining wages. I work locally for an international organization, but my pay is, in part, determined on a national formula for cost of living. It costs me much more to live in Walton County than it costs a counterpart to live in metro Atlanta (but less than one in, say, Chicago,) but based on the faulty assumptions made by our HR department, I am paid on a lower scale than the counterpart in Atlanta. Part of the formula is determined by what the local market wage is. They assume that my 'rural' locale means I can get by on less because so many others must also be doing so.

I'm lucky that I am living and working here, but honestly don't forsee being able to for much longer unless we do have significant growth in business opportunities, which will help drive wages up. My hope is that all the hot air from the West Bay Sector folks turns out to be true.

And I know that bartending is lucrative- I did it for years in a Colorado mountain town- fantastic way to earn a living. I just choose to now pursue career and lifestyle options that allow me to balance family and job life and utilize my education to the fullest.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I agree that Florida Girl does not deserve the bashing she got...I just read through some of this. There is a real need for some Economic Development in Walton County. I am amazed that even though we are adjacent to several military installations, Walton County has done nothing to attract business and industry that supports the military work. I am annoyed that we have an office of Economic Development--and some of our tax money goes to fund it, but nothing gets done by the man who enjoys that job.

Many people who are not here as a second home resident or because of tourism will readily understand FG's point of view and agree with it.

 

[kathydwells]

I found this interesting. Taken from the Chamber of Commerce, of South Walton County website.

Walton County's Top 10 Employers​

Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort
Business Line: Resort

Number of Employees: 1,200​

Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort
Business Line: Resort
Number of Employees: 560​

ResortQuest International
Business Line: Resort

Number of Employees: 400​

Wal-Mart (DeFuniak Springs)
Business Line: Retail

Number of Employees: 280​

Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast

Business Line: Hospital

Number of Employees: 320​

Arvida / St. Joe Company

Business Line: Resort/Real Estate Development
Number of Employees: 255

Professional Products Company
Business Line: Manufacturing Orthopedic Devices

Number of Employees: 170​

Seaside Development Corporation
Business Line: Resort

Number of Employees: 160​

Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative
Business Line: Electric Utilities
Number of Employees: 135​

HealthMark Regional Medical Center

Business Line: Hospital
Number of Employees: 110​

 

[scooterbug44]

It's all relative - wherever you live, there are expenses that are not covered in the cost of living calculations and the complaint that young people are leaving town because there aren't jobs for them is also very typical. The unemployment rate in this area is lower than the national average.

If I lived in Chicago or New York, I could possibly find cheaper housing or food sources but wouldn't be able to afford to have a car if I lived in the city.........if I lived in the suburbs, my daily commute would make southbound 331 at 7 am look like a cakewalk.

If I lived in a ski resort area, I would have the same high cost of living as here and would be hard pressed to find a job in a non-service industry as well.

The idea of bringing in new industries and diversifying is always good, but you have to be realistic about what the area has as its resources and supply & demand. As this area grows, so does its available employment opportunities and infrastructure.

If you want to biatch about outsourcing, you first have to stop demanding Walmart prices. The companies you want to pay high wages and benefits and open factories here are the ones outsourcing overseas because you don't want to pay the necessary prices for goods and services that allow them to do so.

 

[Mango]

Interesting............:scratch:

Statewide Incentives

The Florida Enterprise Zone Program offers various tax incentives to businesses located within the designated enterprise zones. In addition, local governments may also offer their own incentives.
(The incentives are listed on the link)

If you click on the ezones link, you'll see that:
1)Walton County -Urban Enterprise zone
2) Freeport- Rural Enterprise zone
3) Defuniak Springs -Rural Enterprise zone

so the question is, with these tax incentives to bring businesses to Florida, why are we not seeing more businesses taking advantage of them? In addition, another incentive is businesses could also offer slightly lower wages since there is no personal State Income Tax or keep wages in line with the industry thus attracting more talented employees.

 

[scooterbug44]

What are the incentives to draw businesses and workers here?

Answer that question and then you can figure out a way to get a suitable industry here.

 

[Mango]

What are the incentives to draw businesses and workers here?

Answer that question and then you can figure out a way to get a suitable industry here.

I see you didn't open the link to look at the tax benefits to the business? :roll:

 

[scooterbug44]

Many different areas offer tax breaks in an effort to lure businesses - I meant more in terms of natural resources, proximity to distribution centers, skilled work force, etc.

 

[SHELLY]

When all the dust settles, Florida will finally see the negative toll the RE speculation frenzy has had on its economy. The frenzy essentially pushed the state's economy forward about 15-20 years in a matter of 3-4 years. Everyone was too engrossed in the RE money grab to care that an economy that relies on tourism, oranges and elderly folks on Social Security must maintain a low cost of living and affordable housing to support its workforce.

I've said it before--South Walton grew up hard and fast during the RE frenzy and mowed down all service-sector affordable housing in its wake. If it continues on its charted course as an "upscale South Beach Mini-Me," it will have to contract and house the majority of its third-world-nation labor force much like a cruise ship operation.

.

 

[Mango]

Many different areas offer tax breaks in an effort to lure businesses - I meant more in terms of natural resources, proximity to distribution centers, skilled work force, etc.

Interesting, you just answered the question to what I already knew regarding the rural business tax incentives. ;-)
However, that does not answer the question why if Walton County is designated as an Urban Enterprise Zone, then why aren't the Microsoft's and Cisco's of the world setting up shop there?