Explore

Job Quality Solutions Library

Growing Sunport (NAWB Forum - Economic Development Director)

Introduction

Sunport is at a pivotal moment. As a small coastal city rich in culture, history, and natural beauty, we face a dual imperative: preserve what makes us unique while catalyzing inclusive, forward-looking economic growth. This concept brief outlines a cohesive economic development strategy rooted in cross-sector collaboration, community voice, and targeted incentives. Our aim is to transform Sunport into a vibrant hub of innovation, small business success, maritime industry revitalization, and equitable opportunity.

⁠

What Problem Are We Solving?

Over-reliance on seasonal tourism and low-wage industries

Lack of affordable housing for workers and families

Limited resources for small businesses and entrepreneurs

Underdeveloped infrastructure, especially digital and environmental

Community disengagement and limited input in development plans

Need for more strategic use of local revenues (e.g., tourism taxes)

⁠

Solution Overview: Building an Empowered, Resilient Economy

This initiative is designed to create a diversified, inclusive economic ecosystem where residents can thrive, businesses can grow, and Sunport can become a model for sustainable development. By aligning government, philanthropy, and private enterprise, we’ll leverage incentives, improve infrastructure, and foster community-driven growth.

⁠

Key Components

1. Corporate and Small Business Tax Incentives

Objective: Attract values-aligned companies and stimulate local job creation. Implementation:

Offer local hire-based tax incentives to companies relocating or expanding in Sunport

Create tailored relief and growth programs for small businesses and local manufacturers

Tie incentives to community-benefit metrics (e.g., wage floors, local training partnerships)

⁠

2. Affordable Housing Initiatives

Objective: Ensure that growth doesn’t displace working families. Implementation:

Partner with housing developers on mixed-income, workforce housing projects

Use zoning flexibility and incentives to accelerate multi-family development near job centers

Integrate housing into long-term workforce and infrastructure planning

⁠

3. Business Incubator and Accelerator Programs

Objective: Support local entrepreneurship and innovation in key sectors. Implementation:

Launch city-supported incubators focused on hospitality, maritime, creative trades, and environmental technologies

Offer seed funding, mentorship, and training for startups meeting local job creation criteria

Facilitate public-private investment in underrepresented founders and legacy small businesses

⁠

4. Environmental & Infrastructure Policies

Objective: Modernize infrastructure while protecting Sunport’s coastal heritage. Implementation:

Prioritize green infrastructure (resilient roadways, stormwater, walkability)

Implement policies supporting carbon-neutral construction and coastal preservation

Align environmental goals with tourism, workforce, and housing strategies

⁠

5. Community Engagement and Vision Creation

Objective: Ensure economic development reflects Sunport's values. Implementation:

Host inclusive focus groups and visioning workshops in every neighborhood

Use findings to co-create a Community-Informed Economic Development Strategic Plan

Build a resident advisory group to review major projects and incentives

⁠

6. Tourism and Maritime Industry Support

Objective: Revitalize heritage industries and diversify tourism economy. Implementation:

Use tourist tax revenues for infrastructure, workforce training, and maritime research marketing

Develop a coastal branding campaign tied to boating, birding, fishing, and history

Support boatbuilding, maritime maintenance, and coastal hospitality apprenticeships

⁠

7. Workforce Development and Training

Objective: Align labor supply with emerging economic needs. Implementation:

Partner with the workforce board, philanthropy, and schools to fund certificate and apprenticeship programs in target sectors

Create employer-driven training pipelines tied to tax incentives and local hire practices

Focus on long-term career mobility, not just entry-level jobs

⁠

8. Digital Infrastructure Improvement

Objective: Enable smart growth and future-ready planning. Implementation:

Expand broadband access to underserved areas

Leverage smart city technologies for infrastructure, permitting, and planning

Use digital tools to support remote work, entrepreneurship, and regional connectivity

⁠

How It Works

The program operates through a collaborative, cross-sector model. The city provides leadership, policy levers, and incentives; businesses and developers bring capital and innovation; residents provide input and oversight. Public-private-philanthropic partnerships help bridge funding gaps and extend the reach of core strategies.

⁠

Key Benefits

Economic Diversification: Reduced reliance on tourism through support for startups, maritime trades, and creative industries

Community Empowerment: Resident voice is central to growth decisions and program priorities

Sustainable Growth: Environmental stewardship and infrastructure upgrades are built into development plans

Innovation and Collaboration: A thriving ecosystem of entrepreneurs, businesses, and institutions working toward shared goals

⁠

Conclusion

Growing Sunport is more than a strategy — it’s a commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economic development. By aligning incentives, infrastructure, and innovation with community values, we can shape a future that works for all Sunport residents, now and for generations to come.

Prompt your team to add their sentiment to the table below. When your team is ready to discuss, expand all the sentiments and review as a group.

Clear sample data

⁠

Coda tip: At Coda, we call this table a “pulse” because it allows you to get a quick pulse check from your team. It pairs well with the Dory question table, which helps gather feedback and discussion topics. Check out this dynamic duo by typing /dory and pulse.

⁠

How do you feel about this concept?

⁠

0

⁠

sentiments added.

Only show me

Sentiment

Author

Reflection

No results from filter

⁠

Want to print your doc?
This is not the way.

Try clicking the ⋯ next to your doc name or using a keyboard shortcut (

CtrlP

) instead.