GOAL 1. DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY

Utilize Franklin-Southampton assets to meet the community’s needs to both attract new businesses and expand existing businesses to avoid vulnerability to economic shock.

Strategy 1: Market existing community assets and develop new assets to attract businesses.

Strategy 2: Identify community needs regarding development of new business ventures.

Strategy 3: Encourage active collaboration between educators and industry that will result in the development and retention of a skilled local workforce.

Strategy 4: Identify, develop and bring awareness of available resources to expand existing businesses and encourage new businesses (larger scale businesses).

Strategy 5: Foster new and existing small business growth.

 

GOAL 2. BUSINESS FRIENDLY CLIMATE

Ensure local government entities promote an “open arms” environment to welcome new businesses and foster business growth. 

Strategy 1: Create awareness and understanding among local governments of what constitutes a business-friendly climate.

Strategy 2: Communicate, educate, and market Franklin Southampton positive business climate to attract new businesses.

Strategy 3: Form and sponsor a diverse non-partisan Franklin -Southampton Business Friendly Committee to consistently work with local governments and businesses to influence positive change in the evolution of Franklin/Southampton as a “business friendly” area.

 

GOAL 3.  FOSTER LOCAL TOURISM

Promote tourism that creates a positive economic impact on Franklin-Southampton communities.

Strategy 1: Align FSEDI tourism roles and responsibilities with the City of Franklin Tourism Department and with Southampton County Board of Supervisors.

Strategy 2: Market, promote, and sponsor local tourism initiatives events, and assets.

Strategy 3: Network with appropriate local, regional, and state tourism organizations.

Strategy 4: Collaborate with City and County to ensure citizens are prepared to embrace tourism and welcome tourists to the area.

 

GOAL 4.  ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Foster an internal organizational effectiveness approach that will serve as a foundation for the continued development of FSEDI as a high-functioning organization.  

Strategy 1: Develop an inclusive and diverse FSEDI Board to reflect the diversity of Franklin-Southampton communities. Diversity considerations encompass skills, background, gender, and ethnicity.

Strategy 2: Create and execute a stakeholder management plan to ensure all stakeholders are informed and aware of FSEDI’s role and accomplishments. Stakeholders encompass two distinct groups: 1) The FSEDI stakeholders: Camp Family Foundation, Southampton County Board of Supervisors, Franklin City Council, Franklin Southampton Charities, Franklin Southampton Chamber of Commerce, and 2) the Franklin-Southampton communities at large.

Strategy 3: Incorporate the process of strategic planning into FSEDI as an ongoing and business function.