The council meeting’s most discussion revolved around the selection of economic development consulting firms, particularly the presentation by Air Associates Incorporated. The firm, led by Mike Troll, emphasized its partnership with Metro Forecasting and Arnett Moldro and their collective experience in economic development. Troll spoke of the firm’s ongoing projects in Lakeland, Florida, and the Memorial Boulevard redevelopment. He stressed the importance of understanding local development needs and the necessity of having available land for development to steer growth effectively. Troll stated, “if you control the land, you control your future,” highlighting a key strategy to facilitate job growth and business attraction in St. Cloud.

Council members raised concerns about St. Cloud’s characterization as a “bedroom community,” where residents often commute long distances for employment. They sought solutions to this imbalance between residential and commercial development. Troll acknowledged the challenge but emphasized that setting clear economic development goals could help the community decide whether to prioritize job growth or services for residents. His insights into attracting diverse industries, such as mixed-use developments and a medical plastics company, were also noted, with Troll highlighting the importance of infrastructural changes to support business activation.

Another point of discussion was the role of GI Consultants, represented by Laura Smith. Smith highlighted their Central Florida base and collaboration with Richard Levy from Levy Consulting. Smith emphasized the necessity of updating market reports and opportunity zone documents to attract investment. Her presentation also included a strategic plan for downtown Charleston, West Virginia, focusing on business improvement districts and enhancing ground floor spaces to encourage foot traffic. Council Member Urban raised questions about addressing St. Cloud’s residential-heavy demographic, which Smith acknowledged as a issue.

The council also explored the implications of St. Cloud’s projected population growth, expected to exceed 100,000 residents. Discussions included the necessity of conducting a fact-finding analysis to understand market dynamics, such as occupancy rates and rental operations, to inform development strategies. The Deputy Mayor highlighted the alignment of $1.3 billion in funding with economic growth efforts and the potential transformation of certain areas into green spaces suitable for development. The council stressed the importance of leveraging existing plans rather than starting anew, agreeing that foundational work had been done to guide the city’s development.

The conversation also extended to the economic landscape of St. Cloud and the importance of marketing the area to potential employers. Participants discussed the need for a strategic marketing approach informed by a detailed understanding of the workforce and housing situation. The proximity to Neo City was identified as a strategic advantage, with federal grants potentially supporting manufacturing initiatives. The council expressed interest in collaborating with regional partners like the Orlando Economic Partnership to attract industries in life sciences and technology sectors.

Council members further considered the importance of effective negotiation and oversight in development agreements. A speaker emphasized the need for careful management of existing clients and projects while seeking new opportunities. They cited a previous project where a developer abandoned plans after securing a mortgage. A forthcoming public-private partnership agreement for a downtown project was also discussed, with expectations of approval by late spring.