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objectives and policies, policies implemented, the seven objectives for economic <br />development, and presented recommended new policies and policy changes. <br />Mr. Schutt stated that from 1995 to 2007 the unemployment rate within the <br />County has decreased from 9.7% to 5.5%, most recently due to the housing boom. <br />During said timeframe, median household income and per capita income increased, but <br />low wages remained, reflecting on the predominance of the service industries. Citrus <br />acreage also decreased from 66,561 to 40,191; the number of citrus packing housing <br />decreased from 20 to 12; and the number of hotels decreased from 44 to 31. He said the <br />County has program incentives to attract target industries, and have used incentives to <br />retain Piper Aircraft and nine other companies. There is also an initiative to develop the <br />area as a research coast to attract/create life -signs and biotech and other similar <br />industries, which include the Treasure Coast Counties, the Workforce Development <br />Board of the Treasure Coast, and Okeechobee County, as well. <br />Under this Element, 4 objectives were achieved, 1 was anticipated to be <br />achieved by target date, 1 was not achieved, and 1 is measurable. It is recommended that <br />seven (7) objectives be revised and 1 new objective be added. There are 43 Policies to be <br />maintained and six to be revised. It is recommended that 28 policies be maintained, 14 <br />be revised, 7 be deleted, and 5 new ones be added. <br />Mr. Schutt elaborated on Objective 2, Diversified Economic Growth, <br />which is anticipated to be achieved, and recommended that the target date range be <br />revised to 2010 and 2015 and to target an increase of 1,000 jobs. Under Objective 4, <br />Encourage Economic Development, which has been achieved, he recommended that it be <br />revised to include a target date of 2015 and a target of having at least two additional <br />industrial/ business/tech; and Parks with sufficient land and infrastructure to <br />accommodate new or expanding businesses. <br />19 <br />October 20, 2008 <br />Public Workshop <br />