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Comprehensive Plan Economic Development Element <br />Access to Resources <br />In Indian River County, there are adequate energy resources to accommodate economic <br />development. In fact, Florida Power and Light offers certain economic incentives, such as off-peak <br />hour pricing and an Economic Rider, for businesses. Natural gas is also available in Indian River <br />County. <br />According to the American Planning Association, water supply and the availability of necessary <br />support services are factors that a firm considers when making relocation decisions. In Indian River <br />County, there is adequate water and sewer capacity to support any size development. In addition, <br />reuse water is available for cooling, irrigation and other appropriate purposes. <br />Tourism <br />Generally, tourism is considered to be a maturing market in Indian River County. Some of the <br />constraints affecting tourism include the erosion of county beaches and the lack of nearby scheduled <br />commercial air service. <br />Overall, tourism is important to the county's economy. It generates a substantial amount of revenue <br />without a commensurate demand for services. <br />In the past, the county has been successful at international marketing. This international marketing <br />has focused on eco -tourism, cultural tourism and other niche markets. In the future, cross -selling <br />tourism and economic development can increase both markets. <br />With more travelers seeking vacations that promise something beyond a prepackaged experience, the <br />county has been marketing cultural tourism. These tourists are more likely to seek out an art <br />museum or a music festival than a shopping district or a theme park. Cultural amenities of Indian <br />River County, such as the Riverside Theatre, the Center for the Arts, the McLarty Treasure Museum, <br />and the Environmental Learning Center, are important contributors to the continued development of <br />the county's tourism industry. <br />In Indian River County, tourist amenities that offer economic potential include the Minor League <br />Baseball facility (former Los Angeles Dodgers Spring Training Facility), the North County Pool, <br />and the shooting range. Each of these amenities offers something that is not available in neighboring <br />counties. The Minor League baseball facility supports various sport tournaments and camps and <br />also has a large conference center. The North County pool hosts swimming events such as the State <br />of Florida Special Olympics Aquatics Championship. <br />Among the most important tourism related amenities in the county is the beaches. To protect the <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 35 <br />