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Gifford Neighborhood Plan Analysis Low Educational Attainment Another issue is the relatively low overall educational attainment of Gifford residents. In Gifford, the percentage of residents 25 years old or older who have graduated high school is 39, while that percentage is 76.5 for the county as a whole. Generally, incomes are higher for high school graduates. Overall Economy Another issue related to low incomes involves the economy not only in Gifford, but throughout the county. That issue is over- reliance on retail and service sector employment. That can be a problem because retail and service sector employment tends to be lower paying than other sectors. Small Business Problems A relative lack of successful small businesses and entrepreneurs in Gifford is also cited as a reason for low employment. Part of that problem is the difficulty of obtaining"start-up" funding for business projects, especially without adequate business plans and equity. Transportation Despite being relatively close to several major employers,a lack of transportation to and from work is often cited as a serious problem in Gifford. Given the lower overall income levels in Gifford and the high costs associated with automobile ownership, that result is somewhat expected. Even when work is relatively close, it is usually not within walking distance. The county's public transportation system, however, provides some transportation relief for jobs located in the eastern portion of the county. ➢ Opportunities Currently, several private non-profit organizations, as well as governmental educational agencies, are working to bring businesses to Gifford and/or offer services intended to increase the employability of individuals. These groups include the Chamber of Commerce, Indian River Community College, the Indian River School District, the Workforce Development Board, the Gifford Economic Development Council, GROW (Giving Rewarding Opportunities to Work), and others. These groups work to match employers and potential employees. They also work with employers to identify the types of skills that employers are looking for in employees. Finally, several of these groups provide a wide range of technical and busineas training to Gifford residents and others. Programs run by these organizations address many of the larger social issues that cause employment and income problems. Those programs, while effective, are limited in scope. To address the transportation problems of workers or potential workers, the county may be able to reroute or expand its public transportation system. In fact, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the county's transportation planning organization, is N Indian River County 48 Community Development Department