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MAR 23 19,91 <br />BOOK 89 Uo <br />.3� <br />Advertising is another method but is very expensive. Mr. Campbell <br />advised that he has worked through the Department of Commerce and <br />found that they are not accountable. They have programs without <br />funding. The number of leads or referrals received from that <br />Department has declined in the past few years from 53 inquiries in <br />1987 to 8 in 1990, and more recent statistics are worse, so we <br />cannot rely on a pot of leads from the Department of Commerce. <br />Regarding the Canada situation, industrial property in the Toronto <br />area is $1 million per acre. Canadian companies that want to <br />expand are looking to streamline their cost effectiveness, so they <br />are looking to Florida for their expansion plans. Internationally, <br />Florida is being hammered with bad publicity regarding crime, and <br />it is crucial that we employ methods to alleviate the problem by <br />emphasizing quality of life, and that includes the tourist video. <br />Mr. Campbell emphasized that these are all tools and each is <br />important. <br />Commissioner Adams addressed the Department of Commerce and <br />the lack of leads on companies that want to relocate here. Two <br />years ago Florida was number one nationally for bringing in <br />business. Texas recently has skipped up to number one and North <br />Carolina is equal to Florida. She cautioned against counting on <br />any one industry, such as the airport -related industry. She did <br />not want to use contingency funds for the Council of 100ts request <br />for $31,000. She was concerned that we may need contingency funds <br />to pay for damage, such as replacement to culverts caused by <br />storms. She described it as taking $31,000 and gambling it. If we <br />get one business to relocate, we get our money back, but it is a <br />gamble. There is criticism that government should be run like a <br />business, but then the Council of 100 comes in and takes a <br />government -type approach in requesting contingency funds. She <br />questioned the urgency of this request and preferred that it be <br />addressed at budget time. <br />Mr. Campbell maintained that we do have an emergency and must <br />initiate a proactive program because unemployment in the tourist <br />and citrus industry may reach 20 percent this summer. The <br />requested funds must be made available so that if there is serious <br />interest, he can get on an airplane to contact that entity and make <br />a presentation. In addition, he would like to be able to initiate <br />mailing inquiries to stimulate interest in our county. <br />Commissioner Adams asked whether he could do what he proposes <br />for 50 percent of the requested amount. <br />Mr. Campbell could not answer that difficult question but did <br />not want to walk away from the meeting with no funds. <br />34 <br />