Mike Hogan: Small Business is key to Jax's future

[Metro Jacksonville]

Mike Hogan: Small Business is key to Jax's future



Metro Jacksonville shares Mike Hogan's White Paper on why he feels he is the best candidate to become Jacksonville's next mayor.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-jan-mike-hogan-small-business-is-key-to-jaxs-future

[Noone]

I like it.

1. What is his position on 2010-856 Transient vendor ban?

2. Has he or does he plan on meeting Paul Anderson the new guy at the JPA and get an early perspective on how his policy statement can be integrated into the Ports ideas for growth and job creation?

3. Most important question. Does he want to paddle and see Hogans Creek?

I've got more questions on other topics but I want to say thank you to Mr. Hogan for sharing your vision for our city on this forum.

[dougskiles]

Small businesses are a huge piece of the puzzle and I am glad to see the recognition that small businesses should not play second fiddle to the large businesses.

Interestingly, I also came across a video clip from CBS News about the economic success of Austin, Texas:

http://widget.newsinc.com/fullplayerwvars.html?wid=1935&cid=504&spid=23309178&freewheel=90049&sitesection=jacksonville_biz

We visited Austin in 2008, a month before the presidential election.  It was an incredibly vibrant city.  Some observations that I noted (through our visit and this video clip):

1) They are hitting it hard from every angle.  Supporting small businesses locally and recruiting large businesses nationally.

2) They have a very strong presence of the 'Creative Class' described by Richard Florida.  I haven't read his book yet, but in doing a quick internet search for a summary, I came across this article from almost 10 years ago:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2001/0205.florida.html

The article is all about how an Austin company went to Pittsburgh on a recruiting trip.  Check it out.

[vicupstate]

‘the removal of barriers on the flow of credit from community bankers to small business’

In my experience as an entreprener/investor, this is the BIG issue.  Spending a day or two at City Hall getting some premit is a nuisance perhaps, but it doesn't make or break the effort.  Getting capital (that isn't your personal IRA account) is the deal-breaker.  If it ain't vanilla, and you ain't Tony Sleiman rich, they ain't interested.  And if they are interested, they will make more money off the deal than you will, without the risk I might add.     

I'd like to know what local bankers think of this.  Is there really much a city can do in this regard, other than loans and grants from the city itself?

[jcjohnpaint]

And I would also like to reiterate 'A whole community working together'.  I admit Austin is all you hear, but again Austin really takes care of the education and educated in their region.  Paying better attention to the education sector in Florida is something this state could do a lot more about.  Austin seems to do what ever it takes to make things happen.  Until Jacksonville's center city can compete with the southside in amenities, then it will never win.  Just my thought.  Dougskiles great articles and finds! 

[jcjohnpaint]

I guess one more thought is that Mike Hogan is right, but narrowly focuses.  It is not going to be just 'small business', but many different things that need to chance.  I think that is what Austin is doing correct.  They are fighting the battle on many fronts.  It seems that politicians around here claim that if you fix this one problem...all the woes of the region will go away.  First you have to face all of the problems and you have to keep working on those problems...forever. 

[jcjohnpaint]

sorry change not chance

[Bativac]

I agree wholeheartedly. Reduce local regulation as much as possible. Also what he says about taxing small businesses to, in turn, offer tax breaks to large firms on the assumption that jobs will follow.

I agree with Vicupstate regarding the flow of money from local bankers - what can the city do about it?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I agree wholeheartedly. Reduce local regulation as much as possible. Also what he says about taxing small businesses to, in turn, offer tax breaks to large firms on the assumption that jobs will follow.

I agree with Vicupstate regarding the flow of money from local bankers - what can the city do about it?

The city would have to guarantee the banks that they will cover the loans in the event of default.

But this doesn't make sense to me as there are already several programs, grants, etc.. that do just that.  Unless they're going to remove some restrictions or ease requirments.

[urbanlibertarian]

I agree with all of Mr. Hogan's points.  I would also point out that regulation creates a competitive advantage for big businesses over small ones because they have the legal and accounting resources in house to help them comply more efficiently.  Big businesses and their lobbyists often encourage new regulation in order to get that advantage.

[JeffreyS]

I like that he mentioned clustering businesses and expediting Jaxport's infrastructure improvements.

[fieldafm]

Hogan is spot-on in that Jacksonville's economy must be defined by creating an entreprenurial economy.  I've been blowing that horn for awhile.  

What is a great way of doing that?  Well at a government level... having a SMART city is certainly one way to cut the red tape.  COJ Special Events is rolling out a new online permit process... and that's a start but there are SEVERAL things city gov't can do to make all KINDS of things more efficient(and cheaper for guv'ment) for the end user(citizens and small business).

Having effective leaders in positions to help small business would be a big plus as well(read about the corruption in the Northwest Jax Biz Development team of the last few years... that kind of thing does MUCH more harm than good).

Clustering is another common sense approach in an entreprenurial economy.

And Hogan is SPOT ON about port funding.

My BIG, BIG, BIG reservation is that Hogan will run the city to the least common denominator.  I think we already get a horribly low return from our tax dollars, and I fear that our tax money 'bang for the buck' will have even lower utility if Hogan cuts and cuts and cuts like he has promised to do.

Posted on: Today at 09:39:07 AMPosted by: Non-RedNeck Westsider  
Insert Quote
Quote from: Bativac on Today at 09:33:10 AM
I agree wholeheartedly. Reduce local regulation as much as possible. Also what he says about taxing small businesses to, in turn, offer tax breaks to large firms on the assumption that jobs will follow.

I agree with Vicupstate regarding the flow of money from local bankers - what can the city do about it?


The city would have to guarantee the banks that they will cover the loans in the event of default.

But this doesn't make sense to me as there are already several programs, grants, etc.. that do just that.  Unless they're going to remove some restrictions or ease requirments.

Guaranteeing stop losses to community banks is an AWFUL business for the city to get into.  The city can do a lot of things to foster small business creation, but guarantees against loan losses will bankrupt this city in a New York Minute.

[longhaul]

I've lived in Austin and its a terrific place.  But, it is an unfair comparison to Jacksonville.  Austin has one of the largest universities in the nation, multiple other small colleges, large research centers, and government.  Further, Austin is one of the top technology hubs in the country.  Jacksonville should certainly take many lessons from Austin, but its unrealistic to think Jax will ever be as dynamic in the near/medium term.

IMO, a better comparison for seeing the positive fruits of small business focus is Chattanooga, TN.  Chattanooga surged into the 21st century with a mindset similar to what Mr. Hogan alludes to in his paper. 

One small example: they have a 125k sq ft, chamber-sponsored business development center that offers office and light manufacturing space at very low rates.  They also provide free internet, furniture, phone, faxing, copying, clerical support, and counseling.  The result: Chattanooga's business development center houses 55 small businesses that employ 400 people.  Further, about 40% are female owned and another 40% are minority owned.

There are more examples, but I think Jacksonville should take a close look at some of the things Chattanooga is doing to help small businesses, promote technology, and reward entrepreneurship. 

[thelakelander]

Chattanooga also had a huge focus on the revitalization of their urban core.  I would like to see Mike Hogan's opinion on the importance of DT revitalization, as well as how he plans to address this issue.

[stjr]

Supporting small businesses and the port is like "Mom and Apple Pie" in Jax.  Other than building permits and codes for builders, I am not sure the City has much influence over small business regulation.  In fact, most City enforcers are enforcing State and Federal laws mandated upon them.  I see Hogan's words as code to his newly close friends at the NE Florida Builders Association that he will be willing to dilute zoning laws and process so we can continue the urban sprawl we are so famous for.  That may be the cynic in me but let someone get him on record that he means otherwise.

As with Rick Scott, Hogan also is rather non-specific in the steps he will take to achieve his stated objectives and remains mostly silent on a large number of other local issues such as the budget, pensions, downtown, crime, mass transit, growth management, parks and recreation, vision for  the city going forward, social services, etc.

While I am not a big fan of corporate welfare, I don't think we can ignore larger companies that often lead the community into new industries, cutting edge products, new ways of doing things, and community involvement with their "heft" to make a difference.  Larger companies often are serviced by those small businesses Hogan refers to too.  In the end, we need a balanced approach, not a one sided one.  One thing is for sure, even if we want small businesses here, often led by executives and professionals from other worlds, we need the same pillars of quality education and culture that large businesses look for  These convince people to make their lives here and help nourish their business.

I am looking for a mayor who can favorably address multiple priorities in this community, not just a select few.  Does Hogan have more to say than what is posted in the article?