In 2002, the Racine County Economic Development Corp., together with our development partners, completed the Racine County Economic Development Plan. While the current recession makes it more difficult to realize many of the plans expected benefits there have been many positive results.

Over the next several months, and with the help of The Journal Times, we will be reviewing the Plan's challenges. Today, we focus on a summary of the plan accomplishments. Forthcoming articles will provide additional detail on the economic opportunities that each of the challenges provide.

Several projects transcend all of the challenges in terms of their importance, including the extension of sanitary sewer and public water to the Interstate 94 corridor enabling the development of new business park land, as well as dramatic improvement in the central business districts in Racine, Union Grove, Burlington and Waterford.

The former towns of Mount Pleasant and Caledonia have incorporated providing them with the tools necessary for new development. And, redevelopment initiatives throughout Racine County such as the Jacobsen-Textron property in Racine will provide for jobs and tax base. Finally, the progress in implementing commuter rail from Kenosha to Racine and Milwaukee will provide extensive development opportunities.

Challenge 1

Creating an environment where individuals have the resources to start and expand small businesses is lead by the UW-Parkside Small Business Development Center. Accomplishments include federal research grants of $700,000, the first in a decade, to local business. Business renewal grants from Racine County of more than $100,000 allowing businesses to make necessary process improvements.

A new small-business-development strategic plan has already resulted in the design of an on-line educational tool and InovaED - a program that matches students with patents - enhances new business development. Finally, UW-Parkside has started a new Entrepreneur Certificate Program.

Challenge 2

Championed by the RCEDC, Challenge 2 includes growth of existing business and attraction of new business. RCEDC's new DRIVE! program has completed 41 business development projects over the past 2 years alone, while CATI has become a national center for the commercialization of patents leading to five new businesses. And, our new Next Generation Manufacturing program, to be rolled out later this year, is designed to enhance the competitiveness of local companies.

Challenge 3

Racine County's image is spearheaded by the Racine County Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Work started with the completion of a brand positioning study that has led to new marketing brochures, videos and television ads. Through the work of the Bureau, world class sporting events now call Racine home including the Spirit of Racine Triathlon and EVP Pro Beach Volleyball.

Positive Racine County programming on Racine Cable 25, Time Warner Sports Channel 32 and Time Warner's Wisconsin on Demand to local, regional and statewide audiences helps build our image together with the promotion of the Blue Wave Award for Racine's North Beach. Finally, USA Today's ranking of Racine as one of the top 10 places to celebrate the Fourth of July and Business Week Magazine's listing as one of the top three cities in Wisconsin to raise children are all positive aspects of our community.

Challenge 4

Linking land use with business development is the responsibility of Racine County's Planning and Development Department. Success includes the completion of the Racine County Comprehensive Plan and progress on a new public transit plan that will guide quality development in the future. The department also completed a study that has lead to new business parks in the I-94 corridor. Finally, we are now a friendlier place for developers to do business due to the availability of online electronic mapping for developers and residents.

Challenge 5

Speaking to the most important Racine County resource, our labor force, Challenge 5 is the responsibility of the Racine County Workforce Development Center. Accomplishments to date include the completion of a workforce development plan that will prepare our workers for future jobs. The development, together with Gateway Technical College, of short-term training programs for CNC operators and welders, as well as evening computer software instruction have trained hundreds of workers.

A new youth services emphasis has reduced truancy at the Racin Unified School District, as well as introduced programs for young students who are also parents. Finally, the new ProTech program recruits and retains knowledge workers in Racine County.

Forthcoming articles will focus on each of the Economic Development Plan challenges in greater detail, including the reasons why each is important and how the response to the challenges can create and retain jobs in Racine County.

Gordy Kacala is the executive director of the Racine County Economic Development Corp.