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AM Session Results

1. Based on what you heard in the morning session, what concepts/ideas/influences are or will be important for your business/organization?

• Participants overwhelming felt that diversification of the economy held the most value in planning for the future.
• Private sector participants felt that population growth has the most impact on business as increases in the numbers of people residing in the area translates into the bottom line. Equally important, this group felt that the development of sub-industries in support services has new business opportunities and may reduce the costs to import goods and operate business in the area.
• In general, the most important concepts discussed in sessions were population growth followed by job creation and finally education. Participants noted that there are three important ingredients to growing industry: jobs, highly skilled workers and affordable education to train those workers (self paid or government subsidized). Some participants felt that job growth in lower paying positions impedes the region from expanding its workforce.
• With the aging workforce, the region needs to support better employment opportunities for college graduates as an incentive to reside and work in the region, thus retaining the qualified workforce grown at the local educational institutions.
• Increased aviation transportation will translate into more visitors for the region and higher revenues.

2. What didn’t you hear in the morning session that you feel is important to your business/organization?

• Participants indicated that affordable education and housing impact their businesses. Some suggested that visitors to this region are a one-time revenue generator; whereas a resident is a repeat customer of the service. Similarly, college freshman tend to move out of state for an affordable education and do not return.
• In general, participants felt there was limited discussion about mid level job opportunities tied to regional opportunities.
• Participants had hoped to hear how state and local governments plan to tackle the housing and transportation barriers preventing some expansion and possible growth
• Participants expressed concern that other counties were neither present nor available to provide an overview of their best practices.

3. What challenges do you see as barriers for continued growth in the local economy; specifically in your industry/sector?

• Limited public funding
• Short-term tax burdens
• Land use restriction/Department of Environmental Protection
• Government Culture: CAFRA/Pinelands/COA Regulations
• Bus and Rail service limited
• Population growth means an increased need for housing, education and transportation which impacts energy consumption and waste disposal, among others. Governments need to address infrastructure needs to be better situated to attract new industry. There is an environmental impact to consider.
• Limited educational offerings for the non-traditional student in the post secondary education arena
• Lack of entrepreneurship fostered and supported by the educational institutions
• Lack of interagency communication

4. How does the following topic(s) affect your business/organization?

• Job Creation
  • Exporting labor to remain competitive
  • Importing workers costs more than training existing workers
  • Lack of work ready employees; many are skilled in the professions, but have no work ethic or limited life skills
• Transportation
  • Limited transportation options mean workers are employed close to home and in many cases earning less than their potential.
• Housing
  • Cost of living in the area is to high and therefore highly skilled college graduates relocate to more affordable communities.
  • Property taxes are forcing the aging workforce at retirement to relocate; this population could continue to work at a second career in the region, but can’t find affordable housing with low taxes.
  • Lack of federal funding or grant opportunities for housing developments.
• Health Services
  • Cost of healthcare coverage for employees is skyrocketing.
• Education
  • Limited funding means costs are passed onto students.

5. What potential/emerging industries, whether under-utilized or non-existent do you feel would complement/help you grow/expand your business/organization model?

• Aviation/Transportation
• Environmental Services
• Financial Services
• Maritime

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PM Sessions

Hospitality & Tourism

1. What do we do about the barriers identified in the morning breakout sessions?

• Transportation: Identified as a significant barrier. Participants suggested looking at other metropolitan areas and replicating some of the successes. Casinos purchase a pool of vehicles for employees and general riders for car-pooling.
• Affordable Workforce Housing: The two concerns were casinos renting houses for foreign workers and the gaming houses in Florida are recruiting a workforce from Atlantic City and providing housing.
• Job Training: The struggle of the incumbent worker training funds verses the potential worker, entry level training funds
• Customer Service: The consensus is that great customer service is what sets apart gaming regions. In this area, customer service training is critical and much needed. All three educational institutions in the area are looking to begin a Certified Ambassador Training Program.

2. What can government do to alleviate some of the barriers? Do you have any suggestions or solutions?

• Provide federal housing grants.
• Casinos purchase a pool of vehicles for employees and general riders for car-pooling.

3. What can you do to assist us in alleviating barriers, encouraging new industry and building/expanding the economy?

• Building transportation infrastructures such as a monorail and/or expanded rail service with many stops. This will allow for quick and easy access to the region for both visitors and employees.

Technology

1. What do we do about the barriers identified in the morning breakout sessions?

• Transportation
• Affordable Workforce Housing

2. What can government do to alleviate some of the barriers? Do you have any suggestions or solutions?

• Green Housing as it translates into lower cost of ownership and maintenance.
• Smart traffic management to reduce grid lock at the region’s population grows with more public transportation and incentives for car-pooling.

3. What can you do to assist us in alleviating barriers, encouraging new industry and building/expanding the economy?

• Create a technology based infrastructure to encourage business to relocate to the area. The more advanced the communities appear the easier to attract technology based firms.

Emerging Industry

The purpose for the emerging industry session was to identify new opportunities for the area and to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the area (see below).

• Green Initiatives: Relatively un-tapped industry for the region with a lot of public momentum and fund availability. Consider hydrogen fuel, solar management, wind turbine, compressed natural gas etc…
• Next Generation GPS Based Initiatives: Navigational equipment for boats, FAA and maintenance of equipment; Research & Development firms
• Technology Initiatives: Such as shared networks for medical records o Wineries: May be a natural connection to the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
• Organic Farming: Niche industry in the area with a lot of public momentum.
• Entertainment: May be a natural development with the Hospitality and Tourism Industry
• Surveillance & Security: Expansion of transportation systems in the area and more visitors/population o Wireless Gaming

Identified Barriers

• Misaligned Incentives o Land Use Regulations o Patent Issues (benefits accrue to the corporation not the individual) o Education

Healthcare

1. What do we do about the barriers identified in the morning breakout sessions?
   • Reinvestment from the industry to help finance program that benefit the organizations and the community.
   • Begin to influence and change the mindset to continuing education is mandatory for career advancement in the industry.
   • Increase visibility and accessibility of healthcare for entry level workers to offer guidance in healthcare choices.
2. What can government do to alleviate some of the barriers? Do you have any suggestions or solutions?
   • Reinvest in the industry as government can only contribute so much in funding.
   • Collaborate with municipalities to provide services.
   • Increase the flexibility of enterprise zones.
   • Promote the region as a “Healthcare of Choice” area to compete with neighboring Philadelphia and New York markets.
3. What can you do to assist us in alleviating barriers, encouraging new industry and building/expanding the economy?
   • Local hospitals have a responsibility to help its communities stay well. Expand the wellness industry into a workable business model.
   • Partner with local unions to identify individuals that are high risk workers. Addressing the risk means a worker can remain on the job longer with fewer incidents and less usage of sick and leave time.
   • Re-create the region as a ‘Wellness Resort” with medical spas and state of the art plastic surgery centers. The concept of Other People’s Money (OPM) is a natural result of such an initiative.
   • Promote the Atlantic City area as a destination for healthcare professional association conference and professional development opportunities.
   • Access the needs of incoming industry such as the expansion of the FAA Technical Center.
   • Consider the average age of employees; plan for retirements; consider scaling back duties and flexible work schedules, part time work for part time benefits to maintain retirees on the job past retirement.
   • Regional funding initiatives as collaborative, not individual healthcare organizations to alleviate some of the costs of charity care now reduced in the current state budget.
   • Inventory technology and streamline the processes. Allow patients more control of their health and more mobilization of their healthcare information.

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