5-15-14 new economic development environment

The president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corporation says Fond du Lac needs to adapt to continue to grow in what he describes as a new, post-recession economic development environment.   FCEDC president Steve Jenkins told the Fond du Lac city council Wednesday night that things have changed and communities have to be able to adapt to those changes.  "Companies are having to deal with a more competitive environment, both domestically and globally,"  Jenkins said.  "We, as economic development professionals and communities, must realize we're in a different competitive environment and what we did prior to 2008 in terms of building prosperity has changed."   Jenkins says manufacturing will be important long term, but probably won’t employ that numbers that were seen prior to 2008.  He warned the council that the biggest red flag for Fond du Lac is a lack of depth in economic  diversity  in terms of our primary employment.