The following interview was conducted by the Fayette County News. I reproduced my response to assist voters in making their decision. I am available as always to speak with anyone who wishes. Thank you very much for the opportunity I have had to serve, and I respectfully ask that you vote for me to continue the excellent course Fayette County has chartered over the past seven years.
Charles W. Oddo
Vice Chairman, Fayette County Board of Commissioners
Candidate, District 5, At Large
email: oddonow@aol.com
cell phone: 770-843-4034
Fayette County News 04.22.2020
April 22 Fayette County News – Charles W. Oddo
WHAT KINDS OF COMPANIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE COUNTY PURSUE?
My preference is to attract a balance of innovative businesses on the leading edge of technology, coupled with 21st century advanced manufacturing, while retaining those businesses that already choose to call Fayette County home. Further, I believe we should pursue companies that enhance our way of life, not alter our way of life. The Fayette County Development Authority was created for precisely that purpose. The County finds itself part of a team that combines policies, talent, innovation, and actions.
The actual pursuit AND retention of companies falls to the Fayette County Development Authority, complemented by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, and the newest addition to the County portfolio of job and industry creators, the Georgia Greater Black Chamber of Commerce. Their roles allow them to work with the county as well as coordinate with Fayette's cities based on attracting business that meet municipal criteria and meeting the needs of businesses already here. While independent of the County and each other, they have collaborated with the County to develop beneficial plans that contribute to the overall health of the business climate.
The County, for its part, has created and continues to create conditions conducive to the endeavors of attracting preferred industry. As an example, during my tenure on the Board of Commissioners, the Development Authority with BOC input and support, developed its list of Target Industries which includesAdvanced Manufacturing, Film and Creative Media, Aerospace & Aviation, Information Technology, and Corporate Headquarters. Minimum requirements are high, and successful companies enhance the quality of life in Fayette County
WHAT CAN THE COUNTY DO TO ATTRACT MORE YOUNG RESIDENTS?
I hear this question repeatedly, but how do we define young? Are we looking to change the character of Fayette County? Or complement it? What types of young residents do we wish to attract? If we simply define young in terms of age, we may not be satisfied with the results.
My goal is to attract young people, as well as retain young people, who will complement the character of Fayette County. Success depends in part on providing the jobs and industry to which young people gravitate, such as the companies I’d like to see locate in Fayette County, along with a higher education system that will help train young people for those careers.
But we must also recognize the innate desire young people have to venture beyond the limits of the only life they have ever known, especially in this age when technology has brought the temptation of the four corners of the world to our desktop PC.
To a large degree then, I believe the question is also, what will attract such young people to Fayette AFTER they have experienced life beyond their youth? It is very important to understand that Fayette County is limited, by design (no sewer system), in developing intensive industry or dense populations within unincorporated Fayette County. Hence, beyond the County's role in attracting elite industry, the County role in attracting younger residents is more complementary and supportive of municipal efforts.
The question of how to attract more young residents should more properly be addressed by the County, in collaboration with the municipalities and their respective comprehensive plans and infrastructure that can support the amenities and options required to succeed.
Fayette County recently updated its own comprehensive plan, developed with the participation of numerous citizen stakeholders throughout the county. Their efforts represent the culmination of the community’s vision for Fayette County. It provides the road map that preserves and enhances the special qualities that originally attracted residents while providing for the County’s growth and development. (https://fayettecountyga.gov/planning_and_zoning/comp-plan-2017/FayetteCountyComprehensivePlan2017-2040-Adopted6-22-17.pdf)
With that in mind, there should be options for young people who are looking for a more diverse lifestyle without necessarily leaving Fayette County, or others who would consider coming to Fayette County as a viable option to big cities without losing all the amenities the big cities offer. Fayetteville, for example, is currently emphasizing creation of a walkable downtown with the goal of attracting younger residents, a model quite popular and successful in other small communities.
To sum up, the County should focus on its comprehensive plan, while supporting the cities as they develop amenities more attractive to young people, as well as supporting expansion of a higher education system that will help train young people for careers in the types of companies we hope to attract. These complementary efforts will offer young people a greater array of amenities, options, and reasons to live in Fayette County.
WHAT CAN THE COUNTY DO TO FILL EMPTY STORE FRONTS?
The term store fronts suggests retail business. Most of the empty store fronts, for reasons other than COVID-19, reside in municipalities. It remains to be seen how COVID-19 will affect the businesses that closed because of it.
In line with my previous responses, it is important to understand that Fayette County, by design, lacks infrastructure that would encourage intense business and dense population, both of which build consumer demand.
Certainly the best medicine would be a booming economy. That takes more than a return to the pre-COVID-19 economy. Success attracting 21st Century industry with high income jobs and finding the right formula for attracting young residents, both of which I addressed in the first two questions, will help develop market demand and fill shuttered stores.
However, empty stores impact the entire county. There is no quick fix, but there is the ability to plan long-term. Perhaps, for example, the Highway 85 corridor through Fayetteville could be converted to business parks which would not compete with the newer retail markets north, south, and west of the city. Such re-development would also provide additional growth areas for the Fayette County Development Authority to market to desirable businesses compatible with Fayette County.
The County is certainly a player in filling empty storefronts, but it must be done in collaboration with and mutual support of municipalities.
Charles W. Oddo
Vice Chairman, Fayette County Board of Commissioners
Candidate, District 5, At Large
email: oddonow@aol.com
cell phone: 770-843-4034
Fayette County News 04.22.2020
April 22 Fayette County News – Charles W. Oddo
WHAT KINDS OF COMPANIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE COUNTY PURSUE?
My preference is to attract a balance of innovative businesses on the leading edge of technology, coupled with 21st century advanced manufacturing, while retaining those businesses that already choose to call Fayette County home. Further, I believe we should pursue companies that enhance our way of life, not alter our way of life. The Fayette County Development Authority was created for precisely that purpose. The County finds itself part of a team that combines policies, talent, innovation, and actions.
The actual pursuit AND retention of companies falls to the Fayette County Development Authority, complemented by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce, and the newest addition to the County portfolio of job and industry creators, the Georgia Greater Black Chamber of Commerce. Their roles allow them to work with the county as well as coordinate with Fayette's cities based on attracting business that meet municipal criteria and meeting the needs of businesses already here. While independent of the County and each other, they have collaborated with the County to develop beneficial plans that contribute to the overall health of the business climate.
The County, for its part, has created and continues to create conditions conducive to the endeavors of attracting preferred industry. As an example, during my tenure on the Board of Commissioners, the Development Authority with BOC input and support, developed its list of Target Industries which includesAdvanced Manufacturing, Film and Creative Media, Aerospace & Aviation, Information Technology, and Corporate Headquarters. Minimum requirements are high, and successful companies enhance the quality of life in Fayette County
WHAT CAN THE COUNTY DO TO ATTRACT MORE YOUNG RESIDENTS?
I hear this question repeatedly, but how do we define young? Are we looking to change the character of Fayette County? Or complement it? What types of young residents do we wish to attract? If we simply define young in terms of age, we may not be satisfied with the results.
My goal is to attract young people, as well as retain young people, who will complement the character of Fayette County. Success depends in part on providing the jobs and industry to which young people gravitate, such as the companies I’d like to see locate in Fayette County, along with a higher education system that will help train young people for those careers.
But we must also recognize the innate desire young people have to venture beyond the limits of the only life they have ever known, especially in this age when technology has brought the temptation of the four corners of the world to our desktop PC.
To a large degree then, I believe the question is also, what will attract such young people to Fayette AFTER they have experienced life beyond their youth? It is very important to understand that Fayette County is limited, by design (no sewer system), in developing intensive industry or dense populations within unincorporated Fayette County. Hence, beyond the County's role in attracting elite industry, the County role in attracting younger residents is more complementary and supportive of municipal efforts.
The question of how to attract more young residents should more properly be addressed by the County, in collaboration with the municipalities and their respective comprehensive plans and infrastructure that can support the amenities and options required to succeed.
Fayette County recently updated its own comprehensive plan, developed with the participation of numerous citizen stakeholders throughout the county. Their efforts represent the culmination of the community’s vision for Fayette County. It provides the road map that preserves and enhances the special qualities that originally attracted residents while providing for the County’s growth and development. (https://fayettecountyga.gov/planning_and_zoning/comp-plan-2017/FayetteCountyComprehensivePlan2017-2040-Adopted6-22-17.pdf)
With that in mind, there should be options for young people who are looking for a more diverse lifestyle without necessarily leaving Fayette County, or others who would consider coming to Fayette County as a viable option to big cities without losing all the amenities the big cities offer. Fayetteville, for example, is currently emphasizing creation of a walkable downtown with the goal of attracting younger residents, a model quite popular and successful in other small communities.
To sum up, the County should focus on its comprehensive plan, while supporting the cities as they develop amenities more attractive to young people, as well as supporting expansion of a higher education system that will help train young people for careers in the types of companies we hope to attract. These complementary efforts will offer young people a greater array of amenities, options, and reasons to live in Fayette County.
WHAT CAN THE COUNTY DO TO FILL EMPTY STORE FRONTS?
The term store fronts suggests retail business. Most of the empty store fronts, for reasons other than COVID-19, reside in municipalities. It remains to be seen how COVID-19 will affect the businesses that closed because of it.
In line with my previous responses, it is important to understand that Fayette County, by design, lacks infrastructure that would encourage intense business and dense population, both of which build consumer demand.
Certainly the best medicine would be a booming economy. That takes more than a return to the pre-COVID-19 economy. Success attracting 21st Century industry with high income jobs and finding the right formula for attracting young residents, both of which I addressed in the first two questions, will help develop market demand and fill shuttered stores.
However, empty stores impact the entire county. There is no quick fix, but there is the ability to plan long-term. Perhaps, for example, the Highway 85 corridor through Fayetteville could be converted to business parks which would not compete with the newer retail markets north, south, and west of the city. Such re-development would also provide additional growth areas for the Fayette County Development Authority to market to desirable businesses compatible with Fayette County.
The County is certainly a player in filling empty storefronts, but it must be done in collaboration with and mutual support of municipalities.