[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County Commissioners of Dorchester
County 3-7-1995 as Ord. No. 234.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 80, Economic
Development Commission, adopted 1-26-1988 as Ord. No. 133.
The Dorchester County Economic Development Department is hereby established
and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Department."
The Director of the Department shall have the following duties, responsibilities
and functions:
A.
The Director shall manage the Department.
B.
The Director shall serve at the pleasure of the County
Commissioners of Dorchester County, herein the "county."
C.
The Director shall receive such salary and benefits as
the county shall determine from time to time.
D.
When requested by the county, the Director shall attend
the weekly meetings of the county and brief the county on economic development
matters.
E.
The Director shall, prior to August 1 of each year, submit
an annual report to the county in which the accomplishments of the Department
for the previous year and the objectives of the Department for the next year
are summarized.
F.
The Director shall implement the Dorchester County Economic
Development Program, as hereinbelow defined.
G.
The Director shall provide information services for businesses
and industry, including maintenance of information concerning available industrial/business
sites, labor availability, energy costs and the performance of market research.
H.
The Director shall perform such economic development
functions as may be assigned by the county from time to time.
The Department is empowered to employ such employees or consultants
as its business may require, but only with the consent of the county and within
the limits of its budget. The hiring, promotion or termination of such employees
or consultants must have the prior written approval of the county.
The County hereby establishes the following Economic Development Program:
A.
Program activities. The Economic Development Program
shall include a wide range of activities that directly or indirectly affect
the economy of Dorchester County. Such activities shall include the following:
(1)
Strategic planning: laying the groundwork for future
economic development, including establishing objectives, evaluating assets,
liabilities and competition and specifying tactics.
(2)
Assistance to existing business: efforts to bring more
business to existing Dorchester County companies and to help companies to
improve their operations and increase employment opportunities.
(3)
Business development: assisting businesses in efforts
to open or expand by aiding in the site searches, obtaining financing, obtaining
permits and government approvals and in establishing employee training programs.
(4)
Revitalization: activities directed toward preserving
employment and promoting and maintaining an attractive environment for older
commercial areas of the county.
(5)
Marketing: attracting new businesses to Dorchester County
through research, advertising and prospecting.
(6)
Business climate: promotion of a positive relationship
between the business community, citizens and government.
(7)
Government coordination: maintaining liaison with other
elements of county and local government and with federal and state government
agencies and coordinating with aspects of their programs which have potential
impact upon economic development.
C.
Financial programs. The Department may assist corporations
to obtain financing tailored to meet the company's needs through various
state industrial development financing sources and agencies.
The Department shall follow county directives in its fiscal operations.
Its operations shall be audited as part of the county fiscal operation. The
Department shall submit its budget requests annually to the county in the
same manner as other departments.
The Department may seek and accept public contributions to enhance activities
which will promote the economic development of the county. All funds received
by the Department will be immediately deposited with the Treasurer of Dorchester
County.
The Department shall be deemed to be exercising a governmental function
necessary for the protection of the health, welfare and safety of the citizens
of Dorchester County.
This chapter shall be cited as the "Dorchester County Economic Development
Ordinance."
