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Plant City Mayor: City Still Making Progress

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By RICK A. LOTT

Special to the Tribune

Published: February 25, 2009

Updated: 02/25/2009 09:50 am

I read with interest the Tribune's Feb. 22 article regarding closure of the Smithfield Foods facility in Plant City. Like many communities across this great county, Plant City has had to cope with unprecedented challenges to our local, state, national and global economies. Our budgets are stressed by declining depository interest rates and rising operating expenses. We see our neighborhoods negatively impacted by the foreclosure crisis. We feel the pain when layoffs are announced.

These macroeconomic events have forced corporations and governments alike to make unpopular decisions about how to survive during what is arguably the most severe economic downturn that many of us will ever live through.

And yet, we will live through this. I am convinced that Plant City will survive, even prosper.

How will we do this? We survive and prosper by looking forward, by planning for the eventual economic turnaround and by taking action today to encourage private investment in and around Plant City. In fact, several forward-looking initiatives already are under way in cooperation and coordination with the Greater Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Plant City Chamber of Commerce, our state legislators, Hillsborough County, Polk County, the City of Lakeland, Hillsborough City-County Planning Commission and countless other citizens, stakeholders and government agencies.

These initiatives seek to take advantage of our local and regional strengths and opportunities. We strongly believe the following activities are a necessary investment in our future prosperity:

• Northeast Plant City Area Master Plan. The plan focuses on a 20-square-mile area north of U.S. 92/ I-4 and east of S.R. 39. The plan looks 25 years into the future and calls for compact development oriented around a new village center while preserving substantial land for agriculture and green space. Light industrial and business office parks also will have a place along the I-4 corridor. City and county staff currently are discussing ways to provide services efficiently and effectively in the NE Master Plan area.

• Midtown Redevelopment Vision Plan. Redeveloping the 85-acre Midtown area adjacent to historic downtown is a key initiative for Plant City. Midtown has tremendous potential to transform into a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly place to complement our city. Infrastructure investments and zoning code changes are ongoing and will implement the plan.

• I-4 Corridor Strategic Opportunities Task Force. Hillsborough County has wisely begun planning for future economic development needs by examining the potential opportunities for light-industrial/business parks along the I-4 corridor. Plant City is a full and committed partner in this effort to attract high-wage, high-growth jobs to our area.

• Economic Development Incentive Program. The city has retained economist Dr. Hank Fishkind of Orlando to assist us with creating a viable program to stimulate economic development. This initiative will be unveiled this summer.

•Water Reclamation Facility Upgrade. Plant City just completed a $54 million upgrade to our wastewater treatment plant. This necessary upgrade is projected to handle our wastewater demands for the next two decades or longer.

I could give several more examples of such initiatives that weren't mentioned in the article, but I think you get the idea. We're not sitting still during these tough economic times.

We firmly believe that opportunity often knocks sooner for those who are prepared, persistent and passionate about building a better life for themselves.

Equally important is keeping the "big picture" in mind when dealing with bad economic news. While Smithfield's recent news did sadden many in our area, we must remember to focus on proactive efforts to shape a better future for our kids and grandkids.

Rick A. Lott is mayor of Plant City.

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