Admittedly, it is difficult for me to give credit to the Economic Development Commission. Especially when things like this happen:
The Ad Valorem Tax Abatement Council recently voted to back an EDC proposal to give a food preparation company tax abatements in Brevard as they look to expand into Florida.
Then we learn the tax abatement folks are simply another arm of the EDC. The self-licking ice cream cone is at it again. “This is a great idea! Why, yes, it is our idea,”…no wonder it’s hard to give credit.
Yet, I will. The EDC’s director of business development, Greg Weiner noted that the wages of these jobs are not comparable to high tech or maybe other jobs the Space Coast generally seeks, but that they are jobs the Space Coast could use. And I am certain Greg is right. He deserves credit for looking outside the typical box.
Melbourne’s Economic Development Director is a member of the tax abatement group. I’ll be surprised if he keeps his city job after voting no on the idea of this company bringing jobs to Melbourne. Isn’t that his role, or is he just a job snob?