Championing CRE

NAIOP Tampa Bay made sure its voice was heard as Hillsborough County commissioners considered multimillion-dollar economic incentives to entice Amazon to build a million-square-foot distribution warehouse in Ruskin.

The group, nearly 200 members strong, wrote letters to commissioners as well as a newspaper that wrote an editorial opposing the use of tax money to attract the online retail behemoth.

“We wanted to make sure they (the commissioners) considered whatever economic development incentives they have at their disposal,” says Todd Josko, a public relations consultant retained by NAIOP in June to spearhead the group's advocacy.

Hillsborough approved one of two incentives in June and was considering the rest of the $6.4 million package July 17.

Amazon plans to invest $300 million in building distribution centers in Florida, which it says will create more than 3,000 jobs. One of Hillsborough's competitors is Polk County, which is also wooing the behemoth retailer, with $4.5 million in property tax incentives.

While NAIOP Tampa Bay has previously advocated on behalf of commercial real estate issues, it's now stepping up its advocacy to more visibly display the benefits of being a member and spur membership growth.

Like many trade organizations, NAIOP membership declined during the recent recession as companies downsized or closed and members lost jobs. During the real estate boom, the chapter had nearly 300 members.

With the economy and commercial real estate sector rebounding, the time is right to shore up membership.

“Now more than ever, associations have to show value to their membership,” says Josko. “The two things that NAIOP is focusing on are strategic advocacy and programming and events for members.”

Gone are the days when business people could join all local trade organizations to network, Josko says. Companies can no longer afford to pay for all memberships, and time is more of a premium.

“We think as a chapter we're well positioned as the economy continues to grow and certainly we want to be very aggressive and have more of an influence in the public policy arena,” Josko says.

NAIOP doesn't plan to be vocal on all issues, just those important to the group, whose members include real estate brokers, developers, engineers, architects, lawyers, bankers, contractors and investors.

While NAIOP has advocated on behalf of commercial real estate interests in the past, it was not as coordinated an effort as it is with the help of a consultant.

“Before Todd we were a bunch of volunteers with day jobs trying to also keep up with what's going on in local government and beyond,” says Duane Milford, NAIOP Tampa Bay president and director of engineering at EMK Consultants of Florida. “We decided to turn it up a notch, to be a little more effective, we needed to bring in someone like Todd to be more proactive, focused and targeted.”

NAIOP intends to focus on ensuring Hillsborough County's strategic plan is properly implemented and county leaders don't lose sight of how important commercial real estate development is to the economy, Milford says. The plan aims to create business and job growth primarily through property tax expansion and sales tax expansion.

The plan encourages responsible commercial real estate development, ownership and investment while outlining priorities for this year and next year.

“We want to make sure they keep their eye on the ball for commercial real estate,” Josko says. “Amazon is something that really fit that strategic plan.”

NAIOP also regularly hosts educational events and tours of key commercial real estate corridors. The group has a members-only meeting once a month with key politicians at a downtown law office.

That event allows members to ask whatever is on the minds of politicians. Called Tampa Bay Watch, recent guests include Florida Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg), Tampa Port Director Paul Anderson, University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
“It's most Q&A in an intimate setting,” says Randall Reid, NAIOP's vice president of political affairs.