How the other coast lives

Christopher Roog recalls a time in the not so distant past where many communities on Florida's east coast were rather unfriendly, if not downright hostile, to businesses.

A top lobbyist for Palm Beach area builders and contractors during the recession, Roog recalls a bevy of complaints, such as six-month delays for permits to fill a driveway. Now the director of economic development for the city of West Palm Beach, Roog is part of a team that aims to change that perception — and reality.

The effort has ramifications for the Gulf Coast. On move in particular: City residents, by more than a two-to-one margin, approved a referendum in March that allows officials to exempt new or expanding businesses from up to 100% of city property taxes for 10 years. Companies must hire at least 10 full-time employees and meet other stipulations to get the tax break.

A few other municipalities statewide offer similar exemptions, from Palm Beach Gardens to the city of Tampa. But Roog says the West Palm Beach measure, combined with an aggressive marketing campaign, will help the city woo businesses to town, both from other parts of Florida and nationwide. “We have a good starting point and mandate now,” Roog tells Coffee Talk.

The city seeks to lure bioscience and pharmaceutical companies with its new tax exemption, says Roog, in addition to marine industry and financial services firms. Also, following activity in places such as Hillsborough and Polk County, the city will target a distribution and logistics center for the exemption, says Roog. The vacancy rate for industrial properties in the city is 7%, Roog adds. That makes it a near necessity that a company coming in will buy space that requires work, a nice fit for a tax exemption.

Beyond the exemption, and in somewhat of a shot against other parts of the state with less-than-stellar relationships with the business community, Roog says West Palm Beach has big goals. Zoning ordinances, for example, have been toned down to encourage development and density rules have been relaxed. West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio, Roog says, has called business growth a top priority.

“We will not tell you no as soon as you walk in the door,” says Roog. “We are here to help to you.”