Forsyth County names new Economic Development Program Manager – AccessWDUN

Appointment of New Economic Development Program Manager in Forsyth County

Introduction

Forsyth County has announced the appointment of Jennifer Mihalcoe to the position of Economic Development Program Manager. With 13 years of comprehensive experience in economic development, Ms. Mihalcoe is poised to guide the county’s economic strategy in alignment with global sustainability standards.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The appointment and the strategic objectives of the role are directly aligned with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus on sustainable growth and multi-stakeholder collaboration underscores the County’s commitment to a resilient and inclusive economic future.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Ms. Mihalcoe’s mandate includes business retention, recruitment, and workforce initiatives. These efforts are central to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all residents of Forsyth County.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: By leading efforts to attract new businesses and streamline development projects, the role will contribute to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation within the local economy.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Ms. Mihalcoe’s stated goal is to “support sustainable growth.” This directly supports the objective of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by strengthening the local economy and managing growth responsibly.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: A primary function of the position is to act as a liaison between the County, the Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, and the business community. This embodies the spirit of SDG 17 by strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development at a local level.

Professional Background

Ms. Mihalcoe’s extensive experience provides a strong foundation for advancing Forsyth County’s economic and sustainability objectives.

1. Economic Development Coordinator, City of Orlando, FL: Led the development and presentation of incentive packages designed to attract and retain businesses, contributing to local economic vitality.
2. Business Development and Retention Manager, Spotsylvania County, VA: Gained critical experience in managing business relations and fostering a supportive economic environment.
3. Education: Holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Flagler College.

Key Responsibilities and Strategic Outlook

As Economic Development Program Manager, Ms. Mihalcoe will be responsible for several key functions aimed at achieving sustainable economic progress:

• Serving as a central point of contact to foster collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
• Facilitating the timely and streamlined delivery of economic development projects.
• Aligning new and existing projects with the County’s long-term strategic initiatives for sustainable growth.
• Collaborating with local leaders, businesses, and residents to attract new opportunities that strengthen the local economy.

County Manager David McKee noted, “Jennifer brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our community and to a role that will help guide the County’s growing business community and impact on our local economy.”

Expressing her commitment to the role, Ms. Mihalcoe stated, “This community has incredible potential, and I look forward to collaborating with local leaders, businesses, and residents to support sustainable growth, attract new opportunities and strengthen the local economy.”

SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article primarily addresses issues related to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article focuses on the appointment of an Economic Development Program Manager whose role is to foster economic growth, support businesses, and manage workforce initiatives.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – This goal is relevant through the emphasis on managing county growth in a sustainable manner and coordinating development projects.

Specific Targets Identified

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.
   • Explanation: The article mentions that the new manager will help “guide the County’s growing business community” and “attract new opportunities.” This points towards efforts to enhance economic productivity and diversify the local business landscape.
2. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.
   • Explanation: Jennifer Mihalcoe’s role is explicitly about economic development, which includes “business development, retention, recruitment, and workforce initiatives.” Her past experience in developing “incentive packages designed to attract and retain businesses” directly supports this target by creating policies that foster business growth and job creation.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.
   • Explanation: The article states that Mihalcoe will “serve as a liaison between the County, the Development Authority, the Chamber of Commerce, businesses located within the County and prospective organizations.” This role is central to strengthening regional development planning. Her goal to “support sustainable growth” and deliver projects “in coordination with the County’s strategic initiatives” directly aligns with this target.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article does not mention specific quantitative indicators, but it implies several that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

For SDG 8 Targets:

• Number of new businesses recruited: Progress can be measured by tracking the number of “prospective organizations looking to call Forsyth County home” that successfully relocate to the county.
• Business retention rate: The emphasis on “business… retention” implies that a key indicator would be the rate at which existing businesses remain in the county.
• Growth in local employment/jobs created: The focus on “workforce initiatives” and “recruitment” suggests that an increase in local jobs would be a measure of success.
• Strength of the local economy: The goal to “strengthen the local economy” could be measured by indicators like local GDP growth, tax revenue, or other economic metrics.

For SDG 11 Targets:

• Efficiency of project delivery: The commitment to deliver “economic development related projects in a more streamlined and timely manner” could be measured by project completion times and adherence to budgets.
• Implementation of strategic initiatives: Progress could be tracked by the successful execution of the “County’s strategic initiatives for the future.”

Summary of Findings

Source: accesswdun.com