“Let’s Make Insourcing The New Outsourcing”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Contributing columnist, Steve Nicklas, expresses his views and insight on various topics in Marketplace column.

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Outsourcing has become a popular and effective exercise for private companies and public entities alike.

Through outsourcing, companies and entities (including municipal governments) can delegate duties they are ineffective in handling or unwilling to do. It often saves time and money, and unencumbers officials to tend to other things.

However, this column is about “insourcing.” This is the act whereby government officials tap into the resources of their communities to perform tasks they are unable to do — effectively, at least.

Imagine how many Nassau County residents are knowledgeable in financial matters, public affairs, or problem-solving strategies. This is predominantly an untapped resource for local officials. Granted, we have some volunteer boards in Nassau County, but some boards are tainted politically or rendered obsolete.

In Jacksonville, the city council has finally accepted this fact of governmental life. And through the act of insourcing, officials there have designated an independent entity, the Downtown Investment Authority, to oversee the revitalization of the north and south banks of the city.

The planning and funding are inspirational. This follows decades of failures and missteps in stimulating businesses and development in downtown Jacksonville.

Using outside grants and a $2.5 million budget, the authority will subsidize the costs of renovating commercial space for retail, restaurants, galleries, etc. These funds will also be used to retain businesses and to recruit new ones.

This comes in stark contrast to what Fernandina Beach officials have been doing in past years. Instead of recruiting or retaining businesses, they have been hindering them with excessive regulations and punitive impact fees — often, prior to opening.

Meanwhile, county officials have taken a distinctly different approach. They have pandered to and overly accommodated new businesses, foregoing requirements for design, signage, landscaping, etc. There is a happy medium between these two approaches, however.

In Jacksonville, city officials are also embracing the arts community to assist with attractive designs and streetscapes. Artists are partnering with public and private property owners to improve facades, such as by painting colorful images of Jaguars on them.

Embrace Art and Further Beautify Downtown

We have plenty of capable artists in Nassau County, especially on Amelia Island. Collaborating with them to further beautify the downtown sectors of Fernandina Beach, Callahan and Hilliard is a concept that qualifies as a “no-brainer.”

In other pursuits, the Jacksonville downtown agency will foster housing in downtown, consolidate parking facilities, improve lighting, and offer free wireless internet access in several areas. In conjunction, these measures can have a dramatic impact.

While leaders in Nassau County and Fernandina Beach have discussed some of these ideas, the conversations have become stale. We need new ideas and new ways to accomplish them — without overt political influence. Why not start our own version of a Downtown Investment Authority?

Some local leaders have hedged against outsourcing or insourcing because of egos or because they lose some control. It is time to replace the selfish, know-it-all mentality with one of a willingness to learn and grow.

Fernandina Beach leaders have even touted outlandish projects or practiced micro-management in policing dogs and horses. In fact, the biggest projects on the drawing boards around the county involve spending taxpayer funds for new administration buildings or parks. While this may be necessary, or useful, it cannot be the only focus.

Recruiting residents and private businesses to compliment government operations is working all over the country. Now is the time for it to happen here — in our county, in our cities. Let’s make insourcing the new outsourcing.

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“All About Money” Wine & Cheese Book Reception March 3rd

Local financial columnist Steve Nicklas will be featured during a reception for his new book, “All About Money,” on March 3, 2015 at the Book Loft in downtown Fernandina Beach.

The informal event will be from 4 to 5:00 p.m. and is open to the public. Please RSVP to the Book Loft at 214 Centre St. as wine and cheese will be served. The book is a compilation of financial columns he has written over the last 20 years, primarily about local political, financial, economic and societal issues.

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