Our Services

Economic Development

How do local governments and municipalities keep property taxes low and still deliver effective services?

Answer: They focus on increasing Economic Development.

At THE SILVAS GROUP, we know the most effective Economic Development programs are tailor-made to each community. Your community’s needs and challenges are unique; we develop programs that meet your needs — and are authentic — to you.

Our Economic Development Services include:

1. Strategic Planning

• Vision and Goal Setting: Your community may have a vision for the future; we help you strengthen and clarify your vision, and we partner with you to establish clear, measurable goals to help you achieve that vision.

• Economic Analysis: What are your community’s strengths? What are your threats? THE SILVAS GROUP begins with developing a thorough “SWOT” analysis of your community’s economic Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) — and we take with a specific focus on what makes your community stand out. We study demographics, industry trends, labor markets, and competitive positioning — so that your Economic Development goals are based on facts.

2. Business Attraction and Retention 

• Targeted Marketing: How does your community attract businesses? And what businesses does your community want to target? We help you identify private industry with the highest growth potential in your city — and help you build a targeted marketing campaign — that isn’t “cookie-cutter”.

• Incentives: What tools do you have in place to encourage businesses to grow in your city? We help you develop incentive programs, such as tax abatement programs, grant programs, performance agreements, Chapter 380 Agreements, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) and a variety of other tools that make sense for your community. Your focus is on attracting and retaining jobs in your community. We can help with that.

3. Workforce Development

• Availability of Trained Workforce: We help you evaluate your community’s workforce, the skills available, and identify gaps relative to the needs of local industries.

• Training Programs: What efforts are underway with educational institutions, employers, and other regional stakeholders? We can help develop training programs that align with your Economic Development strategy.

4. Real Estate and Infrastructure

• Site Selection: Do you have sites available for businesses to expand or locate in your community? Are those sites “shovel-ready?” — meaning, do you have necessary infrastructure, zoning, and environmental regulations? We help you evaluate and answer these questions.

• Urban Planning: What plans do you have in place to ensure infrastructure development aligns with Economic Development goals and achieve sustainable growth?

5. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

• Working with others: We provide a connection between public agencies and private businesses, and we facilitate partnerships that leverage resources and expertise from both sectors.

• Project Financing: We help structure financing for large-scale projects, ensuring a balanced approach to risk and return.

6. Community Development

• Quality of Life Initiatives: In the race for Economic Development, what key initiatives are you focused on to improve quality of life in your city? What about affordable housing? Transportation? Parks and Recreation? How are you investing to make the area more attractive for businesses and residents? We consider all of these factors in building your Economic Development strategy.

• Social Equity: We consider the impact of economic growth on all segments of the population, with a focus on inclusion and equitable opportunities.

7. Policy and Regulation

• Advisory Services: We are a trusted advisor on local and regional policies that impact Economic Development, such as zoning laws, environmental regulations, and tax policies.

• Advocacy: We work with our clients and advocate for policy changes at the state and federal level to support their economic goals.

8. Economic Impact Analysis

• Project Feasibility: We offer economic impact analyses, to help you determine whether a project helps you achieve your goals for job creation, tax revenues, and long-term economic benefits.

• Cost-Benefit Analysis: We provide detailed analyses to help public entities make informed decisions about investments and projects.

9. Crisis Management

• Economic Recovery Planning: When disaster strikes, we develop and help implement recovery plans in times of economic downturn or crisis.

• Resilience Building: Are you ready for the next critical event? We help you build strategies to strengthen your community and become more resilient.

10. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Progress Tracking: We help you keep track the progress of Economic Development initiatives against established goals, providing regular updates and adjusting strategies as needed.

• Impact Assessment: We also evaluate the overall impact of Economic Development programs, identifying successes and areas for improvement.

  Your Economic Development program is critical to your future. Let’s get started today.