FLOOD04083 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Following the initial surge of interest and participation from businesses, the next phase is expansion and recruitment of under,represented sectors, Membership targets inciude insurance agencies, real estate firms, homebuilders, and financial institutions, This will be a challenge, as noted by the Chair, Financial and Eco' nomic Issues: "The question that we must be ready to answer with some specificity is 'why should my company become involved in this initiative?' There are basically two reasons why a company wouldjoin: for community relations and because joining would be a good business decISIOn, We haven't done a good job of making the compelling argument that business participation in the Partnership will reduce potential disaster losses and improve the bottom line.. ,this is the challenge before us," - DiCK Scott, University of North Carolina at Wiimington, Finance and Economic Issues Committee Chair, Wilmington,eiew Hanover Partnership, March 25, 1999 CITY OF CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG COUNTY'S PROJECT IMPACT: TARGETING BUSINESS -(.oMiili~~ STORM WATER Slrvlces~ ,<((;}f~TI~ North Carolina's second Project Impactcommu- ~, rs~~:J\Jf~'J~~t\ nity, Charlotte-r<,'lecklenburg, is a global business ~ \5(_~~r - rl?11,~..~ center. It is also home to one of the nation's V/;;;!j,1/!!4 mosr progressive floodplain management programs housed in the '"",~''''''''-'''':-/ "'''-'~ Charlotte-MecKlenburg County Storm Water Services (CMSWS), This combination offers unique opportunities for public~priva(~ partnershi:ps focused on flood hazard mitigation To encourage support from the private sector, and to publicize the goals ofthe initiative. the Project Impact commitcee will build on a strength -the county's flood modeling and floodplain management capabilities. These services are extended to the private sector in the form of business on-site assistance. With $150,.0'00 in seed money, the CMSWS will use its flood forecasting models to assess 15 of the most flood'prone businesses and to establish a pilot program, The program will include the following components: . CMSWS will analyze flood hazards, . CMSWS will recommend mitigation alternatives. . Local banks will be recruited to provide low~interest loans to the pilot program businesses. . Technical \vorkshops will showcase mitigation techniques and the "value added" by investing in mitigation, The Contingency Planning Association of the Carolinas is an active Project. Impact partoer. An organization of business continuity planners, it draws members from a regional, multiMstate area. Its Project Impact role is envisioned as a conduit for outreach programs, as well as technical assistance for neWly recruited Projecllmpaet partners. It will be important to be able to demonstrate, and preferably even quantify th~ value added of funding, as explained by Charlotte'MeCKlenburg's Project Impact Coordina- tor: ~J2;~~~J,~'~:~:~,~:,::: ' -- _:~'!0:1f?t'??'$~""""'T:,Z::':':;;"-'~0:T-' ='di'lhii"b4i_ August 1999