Economic Development

L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, provides a variety of economic development consulting services, including the following:

Commercial Air Service Development

It’s all about access for airports. L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, has worked with small and large airports to develop both scheduled and public charter service. Luke Schmidt works directly with airports, local and state governments, chambers of commerce, air service committees, etc. This includes conducting market research to identify the best type of service for an airport, raising funds to be used as minimum revenue guarantees to support new service, developing collateral materials to support a fundraising campaign, and developing effective airline recruiting campaigns for new service. Luke has raised several million dollars through private and public sources, including state and federal grants (US DOT Small Community Air Service Development grant) to support these initiatives and has secured commitments for new service

Community Marketing & Promotion

L.B. Schmidt & Associates, LLC, can assist your community in developing new marketing and promotional approaches, designed to make the community stand out when it comes to being considered for new commercial and industrial development, thereby creating new jobs. This includes conducting market research, developing a unique profile, and working with appropriate state economic development agencies to maximize exposure and performance. This also includes developing new collateral materials, including websites to help tell the story and recruit if needed.

Community Visioning

Community visioning allows a community to stop and evaluate where it is today, and more importantly, determine where it wants to go in the future. Visioning enables community leaders to chart a new path, one that will maximize the community’s performance when it comes to securing new economic development, investment and creating new jobs. Luke Schmidt will facilitate the visioning process by working with a local leadership committee, conducting market research, establishing a community profile, conducting confidential key stakeholder interviews, benchmarking the community with other similar communities, and ultimately leading the group through a review and/or establishment of community vision and mission statements and strategic goals.

Consolidated/Unified Community Government

Many cities and counties want to learn more about the advantages of merging governments. Benefits include: (1) improving a community’s clout in the state capitol when it comes to securing state grants, (2) speaking with one voice when it comes to economic development and creating new jobs, and (3) streamlining government services and eliminating duplication of effort. The process begins by establishing a baseline of the existing forms of government present in the county, followed by a presentation of what unified government might look like in the community. The third step usually involves the actual development of a proposed charter of unified government to be presented to voters. Luke Schmidt can provide leadership in facilitating this process for interested communities.

Market Research & Feasibility Studies

In addition to the services described above, Luke Schmidt can conduct market research and feasibility studies for specific projects. Please call to discuss your needs.