DAPHNE, Ala. – Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce officials took the wraps off a new strategic plan they expect will help boost economic development by focusing on a handful of key areas. The Blueprint for a Better Tomorrow pays particular attention to four “industry clusters.”

The partnership with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance and other business and educational leaders seeks to retain and create high-paying jobs in aerospace and high-tech precision manufacturing; medical; film, music and entertainment; and IT and technical support centers.

Bradley Byrne, Chamber vice-chairman of economic development, said growth is rooted at home, and the level of education here will work to the area’s advantage.

“Most of your economic development comes from people that are already here. We have a large group of people who are highly educated, which is very attractive to people in economic development.”

Chamber statistics indicate that 91 percent of all adults over age 25 hold a high school diploma or higher, with 38 percent of those having earned at least a bachelor’s degree in college.

Byrne added, “We have a lot to sell.” Marketing the area for its educated population begins in the schools, according to the plan, with certified workforce training programs at high schools in Fairhope, Daphne and Spanish Fort, as well as Faulkner State Community College.

A goal has been set to make sure every eighth-grade child in Eastern Shore schools has selected a high school career path, and the plan is to couple that with structured programs where local businesses will discuss with students the options and wage opportunities in various fields.

The Chamber supports the public school system’s effort to place high-tech learning tools in the hands of students. Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee was in attendance at the press conference announcing the plan.

Byrne said the Eastern Shore’s natural beauty and quality of life are also excellent selling points that can be used to attract companies looking for a place to hang their shingle.

“We have a lot of things besides our people, our most important asset, to sell this place and grow this place, and we know that and that’s something we need to capitalize.” he said.

Byrne noted that in his travels he has encountered business and tourism officials who are unaware of the assets the Eastern Shore has to offer.

He pointed to beaches to the south and a new industrial megasite to the north as being equally important to the Eastern Shore’s economic success.

“We’re not trying to separate ourselves out,” Byrne said. “Every area’s got strengths. We’re focusing on our strengths and using that to build our area.”

According to data compiled by the Chamber, an estimated 88,000 people live along the Eastern Shore, including the communities of Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Blakeley, Belforest, Malbis, Montrose, Barnwell and Point Clear. Within the zip codes of the three incorporated municipalities, there are around 3,000 businesses that employ 33,000 people.

The plan was developed over a four-month period by 60 community leaders and elected officials. Chamber staff members have set 60- to 90-day benchmarks as well as a timeline for implementation. The board of directors will review those measures and decide if reorganization of the staff is needed to fully move toward implementation.

The cluster subcommittees that designed the plan will remain active, and their chairs will combine with an oversight committee to oversee implementation. It is not yet known how much putting the plan into action will cost.

The plan will be presented to all three Eastern Shore municipalities, their industrial development boards and the Baldwin County Commission in order to gain their support.

“This is a very exciting time for Baldwin County, the Eastern Shore of Baldwin County and certainly for our Chamber,” Byrne said.