Our panel suggested cobalt, building ground leases, sports franchise lending, and others.
“The time to buy is when there’s blood in the streets.” That’s the famous quote from Baron Nathan Mayer Rothschild, a British nobleman in the 1700s and despite its sanguinary images, it conveys the ethos of finding undervalued investments that will spring back later.
At a recent panel on this investing style, held at our 2021 Virtual Chief Investment Officer Symposium, a group of canny investment chiefs explored where good values could be found as we hopefully are leaving the pandemic era.
These days, that means emerging markets and commercial real estate, among other things. Yet undervalued plays don’t always involve beaten-down assets, and the emphasis is on what the future likely will hold.
The Development Corporation of Abilene historically has had an image problem, something that Misty Mayo, its president and CEO, and Jack Rich, its board president, understand.
They also are quick to say they want to change that perception, while admitting that the complexity and – at times – secrecy required to brew economic development deals can appear akin to spycraft with its endless code names.
“It s hard to break through and to make those things clear, especially in today s world where there s so many ways to communicate,” Rich said. That can be a source of misinformation as much as accurate reports.
“But that s what the goal is, that s what we re trying to do is to coordinate all of those efforts, he said.
Abilene s DCOA at a glance
What does it do? The DCOA’s stated goals are: To use sales tax revenue to effectively stimulate Abilene’s economic growth by assessing the community’s economic development needs, develop a plan to meet those needs, coordinate community economic development efforts, support targeted activities that enhance the quality of life in the community and maximize the public’s return on invested dollars.
Other goals under that wider umbrella include:
► Increase job opportunities and capital investment in the community.
► Invest sales tax dollars in opportunities that “generate a positive return on investment in our community – investing for today and the future.”
Since 2019, Mayo has served as president and CEO of the Development Corporation of Abilene.
“We have to make sure we re keeping our current customers, our current businesses,” she said, engaging in “economic fortification” by making sure Abilene is “building a strong community and fortifying our efforts for our future viability, our future success.”
The top benefit, she said, is increased tax revenues through diversification of the tax base.
“As we bring in other companies, additional companies, your current companies grow and prosper,” Mayo said. “That s added revenue for our tax base. It alleviates the tax burden off of the homeowners and off of the citizens of Abilene.
CONNIE LONG,
JACK RICH,
JIM STONE and
GORDY SANDERS
For over 15 years, weâve shared this goal: Congress passing the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act. Thanks to the continued support of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, we are back on track to reach this goal, with hopes that this is the year when all of our tireless work in Seeley Lake, Ovando and beyond puts us across the finish line.
Support from our entire delegation would make our goal easier to attain, and itâs our fervent hope that U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale can join Senator Tester and work together to pass this legislation for the benefit of all Montanans.