Change in the Air

Maybe it’s the feel of fall in the air, but I am thinking about change, the inevitable part of economic development — there can’t be ‘development’ without ‘developing’. From time to time, the economic developer must think about what kind of change the community wants enough to actually support and is it the kind of change that provides professional self-actualization. Or, is it even satisfying base needs on the hierarchy that Mazlow made famous?

Companies should do the same. Did they locate in an area that supported innovation and rapid growth? Would they now be better served in an area with a stable, reliable workforce? Do they need to make adjustments due to their product life cycle? Was the initial location decision based on finances at the time rather than having room to grow, designing an efficient plant layout, accessing an interstate highway, or being in an attainment area?

A company contemplating a site selection decision has a lot to consider. A receptive community provides a professional economic developer who knows his or her commmunity and the overall business environment well and can assist you by providing answers to your site selection related need for information.

About Daryl Phillips, CEcD

I am a professional economic developer. I presently work for communities and companies in developing and implementing workforce and economic development solutions as CEO of Phillips Economic Development Solutions (Phi EDS). Prior to September 2017, I was the economic development professional who served a community team of elected officials, business people, community leaders and dedicated stakeholders for economic development in Cheatham County, Tennessee (pop. 39,880) and its four towns. During my five-year tenure, I served the team as Cheatham County grew over 1,700 jobs, turned around population declines at the start of this decade into healthy population growth, increased tourism expenditures 20.3% and local tax revenue from tourism 25.4%, grew sales tax revenue 36%, focused on developing the local workforce and was recognized by SmartAsset as having the 9th highest Incoming Investment Index of all the 95 counties in Tennessee. I am a member of International Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council, Tennessee Economic Development Council and International Council of Shopping Centers. I have earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) certification from National Development Council and hold a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University.
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