The grass IS greener….

Posted on May 11, 2009 by Daryl Phillips, CEcD

During the past few weeks, I have had the inclination and opportunity to look more closely at economic development organizations in other communities. It is tough these days, but it is amazing what a few people in a small community can accomplish with few resources. Hickman County’s local industry is hanging tough and a few companies are hiring. Sales tax collections are doing better than a lot of places. Yet, I look at the commitment other communities make and wonder what could be done with, for example, a web presence that costs more than a donated $250 one like ours. I think that is evidence that despite the challenges, there are people motivated in rural communities with a quality of place like Hickman County that work hard for business retention and expansion and business attraction and recruitment. I hope that they will be able to persevere and reap the rewards when the economy makes its inevitable upswing.

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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