Right turn on LOCAL CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STREET

I started this blog on August 7, 2007, nearly ten years ago, and after over 1,100 posts, I still find it a challenge to frequently write posts that meet my standards – that I enjoy writing the blog post and that there is a reasonable chance someone will find it helpful and/or entertaining.  While shopping Parnassus Bookstore in Nashville during lunch hour yesterday, I came across 642 Tiny Things to Write About, a writing prompt book (it gives 642 topics/scenarios and you write a little about it.)  On first thought, what does this have to do with economic and community development?  But on looking at it a little closer, like everything else, it doesn’t fall far from the the tree we call economic and community development.  On the dedication page, it promised “This tiny book contains all the ingredients to expand your mind, make time disappear, and supercharge your creativity.”  If it does this for me in writing for this economic development blog when I can’t think of anything to write, well, then, it was well worth the purchase price.

My first ‘tiny thing’ is “Offer a one-sentence argument for who your city should name its next street after.

My city should name its next street “LOCAL CITIZENS WHO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STREET” after the local citizens who support economic development by making the city an attractive, desirable place to live, work and do business by not taking up all those parking spaces in front of our restaurants and retail stores, courteously stopping to let shoppers back out of street parking, greeting folks on our sidewalks with a smile and hello, and supporting initiatives that make our city a destination, create a business-friendly environment and sustain a vibrant community.

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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