Last October, I posted on this blog about a LEAP 2.o (Labor Education Alignment Program – LEAP) grant that the Cheatham County Joint Economic & Community Development Board in collaboration with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Dickson (TCAT) had been awarded. (See “Mechatronics Program to Improve Cheatham’s Manufacturing Skills“.)
We have been working hard to implement this program and equipment to outfit the classrooms for the mechatronics program at the high school has been delivered or is on its way. Conversations with area employers to integrate work based learning are also well underway. Everything is on track to start the first class this fall and add to our efforts to develop our workforce for good jobs in the future and to support our current and future employers by maintaining a quality workforce.
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.