Author Archives: Daryl Phillips, CEcD

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.

Leadership

Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. John F. Kennedy Leadership Hickman 2010 begins April 17th.

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Rural towns have buildings with many stories and they’re interesting, too.

Not only does this post “Everybody’s got a story” on ReImagine Rural have a good story helpful to active rural areas like Hickman County, Tennessee, but it also mentions Switch: How to Change Things when Change is Hard, one of … Continue reading

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Leadership Hickman, Learn Leadership and Hickman County

In a one-person economic development shop, implementation dates often do not happen as soon as one wants. I have been working on a new format for the Leadership Hickman program and it will be ready to launch on April 17th. … Continue reading

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First Session Tomorrow (Thursday)

Hickman County Chamber of Commerce is conducting a 5 part customer service training seminar. This is designed to help your business grow by training your employees with techniques for great customer service. Outstanding customer service in a small town can … Continue reading

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Maybe the Courthouse Will Survive

The 3rd annual reenactment of the 7th Tennessee Co. B Skirmish of Centerville on the Duck River Presented by Sons of Confederate Veterans – Col. Jack Moore camp 559 and The Confederate Belles of Tennessee – Cordelia W. Moore300 Reenactors … Continue reading

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Need Broadband Internet in Hickman County?

A group is gauging the interest for high-speed Internet access in Hickman County with the intent to provide service if enough individuals and businesses are interested in subscribing. To complete the survey, go to http://tennwireless.com/ .

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The Times, They Are A-Changin’

“Everybody has accepted by now that change is unavoidable. But that still implies that change is like death and taxes — it should be postponed as long as possible and no change would be vastly preferable. But in a period … Continue reading

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Customer Service Training

Hickman County Chamber of Commerce is conducting a 5 part customer service training seminar. This is designed to help your business grow by training your employees with techniques for great customer service. Outstanding customer service in a small town can … Continue reading

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The land of milk and honey (which goes well with locally baked bread)

On occasion, I mention the local food movement (slow food, localvore, etc.) and how folks are looking for great, locally produced food. I recently sampled (if you call two big loaves a sample) some really great bread made here in … Continue reading

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SBA Recovery Lending Programs Extended for Small Businesses

Extension of SBA Recovery Lending Programs Will Support $1.8 Billion in Small Business Lending

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Survey: Nashville entrepreneurs optimistic for 2010 – Nashville Business Journal:

Survey: Nashville entrepreneurs optimistic for 2010 – Nashville Business Journal: “Entrepreneurs in the Nashville area are looking to a brighter future in 2010, and some are using a four-letter word that hasn’t yet been part of recovery: jobs.” If you … Continue reading

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Hickman County Marine Featured in Wall Street Journal

U.S. Marine Cpl. Chad McCoy’s work with explosive-sniffing dogs in Afghanistan was featured in yesterday’s edition of The Wall Street Journal in the article “Even His Red Squeak Toy Can’t Get First Sgt. Gunner, USMC, to Fight: Despite Rehab, the … Continue reading

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Blame Canada

Through a Tweet from Becky McCray, I found this rural tourism blog, Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development, from British Columbia, Canada. Interesting because there are lessons that we can learn from each other. (I had a conversation this week about … Continue reading

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Category: Use it or lose it

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Hickman County, Tennessee qualified for economic development financing of $644,000 for Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds and $967,000 for Recovery Zone Facility Bonds. To access the attractive financing of the Recovery … Continue reading

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SR 840 to open in 2012

It has been a long time in the making, but the contract for the construction of the last section of SR 840 has been let and SR 840 should be finished by Fall 2012. This highway will connect I-40 to … Continue reading

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A score for the hard core localvore

For those interested in eating local food, there couldn’t be a better way to start than with the seed. New Hope Seed Company in Bon Aqua, Tennessee specializes in open-pollinated and heirloom vegetable seed varieties that are rare and not … Continue reading

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Random bits

I had meetings out of town on Friday and in one of them the conversation turned to retail and commercial recruitment. With companies like T.J. Maxx, Dollar General, and Walmart planning for expansion, it would be nice to have the … Continue reading

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Community Honors Humble Heroes

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the annual Law & Safety Luncheon presented by the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce. Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association is one of many local organizations and individuals that join with the … Continue reading

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Click to buy now

If you are thinking about getting into eCommerce for your business, check out “Getting Started with E-Commerce – An Entrepreneur’s Checklist” This article provides good information on how to do part or all of your business online.

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‘Profitable’ workshop yields returns

SCORE has a free online workshop called “Running a Profitable Company“. This workshop helps you examine how to run a profitable business with a healthy margin, analyze your business’ profitability, and it provides interactive worksheets to help put it all … Continue reading

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Duck River Runs Through It

Nashville public radio station WPLN had a story “Duck River Featured in National Geographic for Ecological Diversity” this week. A quality of place item, the story tells of the featured article and photos on National Geographic.com that show the abundance … Continue reading

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Counting on us

Happy President’s Day! Yes, we are mostly sitting home and watching the snow and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Thinking of President’s Day, how would you like for your vote for the next U.S. President count less than the vote … Continue reading

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Neighborly chat and canned peas in aisle 4

Snow and ‘wintry mix’ are in the forecast tonight and I am feeling that stereotypical Southern urge to run to the grocery store and stock up on milk and bread to weather the storm. I’m not sure we or anyone … Continue reading

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Wall to Wall

Friday and yesterday were largely consumed with packing boxes and moving things around the office for installers laying new carpet in the office. Quite the chore, but doesn’t packing and moving make us prioritize and determine what is important, what … Continue reading

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Trend, not anomaly?

I’m not sure the answer, but local sales tax collections reported by Tennessee Dept. of Revenue for January was the highest monthly collection at $190,508.59 since July 2008.

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Nonprofits can profit from this

The Tennessee Attorney General office, the Secretary of State office and the Center for Nonprofit Management has written and released What Every Board Member and Officer Should Know: A Guidebook for Tennessee Nonprofits, a publication to help nonprofits remain in … Continue reading

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Business Licenses and Permits

Business.gov has a page where anyone can check what licenses and permits their business needs in their specific zip code by typing in the zip code and selecting the type of business on this page, www.business.gov/register/licenses-and-permits/. They are from the … Continue reading

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I thought real men drove beat-up pickup trucks

Like a lot of other folks, I watched the Super Bowl (and all those commercials) yesterday. Did anyone else feel that most of the marketers think we (at least the males) are a bunch of dumb, beer swilling, henpecked fools … Continue reading

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Unemployment Rate Declines

In a report released yesterday, the U.S. unemployment rate declined to 9.7%, providing some fuel for optimism. However, analysis of the data shows that our economy will likely experience more of a rebuild than a rebound. The New York Times … Continue reading

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Manufacturing Increases

Manufacturing expanded last month at its highest rate in 5 years. Now this is strictly growth rate, but it is a sign that manfacturing has begun to rebound. “Manufacturing Expanded Last Month,” New York Times.

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