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.

Safety is worth more than two points

OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, has a publication titled OSHA Small Business Handbook that can be downloaded free to help your small business be safe and to comply with workplace safety regulations. Tennessee is one of the states … Continue reading

Posted in business assistance, safety, TOSHA | Comments Off on Safety is worth more than two points

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

“Pfizer and 1,400 Jobs to Leave City that Won Land-Use Case” in The New York Times adds an interesting chapter to the case of using eminent domain in economic development projects. The land-use case was Kelo v. New London and … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

Regional Flavor

Ruraltourismmarketing.com has a series of posts that I think are really relevant to rural communities like Hickman County. Check them out:“What is Regional Flavor and How Your Small Town Can Grow Your Own Regional Flavor Destination““Five Principles to Lay the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Regional Flavor

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the day of turkey and the fixings, but don’t forget to consider all the good things in life and be thankful for them.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Happy Thanksgiving!

Integrating new media with old media

We have to learn the new and remember the old: “5 things “New Media” can learn from “Old Media.”“

Posted in retail marketing, social media | Comments Off on Integrating new media with old media

But lots love the long-shot…

The article “Proof that Industrial Incentives are Poor Bet“on the Daily Yonder blog makes some good points on the escalation of recruiting incentives and how resources are probably better spent to support local business and to create a place for … Continue reading

Posted in incentives, industrial recruitment | Comments Off on But lots love the long-shot…

Construction cones — up, up and away!

As the travel stress level rises with the influx of holiday travelers, it is great that the construction on the roads and parking areas at the Nashville International Airport has finished and is funneling frazzled travelers more fluidly to our … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Construction cones — up, up and away!

Not Now Boarding….

I was off taking care of one of my other endeavours this weekend and heard a presentation by Andy Goodman titled ‘Storytelling for Good Causes’ from the Stanford University Center for Social Innovation. My take away was that it is … Continue reading

Posted in Blogging with Blackberrys, economic development | Comments Off on Not Now Boarding….

It’s beginning to look a lot like Black Friday…

I, like most everyone else, look forward to a special meal with family or friends on Thanksgiving Day next week. Some of us are looking to see the retail sales Black Friday and Cyber Monday brings as two of the … Continue reading

Posted in retail development | Comments Off on It’s beginning to look a lot like Black Friday…

Readin’, writin’, ‘rithmetic, running business

The blog post, “Students in 18 Appalachian Kentucky counties to get education in entrepreneurship“, in The Rural Blog tells of implementation of a great idea. The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) suggested in a position paper to the 111th Congress … Continue reading

Posted in entrepreneurship | Comments Off on Readin’, writin’, ‘rithmetic, running business

It’s beginning to look a lot more like Christmas…

Some upcoming holiday events: The Centerville Christmas ParadeDecember 6, 2009 at 2:00pm The Hickman County Chamber of Commerce and the South Central Tennessee Railroad proudly sponsor the arrival of Santa Claus in Centerville on Saturday, December 12, 2009. This will … Continue reading

Posted in holidays, tourism value | Comments Off on It’s beginning to look a lot more like Christmas…

TGIF

Today, I think back on my days in manufacturing and quality control. We had the mindset that any defect was bad. At first thought, 99% perfect sounds great. However, if something has 100 parts, that means that if each part … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on TGIF

IEDC Leadership Summit

Last night, I paid my registration to the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Leadership Summit, which will be held in Houston, Texas on January 31-February 2 next year. The focus will be on creating entrepreneurship programs and a competitive entry-level … Continue reading

Posted in Certified Economic Developer, IEDC | Comments Off on IEDC Leadership Summit

Good Press for Goodlettsville

“When going gets tough, TN towns buy advertising: Goodlettsville begins branding itself to lure more people to the small town“, an article in The Tennessean, recounts how forward-thinking communities invest in their town’s future.

Posted in place branding | Comments Off on Good Press for Goodlettsville

Without breaking a leg…

The article, Getting your customers to pay up, gives some tips for small business to prevent non-paying or slow-paying customers and how to deal with collecting when you don’t get paid.

Posted in business assistance | Comments Off on Without breaking a leg…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Thirty-nine days until Christmas… and for retail sales, the good news is the news may not be too terribly bad. Gallup reports “Christmas Spending Forecast Down From a Year Ago: But if forecast holds at this level, it could mean … Continue reading

Posted in Christmas shopping, retail development | Comments Off on It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

Economic gardening — no scarecrows allowed

This blog post, “Economic development must move beyond taxes, freeways, railroads and land, to talent, education, innovation, and entrepreneurs“, lays out frankly what an economic development expert should be working on to develop a sustainable community. Since most of us … Continue reading

Posted in economic gardening | Comments Off on Economic gardening — no scarecrows allowed

Out of many, one big job creation potential

With improving GDP numbers, technically we can say that our economy is on the rebound. However, way too many of Hickman County‘s labor force are still searching diligently for a job to utilize their skills. In a recent article in … Continue reading

Posted in small business | Comments Off on Out of many, one big job creation potential

For those of us with a small budget or Face-to-Facebook

I post a lot of social media information for business, not-profit and economic development organizations, but the bottom line is communicating your organization’s marketing message and other essential business information to your customer. Using social media and technology can be … Continue reading

Posted in retail marketing, social media | Comments Off on For those of us with a small budget or Face-to-Facebook

Using Facebook to put your best face forward

The New York Times has a small business guide on using Facebook in your business. “How to Market Your Business on Facebook” can get one started fairly painlessly. I tested the waters early on for Hickman County Economic & Community … Continue reading

Posted in social media | Comments Off on Using Facebook to put your best face forward

Vanderbilt Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro

In the category of spousal support, I will be attended this event on Friday night: Vanderbilt Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro – Blair School of Music – Vanderbilt University – Blair School of Music – NowPlayingNashville.com. My wife, Dr. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Vanderbilt Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro

Strategically Seeking Solar

Yesterday, I attended the Solar Symposium in Nashville, TN. The meeting was attended by solar and renewable energy companies and economic development experts to learn more about how the communities near the Hemlock Semiconductor and Wacker Chemie industrial sites can … Continue reading

Posted in industrial site, Interstate 40, solar | Comments Off on Strategically Seeking Solar

Veteran’s Day Today

Join us for Hickman County’s celebration of Veteran’s Day today at 11:00am on the Centerville Public Square. Colonel Michael P. Peterman, United State Army, will be the featured speaker as the town pauses to celebrate and honor our country’s veterans.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Veteran’s Day Today

Challenges initiate action in progressive communities

“Smaller communities search for ways to stand out in economic development” from Prairie Business Magazine includes a great analysis of rural economic development opportunities, but the local community must be supportive in this comparative environment. As you can read from … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Challenges initiate action in progressive communities

Economic Impact of Travel on Hickman County

Looking at the The Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee Counties 2008, a study prepared for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development by the Research Department of the U.S. Travel Association in Washington, D.C., showed that Hickman County is improving … Continue reading

Posted in Rural Tourism, tourism value | Comments Off on Economic Impact of Travel on Hickman County

Community Challenges

This article, “Shuttered Factories Pose Big Challenges to Communities“, presents some of the challenges to communities’ economic development efforts in industrial recruitment and attraction. Bulging inventories of vacant industrial buildings along with the difficulty of polishing a failed plant into … Continue reading

Posted in Hickman County Tennessee Economic Development, Industrial property, industrial site | Comments Off on Community Challenges

I think I’ll just go for a soda

I would love to see more people with the passion this entrepreneur has for his business.

Posted in entrepreneurship | Comments Off on I think I’ll just go for a soda

How Tennessee, USA Uses Scenic Byways to Draw Urban Visitors to Its Rural Town Delights.

Wow, the word of this Tennessee Dept. of Tourism initiative is getting around fast. This post was on http://www.ruraltourismmarketing.com/: How Tennessee, USA Uses Scenic Byways to Draw Urban Visitors to Its Rural Town Delights. Just this week, I became part … Continue reading

Posted in Rural Tourism | Comments Off on How Tennessee, USA Uses Scenic Byways to Draw Urban Visitors to Its Rural Town Delights.

Business Information for the Self Directed Search

I was looking for some information for a local business today and went to Hickman County Economic & Community Development’s www.business.hickmantn.org website to quickly find it. While on the site, I did my periodic check to make sure all the … Continue reading

Posted in Hickman County business assistance | Comments Off on Business Information for the Self Directed Search

Creamy Cow from the Corn Belt

I am having to absorb more and more Midwestern culture and I just got the notice of the theme of the 2010 Iowa State Fair from the Iowa Butter Cow, one of my Facebook friends (http://www.facebook.com/buttercow). Maybe that is why … Continue reading

Posted in butter cow, Rural Tourism | Comments Off on Creamy Cow from the Corn Belt