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.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

Happy Holidays from Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association!!! www.industrialsites.hickmantn.org www.business.hickmantn.org

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IEDC Economic Development Journal article

The Fall 2008 edition of the IEDC Economic Development Journal contains an outstanding article on economic development support of entrepreneurship — “Energizing Entrepreneurs, Development Strategy for the 21st Century” (may require IEDC membership to view). The article explains why our … Continue reading

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Santa Arrives by Rail on Saturday

Santa Shelves Sleigh for Shortline…. Railroad Relieves Rudolph All Aboard!, The Santa Train rolls into town on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 10 A.M. at the Hickman County Senior Citizens Center. The South Central Tennessee Railroad and the Hickman County … Continue reading

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Industrial Sites, Great and Small

Not every manufacturer employs hundreds of people. At Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association, we never forget that small manufacturers are important, whether we can help them grow or sustain their current level. Hickman County provides a quality workforce … Continue reading

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Starting a Business / Entrepreneur Support

There will be an informational session (it’s free!) on starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur held in the training/conference room at the Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association office on January 20th at 6:00pm. It will last about … Continue reading

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Hemlock Semiconductor / APSU Solar Cell Technology

Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation is coming to Clarksville, Tennessee and will create 500 to 800 highly specialized jobs in the emerging solar cell technology industry. Austin Peay State University (where I earned my undergraduate degree) will be tasked with providing much … Continue reading

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"Folks down here want it (site locations) more–a lot more–and they know how to get it."

Canadian ReportonBusiness.com Article on Tennessee’s Attractive Business Environment “How is it that Tennessee and other southern U.S. states can be opening new plants in the midst of a global financial crisis and plummeting vehicle sales, while Michigan, the cradle of … Continue reading

Posted in Canadian business, Hickman County Tennessee Economic Development, Qualitätsarbeitskräften, quality labor force, Quality of place, tax incentives | Comments Off on "Folks down here want it (site locations) more–a lot more–and they know how to get it."

TVA Board Approves New Electric Rate to Recruit Data Centers

TVA Board Approves New Electric Rate to Recruit Data CentersThe TVA Board today approved a new rate classification for data centers and similar businesses that wish to locate in the Tennessee Valley. For additional information about this or other TVA … Continue reading

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Good Food, Good Value, Quality of Place

In the November 2008 edition of Garden & Gun magazine, two of the 100 foods honored in the article “Good Eats: 100 Southern Foods You Absolutely, Positively Must Try Before You Die” can only be enjoyed in Hickman County. Biscuits … Continue reading

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Economic Development Book

Yesterday I finished reading The Little Black Book of Economic Development by Don Allen Holbrook, CEcD. The Little Black Book of Economic Development is a thought provoking evaluation of the current state of economic development and an examination of how … Continue reading

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Quality of Place – Hickman County, Tennessee

Hickman County, Tennessee is a great place to live or just visit, but during the holiday season, it’s quality of place shines even brighter. A short tour down Highway 100 or Interstate 40 from Nashville brings you to unique, quaint … Continue reading

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Entrepreneur / Starting a Business Workshop

There will be an informational session (it’s free!) on starting a business and becoming an entrepreneur held in the training/conference room at the Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association office on January 20th at 6:00pm. It will last about … Continue reading

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Book Report

Today I started two books, the audiobook version of Outliers in the car and The Little Black Book of Economic Development by Don Allen Holbrook, CEcD. Outliers strikes that perfect balance of being engagingly interesting without becoming distracting (a good … Continue reading

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Tennessee Economic Development Organizations Continue Focus

As Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development prepares to take a breather in its recruitment efforts of large industries (see story), local Tennessee economic development organizations such as Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association continue to work hard … Continue reading

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University Contacts Can Produce Economic Development Prospects

An article in Nashville’s The CityPaper, “Capitalizing on Colleges Can Produce ECD Boost”, discusses how our universities can provide a boost to economic development beyond training our future workforce and improving our labor force. This is why Hickman County Economic … Continue reading

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Hickman County Economic Development to Provide New Benefit to Local Employers

Hickman County Economic Development has purchased access to an employee compensation data survey that includes compensation data, benefit packages, and pay practices by job title. Tennessee Labor & Workforce Development provides basic wage information, but this compensation survey by Compdata … Continue reading

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Improved Cellular Phone and Wireless Internet Service

The East Hickman area (Lyles, Bon Aqua, Wrigley) has just benefited from infrastructure upgrades that have greatly improved cellular phone and wireless internet coverage. Our eCommunity Leadership Team, associated with Connected Tennessee, have been working on raising awareness of the … Continue reading

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Hickman Community Hospital

Hickman Community Hospital, a member of Saint Thomas Health Services, is one of Hickman County’s community assets. In the process of expanding its physical plant and services, including emergency room facilities, Hickman Community Hospital provides chest pain, rehabilitation, and other … Continue reading

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association wishes all of our blog readers a …. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Quilt Warmth from Quality Workers

My 2007 Hickman County Quilt Show Book was delivered recently. I had not had a chance to look at it until last night, but my wife and I enjoyed looking at the art in the work and all the family … Continue reading

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Tennessee Business Environment Cultivates Winners

I was reading my latest copy of Inc. magazine, which featured the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. As more evidence of our great business climate, Tennessee was one of the states with the highest … Continue reading

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Hickman County Economic Development Mentioned for its Community Culture Support

Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association received a mention in the program for Vanderbilt University Opera Theatre’s production of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene last weekend. Supporting arts and culture is important to a community, whether – as Richard Florida … Continue reading

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Business Information Available at East Hickman Library

The Hickman County Chamber of Commerce placed an informational kiosk in the East Hickman branch of the Hickman County Public Library. My organization, Hickman County Economic & Community Development Association participated by supplying informational brochures on starting a business, entrepreneurship … Continue reading

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Entrepreneurship in Tennessee: Striving for Success

University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural Economics with assistance from University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service, Tennessee Dept. of Economic & Community Development Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO), and UT Extension introduced the study, Entrepreneurship in Tennessee: Striving for … Continue reading

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Tennessee Governor’s Housing Summit

Yesterday, I registered for the Governor’s Housing Summit Dec. 1-2. The agenda is posted at http://www.thda.org/. Speakers include U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper on the federal intervention in the financial markets, Commissioner Gonzales from the Department of Financial Institutions on foreclosure … Continue reading

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Great Advice for a Happier New Year for Economic Development

Bob Ady of Ady International posted a blog entry, Take a Deep Breath and Get Ready for the New Year, that reminds us of the importance of focusing on the fundamentals of business retention and expansion and a disciplined attraction … Continue reading

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Upcoming Workshop Focuses on Customer Service

Dr. Dale Henry of Your Best Unlimited will be conducting a workshop on Customer Service December 4, at the Perry County Community Development Center in Linden from 1-3PM. Dr. Henry is a native of Tennessee and has been a teacher, … Continue reading

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Taking Notes

I just ran across an article posted on a blog designed to make one a note-taking expert. Economic development is dependant on higher education and the labor force gaining new skills to become somewhat of an expert. Economic development should … Continue reading

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Another Resource for Business Information for Hickman County Area

Hickman County Economic & Community Development is a member of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce (and the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce, of course.) The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has a new resource, called Expert Edge, for growing … Continue reading

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Quality Education, Achieving Students

The new Tennessee Department of Education Report Cards are out for the school systems. Hickman County’ composite ACT scores are up 0.8, only 0.2 below the state average. The graduation rate is also up! For all of the education progress … Continue reading

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