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.

MTSU Business and Economic Research Center Study Includes Hickman County

Hickman County is a part of the Middle Tennessee Marketing Group (MTM) for which MTSU’s Business and Economic Research Center recently completed a study titled Increasing Competitiveness through Strengthening Regional Industrial Clusters: Middle Tennessee Marketing Region. MTM is an initiative … Continue reading

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Beneficial Bits for Busy Businesspeople

It’s tough to find the time to learn how to start a business, discover new things to take your business to the next level, or in my case at the moment, how to increase efficiency and effectiveness of a small … Continue reading

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Increasing Sales & Profits as a Destination Business

Today, approximately 80 people from the Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County area attended a workshop, Increasing Sales & Profits as a Destination Business, facilitated by nationally-known business consultant Jon Schallert of the The Schallert Group, Inc. headquartered in Longmont, … Continue reading

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Online Small Business Assistance

Starting a new business or looking to grow your existing small business? The U.S. Small Business Administration has free, online business training. The courses are taken at your speed, but usually take an average of 30 minutes. Topics include “Starting … Continue reading

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Thanks, Dad!

On this morning after a national election, I would like to thank my father, who after a long, hard day of work, would always take my brother and I to the polls with him to cast his vote. He lived … Continue reading

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Tennessee Business Climate ranked 2nd (and moving up!)

Tennessee Business Climate was ranked 2nd in the United States by Site Selection magazine. And as we say around Nashville, it was number 2 with a bullet as Tennessee moved up 4 positions from last year’s ranking. The state of … Continue reading

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Canadian ReportonBusiness.com Article on Tennessee’s Attractive Business Environment

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

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Chattanooga Area Prepares for Volkswagen

Tennessee Department of Economic Development and Chattanooga are moving fast in making Chattanooga ready for Volkswagen. For smaller companies in the site selection process, Hickman County has industrial buildings available in the 50,000 to 150,000 square feet range. Tier III … Continue reading

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Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course

The Tennessee Leadership Center will conduct the Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course (TBEDC) in Nashville again in 2009 on May 4th through May 8th. The Tennessee Basic Economic Development Course is accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The … Continue reading

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Change in the Air

Maybe it’s the feel of fall in the air, but I am thinking about change, the inevitable part of economic development — there can’t be ‘development’ without ‘developing’. From time to time, the economic developer must think about what kind … Continue reading

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T.W. Frierson Contractor celebrates 50 years

If my working late tonight allows me to wrap things up in the office early tomorrow, I plan to attend a reception recognizing T.W. Frierson’s 50 years of success in construction. T.W. Frierson Contractor, Inc. , headquartered in Nashville, builds … Continue reading

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Governor Bredesen Leads Group to Recruit VW Suppliers

Governor Phil Bredesen is leading a group to Germany to recruit Volkswagen suppliers. A troop of 41 representatives of state and local government and business leaders were invited to travel with Governor Bredesen, according to NashvillePost.com. However, there are many … Continue reading

Posted in Hickman County, Plätze für Fabriken mit Qualitätsarbeitskräften, Tennessee Economic Development, Volkswagen Tennessee | Comments Off on Governor Bredesen Leads Group to Recruit VW Suppliers

Hickman County Workforce Employer Outreach Committee Meeting

Hickman County WEOC (Workforce Employer Outreach Committee) MeetingThe WEOC is an ongoing effort by the TN Department of Labor and Workforce Development to reach out to Tennessee employers and provide valuable information to foster economic development and promote our services. … Continue reading

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Hickman County has Certified Economic Developer

Just a few hours ago, I received positive results of the final segment in the examination process in becoming a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with International Economic Development Council (IEDC). In order to be considered for certification, one must have … Continue reading

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Four County Business Seminar November 6, 2008

Hickman, Lewis, Perry, and Wayne County Business SeminarComing to Linden November 6, 2008 Business owners in Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Wayne Counties have the opportunity to hear nationally-known business consultant Jon Schallert when he comes to Linden on Thursday, November … Continue reading

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IEDC Conference

Seems like everything has a deadline coming due this week, from reports to developing some marketing pieces, to assembling information for industrial location prospects. However, I look forward to taking part in some of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) … Continue reading

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Quilts, Cars, Culture

This Saturday, October 4th, there will be something for most everyone in Hickman County. If the outdoors are your thing, stop by Bon Aqua Clothing for some comfortable all-American Diamond Gusset Jeans. Then, there is the John Noel Bon Aqua … Continue reading

Posted in Centerville, Centerville Car Show, Hickman County, hickman county quilt show, John Noel State Natural Area, Quilt Show | Comments Off on Quilts, Cars, Culture

Governor Honors Hickman County with Three-Star Award

On September 16th, Governor Phil Bredesen presented the Tennessee Three-Star Award for Community Economic Preparedness to Hickman County. Hickman County was one of only 3 communities to achieve Tier II in the program (five earned Tier III and the bulk … Continue reading

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Conducting Economic & Community Development

Like most of us in economic development, our schedules change to respond to the needs of our communities and to the busy schedules of prospective business and industry. Such was the case on Saturday as I had the opportunity to … Continue reading

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Willkommen! Hickman Grafschaft, Tennessee – Plätze für Fabriken mit Qualitätsarbeitskräften

Hickman County welcomes Volkswagen to Tennessee. As other manufacturers take a look at Tennessee, Hickman County is preparing to be receptive in showing off our industrial sites and quality labor force. I am working on preparing basic economic development information … Continue reading

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Article about Hickman County on BusinessWeek.com

In an article titled “Bringing Broadband to Rural America” on BusinessWeek magazine’s online edition, BusinessWeek.com , Hickman County was highlighted by technology writer Arik Hesseldahl. Hickman County Economic & Community Development Assn. has been working with Connected Tennessee in increasing … Continue reading

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Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Council to Host Regional Tourism Workshop

Four-County Workshop Focuses on “The Economics of Tourism” The Buffalo/Duck River RC&D Council will be hosting a workshop for Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Wayne Counties on Tuesday, October 7th – 6:30 PM at the Community Development Center in Linden. Entitled … Continue reading

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Local Sales Tax Revenues Increase

According to the Tennessee Dept. of Revenue’s tax collections website, local sales tax collections over the past 12 month period (Sept. 2007 to August 2008) have increased 4.7% over the previous 12 month period (Sept. 2006 to August 2007.) A … Continue reading

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TVA Named to Top Ten Utilities List

Site Selection Magazine has named Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as one of the nation’s top ten utilities. TVA, through distributors MLEC and Dickson Electric, provides reliable electricity to Hickman County. Site Selection begins its description of TVA’s economic development efforts, … Continue reading

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Local McDonald’s Website

While doing some research, I stumbled across the website for the local McDonald’s Restaurant. McDonald’s is appreciated in our community as an employer, as an active member of our business community, and as another restaurant with great food and service.

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Leadership Hickman Program

The twelfth Leadership Hickman class completed their retreat today. Like the many people in the eleven classes before them, they will attend a day-long session each month until May, learning more about Hickman County, networking with people in the community, … Continue reading

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New Website With Business Information

As part of HCECDA’s new and improved economic development website that I am building, the Hickman County Business Information website is up (let’s call it a work-in-process, ‘beta’ version for the moment). It includes starting, operating, and growing a business … Continue reading

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Grinders Switch Music & Arts Festival

It is 4:30 on Saturday afternoon and I had to pull myself away to work on a project, but the music will continue until about midnight tonight at the Grinders Switch Music & Arts Festival. From bluegrass to the blues, … Continue reading

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Who is our County?

A little further along in my reading of Richard Florida’s Who’s Your City?, I thought about Hickman County and the area: “There is a growing movement in cities around the world to invest in culture as a way of improving … Continue reading

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"It’s Good to Be in Tennessee"

In my newly renewed quest to have a place for everything and everything in its place in the HCECDA office, I have been taking a little extra time in the afternoon and some occasional weekend time to further organize to … Continue reading

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