HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty launches economic development initiatives, 2011.docxCounty launches economic development initiatives
Posted: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 12:15 am | Updated: 5:46 pm, Tue Apr 5, 2011.
County launches economic development initiatives By CARLY FLANDRO, Chronicle Staff Writer | 1 comment
Gallatin County is launching a series of economic-development initiatives aimed at helping businesses and communities, County Administrator Earl Mathers announced Tuesday.
"While economic stress is somewhat less severe in Gallatin County than in many parts of the state, there is room for improvement," Mathers wrote in a prepared statement.
//The initiatives include efforts to improve infrastructure and growth opportunities in the area, as well as provide data on the local business sector and improve connections.
Two members of the county's planning staff, Tom Rogers and Warren Vaughan, will begin focusing on economic development, Mathers said. Their tasks will include mining for useful data
and setting up sessions for local businesses to meet and share ideas.
"The concept is fantastic," Rogers said of the effort. "It will further the Gallatin County growth policy and create an environment for existing businesses to expand, and for people
with small ideas to get started."
For example, if an individual wants to open an automobile dealership, they could find information about existing dealerships, where they're located and whether the market is saturated.
The initiatives will also revive Park and Gallatin counties' Economic Development District, making both counties more competitive for federal funding. The district went dormant about
a year and a half ago for various reasons, including loss of staff.
"Now, we recognize the importance of reestablishing it," he said.
The multi-county district would be led by a board of directors, composed of elected officials and citizens, such as bankers or labor representatives. Among other duties, the board will
help make decisions about which projects to pursue with any funding received, according to Mathers.
Being part of an economic development district will make Gallatin County more competitive for Economic Development Administration and other government funding, Mathers said. EDA money,
if received, could go toward improving infrastructure such as roads or sewer systems.
Park and Gallatin counties will also revamp their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies, he said.
Mathers said it's a good time to focus on the economy.
"Unfortunately, there hasn't been a great deal of interest in economic development in the past," he said. "There's a greater interest today, and I thought it would be an appropriate
time to move forward."
Carly Flandro can be reached at 582-2638 or cflandro@dailychronicle.com.