Published: October 10, 2008 08:06 pm      

Mayor addresses economic development

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Being ready for new business and industry is one of the key ways to get economic development to the area, according to Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and Jefferson County Development Corporation Executive Director Mary Ellen Bechtel.

“In today’s world we need a plan with flexibility that gives a direction for economic development and planning for infrastructure and to get everything in place,” Chesley said. “That’s the whole purpose of the comprehensive plan.”

Bechtel, who also serves as the chairman of the economic development subcommittee for the plan, said the three things developers and site selectors for industry look for are a skilled workforce, location, low energy costs and incentives.

“Having a business climate of cooperation and collaboration is important too,” Bechtel said. “Knowing that local governmental agencies and organizations can cooperate with each other to make projects happen, makes them happen. It’s been our experience we have a good climate between the city, county and the other governmental agencies. ... We all work together to attract business to our area.”

Making sure the word is out that the city is “open for business” prompted Chesley to address the city council and audience Monday at the City Council meetings, after she received personal complaints that she wasn’t doing anything to support economic development.

“I’m out every day on the streets, I go to the coffee shops every day and I’m a very visible mayor,” Chesley said. “I heard the complaint from one person about three months ago. ... Then last week there were three people who said [that I didn’t support economic development]. This isn’t right and it could hurt our city if it isn’t addressed.”

Chesley said many of the efforts to promote economic development are behind-the-scenes, and other efforts, such as the comprehensive plan, seem to take longer than many would like.

“People think, ‘They started this six months ago, why isn’t it done?’” Chesley said. “Because it takes time. It takes time to do things right, and this is too important not to do right.”

When developers look at a community, the top thing they look at is the workforce and whether the workforce has the skills and education needed to fill the jobs, Bechtel said.

“That’s even important for businesses expanding in the are,” Bechtel explained. “Many times a skilled workforce drives expansion. If they have employees with the skills they are looking for, they know they can expand.”

A skilled workforce is also something Chesley said she has been, “diligently meeting with groups to find out about their needs and partner with them so that when young people go out to get jobs, they get jobs in Mt. Vernon.” Chesley said she and other city leaders have been working with Rend Lake College and Mt. Vernon Township High School in furthering and supporting the future workforce.

Location makes Mt. Vernon “particularly attractive,” to potential industry, Bechtel said.

“We have two Interstates in this area, and other natural resources,” Bechtel said. “Site selectors all look at the infrastructure. Communities need a great infrastructure system, plenty of water, sewer and road infrastructure as well as Internet capabilities and broadband so people can do their business easily.”

Chesley said one of the things she sees as important in attracting economic development is the attitude of the community.

“Street talk can kill us,” Chesley said. “A potential retailer may be in a restaurant and hear talking. ... If they hear we aren’t interested or the city doesn’t want retail, they may go on down the Interstate. We can’t let that happen. Many times, there’s only one chance to get them and we can’t let them go on by.”