Published: October 30, 2009 08:23 pm      

City leaders attend business conference

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Inter-est from developers looking to the area near the new overpass/interchange is heating up.

“It’s looking good,” Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said. “I’m very happy with the direction we’re going. It’s an organized direction.”

Chesley, City Manager Ron Neibert and Jefferson County Development Corporation Executive Director Mary Ellen Bechtel attended the International Council of Shopping Centers on Wednesday and Thursday — a day after the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new overpass/interchange and the reopening of Veterans Memorial Drive and South 42nd Street.

“We were able to update the retail developers we had previous contacts with during the last two years, and establish some new contacts,” Chesley said. “One of the reasons this visit to the conference was extra important is because of the opening of the interchange.”

Retail developers have been in contact with the JCDC as well as the city expressing interest in keeping updated about infrastructure work being done in the city, and Chesley said those developers are being updated on the progress.

“We have to keep them informed on the activities in the community,” Chesley said. “When a business comes to the area, they have made an investment in the community, so we like them to know as much as possible about what is going on.”

One of the key things developers were asking about is the infrastructure improvements throughout the city, Chesley explained.

“We’re also letting them know about upgrades,” Chesley said. “We stressed the upgrades and new work aren’t spontaneous, they are all part of a long term plan for the city.”

Developers have been waiting on roads and infrastructure before moving forward and the economy will play a part in the development on the west side of town.

“Businesses are cautious right now about where they start building new stores,” Chesley said. “We’re trying to help inform them of what we can do to assist in attracting them to our city. We contacted potentials too. There were some retail developers that did not know about us before. Now we can maintain contact.”

Chesley said the group didn’t go to the conference empty handed, and one of the items they took with them was a list of retailers suggested by citizens.

“We all go out in the community and hear from people who say we need this business or that business,” Chesley said. “We make a list of the suggested various businesses the residents think we need, and made a special point to emphasize our city to the developers with those businesses.”