Economic Development Issues Discussed

The Economic Development Committee of the Trenton City Council met Monday night to review priorities and discuss the role of the assistant city administrator for economic development, which was va

The Economic Development Committee of the Trenton City Council met Monday night to review priorities and discuss the role of the assistant city administrator for economic development, which was vacated earlier this month.

In addition to himself, City Administrator Kerry Sampson said the meeting included committee members Troy Smith, Larry Crawford, Kenneth Ewing, Gary Hurst and Jackie Soptic as well as councilman Dr. Nick McHargue, Mayor Gary Hall, City Clerk Cindy Simpson and Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation Chairman Chris Hoffman. Randy Railsback, executive director of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, assisted in facilitating the meeting, which included discussing the direction the city might want to take in regard to future economic development endeavors.

Sampson said the committee discussed several priorities for the community, including the need to continue development of the new industrial park, support of existing businesses and determining what types of new businesses would be right for the area. Sampson said the list will be fine-tuned and the committee will meet again next Monday night, prior to the regular city council meeting, to continue discussion and development of a plan that can then be used to determine what type of persons the city might be looking for to fill the economic developer’s position, which was vacated earlier this month by the resignation of Rick Childers.

To help develop that plan, Sampson said the committee will look at meeting with other entities that have a vested interest in economic development to come up with the best scenario to meet the needs of Trenton and the area.

“We want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that we are one voice,” Sampson said. “If we do that, we will be successful.”