Who wouldn’t leap at the opportunity to invest $60,000 for a return of $3 million?
“That’s what we got with a new industry,” said Joe Albrecht, of economic development efforts in Cookeville, Tenn. The industry, with a payroll of $3 million, was supported by local incentives totaling $60,000.
The rhetorical question was posed Thursday when Albrecht visited with Iola Mayor Bill Shirley, Allen County Commissioner Dick Works and John McRae of Iola Industries. Albrecht was in town to visit relatives. He is a former newspaper publisher and editor in Cookeville, and more recently involved in efforts to expand the community’s economy.
Albrecht said the same thing could happen here if the county, Iola and other cities and private interests were willing to work closely to be truly competitive in recruitment of industry.
“A community is either growing or it is dying,” he said.
Iola’s candle, he said, is flickering.
Warning signs are the closing of Haldex Brakes last fall and the area’s continuous loss of population.
The 2010 census put Iola’s population at 5,704, 598 fewer than 2000’s 6,302; the county’s population during the same 10 years dropped from 14,385 to 13,371, a loss of 1,014 people.
Critical elements for economic development are a like-minded community, county and cities working hand-in-hand, and a supportive newspaper, one that heralds accomplishments as an unabashed cheerleader, Albrecht said.
McRae allowed that Iola Industries, a for-profit development group with its roots in the mid-1950s, hadn’t kept up with the times, but was willing to do whatever it could, including stronger financial commitments, to attract industry.
Representatives of an unnamed prospect will visit the county Thursday in a tour of seven communities being considered for a new facility that eventually will hire 150 people. McRae said Iola Industries and an area building’s owner were on board with requests for three years of forgiveness of rent, taxes and insurance.
That’s what it takes, Albrecht chimed in. “Ask upfront what a prospect wants” and do whatever is necessary in the wooing process, he said.
“IT REQUIRES courage on the part of public officials to work with each other and be willing to be more supportive of a prospective industry than those elsewhere,” he added.
It takes money to attract industry, he added, and Allen County and its cities have to be willing to invest, through abatement of taxes and coming across with money to pay for a company’s prescribed needs.
“You also need the community behind you,” Albrecht said. “You need a united front,” beyond public officials and those in such groups as Iola Industries. “It’s all about creating jobs, good-paying jobs, which drive growth of a community.”
Having a ready and trained work force also is important, which gives roles to the school district and community college.
A key element also is a comprehensive Website, where prospects can find detailed information about a community, Albrecht said.
“Not having a good Website is an enormous roadblock,” he said. “Industries want to know all about a community before they make contact,” unlike years ago when they would come to a community unaware of what was available.
Pertinent information includes availability of utilities and costs, buildings that are available with specific information about each and if shovel-ready land is nearby.
Prospects want information immediately. “They don’t like to hear ‘I don’t know,’” Albrecht said.
“Shovel-ready land,” he said, is a huge advantage. “You have to have sites with infrastructure in place. Companies want to start work on a plant the day after a site is selected. Without a ready site or a building ready for occupancy, you’re dead in the water.”
McRae recalled that Russell Stover Candies selected Iola for its new plant in the mid-1990s because of complete infrastructure availability at the site in northwest Iola.
Allen County also should involve nearby counties, such as Woodson or Neosho, in recruitment efforts, Albrecht proposed, although he deemed the regional development group, which embraces all of southeast Kansas, was too big, in large part because of competing interests.
