WCEDB addresses concerns about transparency issues

By: Amanda Mansfield

Press Reporter

     Bringing much-needed infrastructure and jobs to Weakley County is at the forefront of the minds of not only Weakley County citizens but also its leaders.

Potential business investors are looking for a number of things when choosing to expand or relocate. Among those are access to interstates, airports, railways, human capital and utilities, including high-speed internet access and reliable cell phone service.

Leaders in our county have been working together for years to provide business owners the things they are looking for in order to attract more jobs to the towns in Weakley County. The city of Dresden has recently partnered with West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications (WK&T) to ensure fiber Internet access to citizens and businesses, and recently the county has partnered with WK&T to bring that Internet access to rural areas in the county as well.

While some county leaders have publicly spoken out about the supposed lack of transparency and cooperation in the area of economic development, some statements have been rebutted.

The Weakley County Economic Development Board (WCEDB) is located within UT Martin’s Regional Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (REED) Center in Martin, while the city of Martin’s Department of Economic & Community Development is located within Martin City Hall. According to WCEDB director Shelby Spurgeon, the WCEDB is not in any type of business partnership with UT Martin, the REED Center or the city of Martin, and they do not show any type of favoritism to the city of Martin.

Regarding public criticism during the February Dresden Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, she said, “We are looking forward to meeting with Mayor Washburn and the Dresden City Board to discuss the matter. However, we feel that a number of their frustrations are attributed to the fact that COVID has hindered our ability to be as present in the community as we would like; this includes city board meetings [and] county commission meetings.

“Additionally, the pandemic has slowed economic development activity down all across the state, not just Weakley County. As the economy has started to reopen, we have begun to schedule meetings to be out in the public to cultivate economic and community growth. We look forward to the opportunity to address the city’s concerns, while also realizing that any progress in the [county] is good for all of Weakley County.”

A proposed merger between the WCEDB and the Weakley County Chamber of Commerce has been in the works since last summer. During a called meeting Nov. 23, the WCEDB met in Gleason to present some findings and their plans moving forward. In attendance were several leaders in our community, including Weakley County Mayor Jake Bynum, Greenfield Mayor Cindy McAdams, then-Gleason Mayor Diana Poole, members of Weakley County Soil Conservation, UT Martin Outreach and Development, as well as county commissioners and city aldermen.

WCEDB chairman Tommy Legins and Mayor McAdams met with county attorney Allison Whitledge earlier that month to discuss the logistics in the merger and its nonprofit status.

Regarding the merger, Legins told The Press that other counties in the area, such as Obion County, were working in much the same way, with the Economic Development Board under the umbrella of the Chamber of Commerce.

“I think [the merger] will be great for the county,” he said. “It will result in more efficiency and a lot of collaboration.”

He added that any time resources such as these can be combined, it is better for everyone involved as they are working on the same goals for the county and each municipality within it.

Weakley County Chamber of Commerce President Cory Davis told The Press, “As chamber president, my main focus is always on the communities, businesses and citizens of Weakley County. The idea and purpose of the merger is to bring the two organizations together under one roof that will allow for an increase in efficiency, easier and more streamlined communication along with a united vision for the county moving forward.”

The WCEDB has issued a statement to keep the public apprised on some activities that the board is currently undertaking. Among the projects they are working on, WCEDB has recently completed its Three Star certification for the county, a strategic community development program to assist communities in preparing for a better future. Without this certification, municipalities within the county would not be able to apply for certain government grants needed to further develop each town.

WCEDB is working with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to design new industrial park signage for our Dresden, Greenfield and Martin industrial parks. The reason behind this endeavor is to help those attempting to locate businesses and to draw attention to the county’s industrial parks.

In addition, WCEDB is working with TVA specifically on Dresden’s pad-ready site. They are currently drafting a sign for the pad-ready site in Dresden for the front of the property. The sign would include maps, information on the site and contact information for potential investors. Also, TVA is working with WCEDB to render a 2D model to show consultants what a building would look like on this property in order to help with marketing efforts for the Dresden site.

Continuing to develop the Greenfield Pentecost site, WCEDB will be applying for another InvestPrep grant in the hopes of gathering funds to purchase the property and continue with its development. Environmental studies were done by WCEDB in 2019, thanks to an InvestPrep grant.

As housing ties directly into workforce development, WCEDB is focused on finding a solution to the problem and create more housing opportunities across the county. WCEDB has identified ideal locations in the county for more housing in the area.

Spurgeon said WCEDB is hopeful for the future of our county, and by merging with the Chamber of Commerce, more resources could become available to further develop the area for its citizens.

“Weakley County is a special place with a vast variety of opportunity,” Spurgeon said. “In 2020, we faced a pandemic, and our industry never quit. Several towns in Tennessee saw closures and layoffs. However, Weakley County remained strong. In April, Weakley County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state for the first time ever, and I attribute that to the fact that our industries remained diligent and did everything they could to work during the pandemic while also following CDC guidelines.

“There are many moving pieces that WCEDB is working on in each of our respective towns. We are excited to see what 2021 holds for each of our communities, and we hope to see and help each of them grow.”

For more information on how the WCEDB assists our county, visit www.wcedb.com, and for more information on Weakley County’s Chamber of Commerce, visit www.weakleycountychamber.com.