Clay County Board of Economic Development Student Appointee

Katie Burnett has graduated after serving as the first student appointed to the Clay County Board of Economic Development.

Burnett started as a junior board member and advanced to senior member.  Burnett said she had provided input from a younger generation, but she felt that she learned more than she had contributed.

“A lot of people don’t see that side of it sometimes, you know,” Burnett said. “You don’t see people working so hard to improve everything. So that was good for me to see that and tell other people about it.”

Burnett said the board was concerned for the county’s future and that was why the board focused heavily on helping youth.

“They were into making more job opportunities for people,” Burnett said. “They wanted us to be in a good position so that we could create good positions for others when we grow up.”

Burnett said it was good to be in the position so that she could keep her peers connected to board happenings.

“But also for the board to see what we needed the most,” Burnett said. “They had a direct insight to the younger generation.”

Burnett said as she gained more experience on the board, she had to choose a new junior member to join. She said she had to reach out and decide who would be best for the position, be prepared to go to meetings and be interested in the good of the county.