UCDD Exec Director Encourages Local Leaders To Focus On Industrial Development

As the region’s leaders outline goals for the next five years, UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley emphasized the need to find more land for industrial development.

Recruiting more industry was one of the goals included in the UCDD Executive Committee’s five-year plan approved Wednesday. Farley said mayors need to educate their council or commission on the importance of having land available.

“A lot of our commissioners, a lot of our city council members they do not understand the process,” Farley said. “When a prospect comes along or a property comes along, it’s hard to get that over the hump, because we’ve not done the hard work of educating those that are actually going to vote to make those things happen.”

Farley said there is a lack of marketable land owned by counties to recruit new industry. Farley said manufacturing brings new money to the region and is a catalyst in growing the region’s economy.

“The businesses that you create. The retails, the service businesses in your communities are great,” Farley said. “They are just circulating the same dollars within your county border. The manufacturing is what brings new dollars and grows your economy, so you got to try and continue to grow that industry base.”

The strategy also calls for communities to explore new models on how utilities are provided. Farley used Cumberland County as an example as the county works to create a sustainable, long-term water source through a new water authority.

“It’s time to look at that model again,” Farley said. “Cumberland County I think you are looking at some of that right now, and I think that is an area that we all need to look at. How do we improve our utility infrastructure.”

The goals and strategies were created through surveys at each county in the region over the summer. The plan outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the region. The majority of the goals try to address those weaknesses. The survey found that the Upper Cumberland is strong in natural beauty, small businesses and low cost of living.