WEST PLAINS OKs $110,000 PACT WITH RETAIL STRATEGIES FIRM BY TERRY HAMPTON, Quill Staff Writer Citing the need to be proactive in attracting business to the city, West Plains Economic Development Director Bob Case asked members of city council at their meeting Monday to enter into a three-year agreement with a professional consulting services firm which specializes in recruiting retail businesses. “We are losing approximately $70 million a year in sales. That’s a conservative estimate. If we were able to see an increase of just 20 percent by keeping that money from going outside the community, that would equate to about $400,000 a year in sales tax revenues for the city,” Case said. In a four-to-one vote, council members approved the agreement with Retail Strategies, based in Birmingham, Alabama. The total cost to the city will be $110,000 to be paid over the next three years. Council members Bob Burtrum, Brenda Smith, Mike Topliff and Mayor Jack Pahlmann voted in favor. Councilman Royce Fugate cast the dissenting vote. Fugate asked Case what guarantee there would be that businesses would locate here. Case acknowledged there are no guarantees. “But we have to do something. We need to be proactive,” he said. For full story, click the link below to view the full story on our website.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:41:41 +0000
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