On Monday, December 14, Milford Metropolis Council accepted the creation of an Financial Growth and Neighborhood Engagement Administrator. It is a place created to deal with Council’s need to create a stronger financial growth focus, in keeping with Mark Whitfield, Metropolis Supervisor.
“The Metropolis additionally has a necessity for emphasis on group engagement, public data and advertising,” Whitfield mentioned. “As a result of these things are considerably associated, creating one place that might deal with each group engagement and financial growth appears acceptable. A number of cities in Delaware have such positions, together with Seaford which has a place precisely just like the one proposed right here. The annual wage for such a place can be a Grade 12, starting from $72,260 to $124,238.”
In line with paperwork offered on the assembly, the brand new place can be chargeable for managing the Metropolis web site, develop a advertising plan for the Metropolis, act as a liaison between enterprise and builders in addition to promote particular financial growth incentive packages which might be accepted by Metropolis Council. The candidate will need to have a minimal of 5 years’ expertise in advertising, public relations, enterprise, planning, group growth, financial growth or a associated discipline. A bachelor’s diploma or larger in advertising, public relations, enterprise, public administration, planning or associated discipline can also be required. Expertise necessities and the applying can be found on the Metropolis web site.
“We now have talked to the Mayor of Seaford and lots of different cities which might be forgetting in regards to the Kent Financial Partnership as a result of they’re in the identical scenario we’re,” Mayor Archie Campbell mentioned. “From an financial growth standpoint, I might say seven out of ten mayors I spoke to mentioned the sort of place is the best way to go.”Funding for the place might be achieved in a number of methods, in keeping with Whitfield. Council may fund the place utilizing funds accessible after suspending the Kent County Financial Partnership, which was $30,000.
“The 2021 finances included a full time ICMA Fellow to start in January,” Whitfield mentioned. “Nonetheless, we’ve found a really restricted pool of candidates and there have been none from the College of Delaware. A number of weeks in the past, I contacted the Metropolis of Lewes about sharing a Fellow once more beginning in June. Holding off on filling that place would unencumber a further $35,000 within the 2021 finances. The current finances additionally consists of about $60,000 for the duplication of a Finance Director for 2020-21. As a result of this isn’t a recurring expense, $60,000 can be accessible for future funding of the place, together with $30,00 from KEP.”
Councilman Jason James strongly supported the place, stating that the easiest way for the Metropolis to lift income was to extend the tax base. He defined that the best way to do this was to extend buying, eating places and different companies that convey individuals into the Metropolis. Housing was already rising in Milford Councilman James mentioned, so a stronger financial base is critical. It was his opinion that different cities had missed a possibility as a result of they didn’t set up a single division to give attention to financial growth.
“I’m completely satisfied Mark has been proactive with this and has not solely put a proposal collectively however discovered funding for a place to start out as quickly as potential,” Councilwoman Katrina Wilson mentioned. “The timing is true. Every part is coming collectively at one time for the Metropolis of Milford. We now have elevated companies and now we’re in search of a brand new police division. Our taxes should enhance to help the expansion and the timing is true for a place like this.”
The place was accepted by a vote of seven to 0 as Councilman Andy Fulton was absent from the assembly.
