Macy Cullison is Fort Scott’s new Economic Development Business Recruitment and Retention Manager. She moved her from Pennsylvania where she was working with Economic Development loan fund called Community First. We caught up with Macy at City Hall and asked a few questions about her new position.
What brought you to Fort Scott?
I wanted to work in economic development and have always wanted to live in Fort Scott. So when I started looking for a new job I looked at Fort Scott first and was excited to see there was a position here.
How do you plan to help foster economic development?
Right now I’m working on revamping the marketing for the city to help market ourself to companies outside of Fort Scott. A major component of economic development is fostering the businesses that are already here. So working with them to help them grow is a major part of what I’m doing.
Last week I met with a bunch of our manufacturers to talk to them about how we can help them grow. We found that a lot of them are looking to expand so we are going to be having a job fair with the chamber in November.
What types of things can you do to help a local person looking to start a new business?
They should definitely come talk to me. I can help find a good place for them to locate, help them get demographic information and try to help them get a good building to rent. I can try to help make sure they are in a place where there is traffic for their type of business and I have the resources at my fingertips that may take them a few weeks to find on their own.
Is your position only targeting new businesses?
No. Definitely not. I want to know about all of our businesses in town. I’m going to spend 60 to 70 percent of my time working with existing businesses helping them grow. Just last week I found out that existing business owners have 20 or so positions open that they are having trouble filling. A huge amount of our growth is going to come from our existing companies.
Anything else you’d like to share with readers?
Yes. Ask people to “like” our Facebook Page!
I agree that most if not all job growth will come from the businesses already here. I don’t see a problem with that unless the taxpayers are expected to pick up the tab for that growth. I know a lot of times, jobs get promised that don’t actually materialize for whatever reasons, as a stipulation for getting taxpayer assistance in growing the business. We must find a way to bring in new business and residents because we cannot continue to cannibalize ourselves which is what is happening when the taxpayers continue to shoulder more and more of the financial burden.
I also just got to say, I wonder what the 20 open positions pay? Are they full-time? Are they at a place that has permanent lay-offs on a regular basis? Do they offer affordable health insurance? It just gets to a point that working can’t beat the benefits that are extended to those on public assistance.