PINEVILLE — Community assessment team member Mike Mangeot, President/CEO Kentucky Association for Economic Development returned to Bell County Wednesday, August 20. He presented the community with his team’s recommendations for economic development in Bell County.
Mangeot stressed: “Bell County is competing in a global economy.” The assessment team strongly recommended that the county undergo a comprehensive strategic planning process. Strategic planning will establish priorities, develop consensus and buy-in for the community.
“Consider a strategic plan, an action plan. Things we think you need to do to get things rolling,” stated Mangeot.
Within the next six months, KAED recommends that representatives of a strategic planning committee be appointed. Mangeot persistently stressed that an un-biased facilitator should be designated to lead the committee. An “outsider” would eliminate any public perception of bias or hidden motives.
The assessment team had mixed concerns over the proposed industrial park at Mountain Drive, “To you, the industrial park land is flat. To an economic developer it’s rolling terrain,” commented Mangeot.
Many of the utilities and infrastructure remain miles away from the park and many of the funding sources are not yet solidified, according to Mangeot. More of a concern to the team were mixed messages about the future of the property. It was proposed through earlier discussions that an RV or ATV park would be erected. There’s also the proposal of a coal-to-liquid fuel plant in the works. The KAED recommends that park developers “consider neighbors” in the decision-making process.
Mangeot said, “We need to get out of ‘the coal mine mindset’. Cultivate more entrepreneurial efforts in diverse areas. Leave the mindset of waiting for the one big hit to save the community.”
Based on the team’s impressions, suggestions were made to narrow the focus of Bell County’s recruitment efforts on the short-term and focus on regional companies. Repeated statements were made that it was easier to keep businesses that started here in the community than to try and recruit a new business to the area.
Mangeot focused his discussion of Bell County’s economy on tourism attractions. The KAED believes that the location and geography of Bell County can be an incredible asset: Nearby is Cumberland Gap, Tenn., Virginia, Pine Mountain State Park Resort. There’s also the Mountain Laurel Festival, the Cumberland Mountain Fall Festival, Wasioto Winds and the Middlesboro Country Club — the oldest golf course in the U.S.
“Bell County is uniquely positioned to take advantage of all these things,” said Mangeot. He suggested that the county create and embrace a “brand”. For examples, he cited Branson, Mo. being known for country music and Myrtle Beach, SC being known for their golf courses.
Ultimately, KAED suggested that a resort/spa center would be the perfect tourism draw for the area. He explained that there is not a world class spa in the state of Kentucky. According to KAED, Bell County would be an ideal home for such a project. He explained that it would be a profitable entrepreneurial venture, would provide jobs, and would get traffic moving through the area.
“Economic development is a community activity. You can’t expect one person to do it. There’s no one right way to get the job done,” were the words that Mangeot and the KAED left Bell County community leaders with.
“Your work has been an eye opener for me. I think the challenge is going to be in our [committee’s] coordination,” said Ken Jones, President of Bell County Industrial Authority.
A committee or committee leader was not established before the meeting came to a close. If a committee develops as a result of this study in the future, the Middlesboro Daily News will bring that information to our readers.
Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.
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