TAEDC Seeks Funds to Hire Full-time Director

The newly formed Tullahoma Area Economic Development Corporation is seeking a budget of $153,059 for the next fiscal year, with a large portion of it used to hire a full-time executive director.
TAEDC Chairman Lynn Sebourn made the request at Monday's meeting of the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The proposed budget estimates the director's salary at around $80,000. It also lists an additional $19,651 in benefits.
Sebourn told the city board that he realizes that Tullahoma will have a tight budget for the next fiscal year, “But the (TAEDC) board feels that it is appropriate for the city to allocate some resources to (hire a director) . . . . we'll get the city moving again, and hopefully that will help pay for itself.”
According to Sebourn, the TAEDC director will serve as the main business contact for the city.
“We expect that person to help facilitate any issues with the city and the various utilities and the various boards and all of the things involved in running a business in Tullahoma.”
The director would also be charged with helping existing businesses provide more jobs for the area and to recruit new companies, said Sebourn.
Mayor Troy Bisby said that it would be difficult for the city to provide TAEDC with that size of budget, “Some of these items, we may have to partially fund . . . . and work towards finding resources to fill in the holes.”
Sebourn replied that the board could work with that.
“Our primary concern is to get someone in here to work with us.”
The TAEDC budget also lists $4,500 for printing and publications, $8,000 for legal services, $10,250 for recruiting and marketing, $5,000 for advertising, $5,250 for special events, and $7,500 for travel and training.