craigdailypress.com

Despite some of the recent bumps in the board, the Craig/Moffat County Economic Development Partnership is working to stay on track.

The key, several board members have said, is hiring an executive director and that decision is about a week away. Members of a hiring committee interviewed their top four candidates by telephone and have invited two for interviews. Those candidates will be in Craig next week.

Both candidates are men who have economic development experience.

One candidate who applied for the position, but later withdrew his name, offered to visit Craig Oct. 24 and host a free economic development workshop.

Doug Lee, an economic development director in Louisiana, offered to share his expertise when he was told of the EDP's history and current situation.

Lee offered to host the workshop because he is a 20-year Colorado resident and wants to assist economic development growth in his home state.

"It was very generous of him to offer to provide this workshop," said Tonya Griffith, treasurer of the EDP board of directors.

Lee is a nationally recognized motivational speaker with a background in marketing, economic development and business recruitment.

He may even give the group direction in the hiring of an executive director.

"It depends on where our focus ends up going," Griffith said. "There are a lot of issues to talk about and obviously an executive director is a huge piece of that."

She said she believes the workshop will be a good tool for the board in helping to define its mission, establish goals and narrow its focus.

"I just think we have a lot of really positive things going for us now and everyone is putting a lot of time and effort in to progress," she said.

The EDP has also, with more than $1,600 in funding from the Moffat County Tourism Association, published 5,000 glossy brochures aimed at getting out-of-town hunters to consider moving their business to Craig.

The full-color, two-sided flyer lists the benefits of living and working in Moffat County and directs those interested to contact the EDP for more information.

"It's a really nice piece and we've had some really nice compliments on it," EDP member Linda Booker said.

The brochures are being distributed to hunters via hotels, campsites and outfitters and are being placed in every out-of-state license sold at Cashway Distributors and other locations.

Christina M. Currie can be reached at 824-7031, Ext. 210 or by e-mail at ccurrie@craigdailypress.com.