Letter: IDB issues annual report

Dear Citizens,

Many of you may not know, but the Cannon County Industrial Development Board (IDB) was reorganized in June of 2012. This being the first anniversary of the new board we thought it a good time to offer an operations report to the taxpayers of our community.

The IDB is a committee of citizens who have volunteered to serve in the function of attracting businesses into Cannon County for the purpose of providing additional employment opportunities and also increasing the tax base for our county. The committee searches for businesses that have a proven track record of success and are looking for a location to grow or relocate their business. We do not consider the IDB as an incubator for "start-up" businesses because by definition start-ups are financially risky. We are however, willing to assist in the marketing of privately owned developable commercial / industrial land.

The efforts of the IDB over the last twelve months have been expended to accomplish firm control over our properties. In one case we sold a building and adjacent land that will provide expansion space for an existing Woodbury employer and will result in additional employment opportunities for job seekers. In another case we sold a parcel of land that was unusable as a building site. Those sales place both properties back on to the tax rolls generating ongoing tax income for the county. We are also diligently working toward placing all building renters into lease contracts as we are obligated to closely guard the public money invested in buildings and properties managed by IDB so we can get the best bang for the taxpayer's dollar.

The IDB financial condition has been stabilized allowing us the freedom to invest our energies almost totally to recruiting new employers into Cannon County.

How can you help? Keep an eye out and an ear to the ground for any business, regardless of size, that may be planning expansion or relocation. Let us know that information and we will follow up with an appropriate contact. Come join us at a meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Cannon County Courthouse. The IDB committee consists of seven members, but every citizen of Cannon County is an important part of the effort to increase employment opportunities and to increase the tax base. Please feel free to call us anytime at 615-563-2222.

The IDB members are: Randall Reid, Burton Mason, Dean More, Corey Davenport, Mindy Gunter, David Vance and Neal Appelbaum.