MPEDC Announcement:
MPEDC has created a Business Resource Center to help answer business-related questions.
Visit this link: https://mpedc.org/news/covid-19-business-resource-center/.
A lot of people are working hard to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our businesses & community. We hope this adds some value and helps ease the process for
Please let us know if you have any recommendations. Y’all be safe. 💪 You’re not alone.
(MOUNT PLEASANT, TX – November 4, 2019) – Nathan Tafoya, Executive Director MPEDC in Mount Pleasant, TX, earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), a national recognition that denotes a mastery of skills in economic development, professional attainment, and a commitment to personal and professional growth.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) administered the CEcD exam on October 12-13, 2019 in Indianapolis, IN at the JW Marriott. With 13 years of economic development experience, Nathan Tafoya has a successful track record at both state and local levels attracting jobs and capital investment to communities. Mr. Tafoya holds an MBA from the University of New Mexico, where he took 1st place in the school’s annual technology business plan competition and was awarded $25,000 from Lockheed Martin. Mr. Tafoya is also a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Tafoya joined MPEDC on June 18, 2018.
“I am extremely pleased to announce I’ve earned the nationally-recognized Certified Economic Developer designation from IEDC,” Nathan Tafoya said. “This designation adds another level of confidence in MPEDC’s activities in the community. The designation also signals to outside companies and consultants that their projects in Mount Pleasant, TX will be handled at the highest levels of expertise and professionalism. I look forward to a continued and rigorous application of all things economic development in Mount Pleasant and Titus County. This community is poised for incredible success and I’m excited to be standing should-to-shoulder with some of the most dedicated and proficient community partners and leaders in Texas.”
The CEcD designation recognizes qualified and dedicated practitioners in the economic development field and sets the standard of excellence within the profession. Candidates must pass a rigorous and comprehensive examination, which has three parts and spans two days. The exam tests a practitioner’s knowledge, proficiency and judgment in the following key areas of economic development:
● business retention and expansion
● finance & credit analysis
● marketing and attraction
● strategic planning
● entrepreneurial & small business development
● managing economic development organizations
● neighborhood development strategies
● real estate development & reuse
● technology-led economic development
● workforce development strategies
● foreign direct investment & exporting
As highly competent economic development professionals, Certified Economic Developers work with public officials, business leaders and community members to create leadership to build upon and maximize the economic development sector. Excellence in the economic development profession improves the well-being, quality of life and opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities. There are currently more than 1,100 active CEcDs in the United States.
It’s fall, y’all. Leaves are coming down, but businesses are going up. Contact MPEDC to learn more about our 107,000 population trade area and ask for our 2018 Retail Coach report.
The Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation (MPEDC) board on Oct. 3 approved extending its contract with a professional consulting firm that assists in marketing the city to prospective retail businesses.
The firm, The Retail Coach, describes itself on its website as “the first name in retail recruitment,” offering “a fully customized system of products and services that better enable communities to maximize their retail development potential.” This includes market research and consulting.
The city has been under contract with the firm for a year already, with the current term expiring this month. Last week’s vote extended the arrangement for an additional 12 months, at a cost of $25,000.
“This will maintain continuity in our retail study and allow The Retail Coach to continue to work on projects in our area,” MPEDC staff wrote in materials prepared for the board prior to last week’s meeting.
The market research the firm provides the city is available to existing businesses as well, board members said. Over the period the city has been working with The Retail Coach, the firm’s services have evolved beyond such research, to also include making contact with potential retail businesses.
Some of the businesses the firm has worked with in the past include Petsense, Schlotzky’s and Dairy Queen, MPEDC Executive Director Charles Smith said.
Those companies now do business in Mount Pleasant.
In other business last week, the board:
-Approved forwarding to the Mount Pleasant City Council a tax abatement application from Priefert Manufacturing/PMCI Properties. All such applications must be approved by the council.
-Approved authorizing Smith to sign an Educational Cooperative Agreement. A cooperative agreement between the MPEDC, Mount Pleasant Independent School District and Northeast Texas Community College has been in existence for five years. Following staffing changes at some of the entities involved, this was considered a good time to renew the partnership’s shared goals and objectives.
Address- Temporary Office Location
302 North Jefferson Avenue, Suite 140 • Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Phone
Office: 903.572.6602 • Fax: 903.572.0631
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