Finally.
 |
| Small business |
After almost two years, Norfolk
found someone to direct the city’s economic development efforts, even though
the city had someone, Chuck Rigney, and kept him hanging for probably the
longest interview of his life.
But business is business, as they
say.
The question remains: how will Chuck Rigney, the acting interim
director, who has a banking and real estate background, fit into the new
economic development thrust?
It certainly is trendy.
Excerpts from the press release say
it all.
“He has fresh and innovative ideas
to cultivate small business and entrepreneurial incubators,” said city manager
Marcus Jones in a prepared statement about the new director, Steven Anderson.
“I believe Steven will pull together
resources within the community to bolster workforce development and create a
well-trained workforce which is the foundation for business attraction and
retention,” Jones said in the press release.
Key
words.
Small
business.
Norfolk
certainly needs more small business.
 |
| Workforce training |
How
about starting an economic gardening program? Since the Hampton Roads
Partnership has been dissolved, which spearheaded a regional economic gardening program, it’s looking
for a home.
How
about starting a community bank that doesn’t charge exorbitant fees and
interest rates, as does the Staunton Creative Community Fund, to kick start
small business.
But
Norfolk needs Big Employers also. Small business is a nice addition to any
city, but most small businesses feed off big business. Google, Oracle, Apple and Microsoft spawned hundreds of small companies laboring to strike it rich.
Entrepreneurial
incubators.
Hatch Norfolk wunderkind Zack Miller should be jumping for
joy, even frothing at the mouth at the prospect of more city support for his
“endeavors.”
Workforce
development.
I
never understood what this meant. Can someone explain it to me?
Well-trained
workforce.
What
does the market want? That’s the real question. Does the market want construction laborers, technicians, people to chauffeur invalids and the elderly around town?
Let’s hope Anderson, who by all indications was a
consultant, maintains an ongoing dialogue with the public, the press and
Norfolk’s diverse community, from Broad Creek to Ghent.
And the Norfolk Economic Development Authority, an 11-member
group that represents all of Norfolk, not just downtown.
Here’s the rest of his pedigree, according to the city's prepared statement.
Director
of Economic and Community Development for St. Mary’s County Maryland. Worked
for the Anderson Group providing consulting services to municipalities and
companies.
Vice
President of Business Development for St. Louis County, Missouri.
And,
by the way, he’s a lawyer. Or he was trained as a lawyer.
“Anderson
holds a law degree from Whittier College School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Missouri.”
Published by Indie News Network