Consultant outlines economic development strategic plan to boost Montgomery County jobs and marketing

Consultant Chuck Ston of Strategic Location Advisors presented Montgomery County commissioners with an economic development strategic plan, telling the board the primary purpose of recruiting businesses is to increase revenue and create primary jobs for local residents.

The presentation, delivered after staff introduction by Savannah, laid out the firm’s site‑selection process — from questionnaires (RFIs) and scoring to site visits — and emphasized that a strong relationship between local staff and site consultants increases a community’s chances of landing projects. “Part of her job is, yes, filling out those RFIs, but also having y’all’s support when those site visits do come,” Ston said, urging county staff to be prepared when consultants bring potential clients to town.

Ston highlighted several county priorities reflected in the plan: bolstering business retention and expansion programs, ensuring utility and transportation infrastructure is ready for industry, expanding workforce career pathways (including co‑located high school/community college models), and calibrating housing production to local income ranges. He noted that when utilities, permitting and site readiness are not addressed, a community can be eliminated early in a site selection process.

The consultant recommended that county economic development staff attend selective national conferences and cultivate long‑term relationships with site consultants and corporate contacts. He also urged development of a standalone economic development website with direct contact information and a portal for existing industry, and suggested exploring a nonprofit economic development board to increase private funding and investor engagement.

Savannah and Ston answered commissioners’ questions about conferences and recruitment tactics; Ston described both in‑person and virtual site‑visit approaches and the multi‑year nature of winning a project. Commissioners applauded the plan and the staff’s work in assembling it.

The presentation closes with staff recommendations to implement the plan’s marketing steps, prioritize utility and site readiness projects, and pursue targeted trade shows to raise Montgomery County’s profile.