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County development authority presents five‑year economic strategy to Tyrone leaders
Summary
Fet County Development Authority president Nikki Vanner Slice presented 'Foremost Fyet,' a five‑year countywide economic development strategy emphasizing legacy‑industry support, diversification into digital and sports‑performance sectors, fiber infrastructure benefits and a focus on attainable housing to retain workforce, and urged local elected officials to weigh community priorities as projects arrive.
Nikki Vanner Slice, president of the Fet County Development Authority, presented the authority’s five‑year strategic plan — branded “Foremost Fyet” — to Tyrone city leaders, describing a countywide economic‑development strategy developed from more than 700 stakeholder interviews.
Slice said the plan reframes the authority’s role from serving only the authority to shaping economic development across Fay County. She said targeted industry sectors include advanced manufacturing, corporate and regional headquarters, digital and creative media, legacy industry support and a sports/health performance cluster tied to the new U.S. Soccer National Training Center. She noted recent infrastructure wins — including a pilot that brought high‑capacity fiber to the county’s backbone — that make parts of the county more attractive for technology and talent.
“I’m not going to go through all of them,” Slice told the council as she walked members through slides and the five strategic goals. She later framed the plan as a chance to shape growth: “If we do nothing, it will happen to us instead of us deciding what it is we want to be.”
Slice said the authority wants collaboration with municipal elected officials on what kinds of projects each jurisdiction prefers, and described three headline goals: build a unified county vision through partner communication; sustain and grow legacy employers while pursuing diversification; and build a more livable community with more attainable housing options to retain workers. She pointed to data showing US Soccer pays higher wages and attracts younger employees and argued that such employers can help replenish school enrollment and workforce pools.
Tyrone’s appointee to the development authority, Tracy Young, said his board will pursue a similar strategic plan at the DDA level and is considering consultant support and an organizational review to clarify DDA roles and staffing.
What’s next: Slice made slide decks available to council members and invited questions and further dialogue; councilmembers said they wanted the DDA to ensure local input as the authority vets deals and refines site‑level proposals.
