Sunday, October 14, 2012

"We're Getting Outhustled" Says Dothan Mayor

by: Lance Griffin | Dothan Eagle

Dothan Mayor sat at a conference table three weeks ago and proclaimed that “we’re getting outhustled.”

He didn’t mean outworked. Schmitz and other area leaders have had the ear of scores of regional, national and foreign business executives over the past few years. Many of them come to Dothan. The vast majority of them like Dothan and the people.

But eventually it comes down to the deal, the hustle.

“In today’s competitive market, other communities and cities are putting deals out there that we just can't,” Schmitz said. “We need to get ahead of the curve. It is important to sell our community, our quality of life and everything that goes along with it, but it does come down to incentives at some time.”

Schmitz wants to find $1 million per year for an economic development fund for the purpose of recruiting new industry to the Wiregrass. He said the state’s budget struggles place more responsibility on cities now more than ever.

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