Retail Summit provides clues to attracting development

OML held a Retail Summit which was hosted by the City of Moore on Feb. 18. Speakers from companies who specialize in retail development shared their expertise with the 77 municipal officials and other municipal representatives who were in attendance. Moore’s economic development director, Deidre Moore, was instrumental in bringing the workshop to fruition. Refreshments were sponsored by Moore and Price Edwards and Company.

Topics covered included “The Retail Game: Basics of Recruiting Retail and Resources,” with Jim Parrack, Price Edwards and Company; “What Is Expected from a Community and What Makes a Developer Take Notice” was covered by Rickey Hayes, principal for Retail Attractions; “Grow Your Own: How to Bolster Existing Retail and Creative New Approaches” was addressed by Linda Barnett from the Oklahoma Main Street Center of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce; Janet Yowell, executive director for the Edmond Economic Development Authority talked about “Leveraging Your Advantages to Attract Retail Development” and Dawn Cash and Bill Winters from the Oklahoma Tax Commission shared information on “The Oklahoma Tax Commission and Municipalities: Retail Means Business for Both.”

Rounding out the day was a panel on “Pay to Play: The Use of Incentives in Attracting Retail” with moderator Deidre Ebrey, City of Moore and panelists Johnathan Russell, Land Run Commercial Real Estate and Burk Collins, Burk Collins Company.

We thank the City of Moore for hosting the workshop and Deidre Ebrey for sharing her expertise and contacts which made the Summit such a success. We also want to thank the city and Price Edwards for sponsoring the refreshments.