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Goals for local economy considered

Keeping the businesses we have, and getting more new businesses were the top priorities suggested at the Cowley First goal setting session Thursday at Strother Field.

The group did not formally adopt the list of goals or priorities as presented by director Debra Teufel, but the group of elected officials from around the county appeared to generally agree.

Teufel said her major focus is on retention of business, and helping existing businesses take advantage of opportunities that are available.

She also wants to get more incentives for business, both to expand current business and to attract new ones.

She told the group that the county could consider a small sales tax to help in that area. That idea would have to have voter approval. It was not discussed at the meeting. Other priorities on her list were entrepreneurship, workforce recruitment, housing, rural development and implementing the Vision 20/20 study.

The group may adopt these priorities at its next meeting.

Teufel told the group that the population of the county is slowly declining, and personal income has grown slowly.

She had charts that showed how counties in the area are struggling economically and Cowley County is doing even worse.

"Our job is to find a way to turn that around," she said.