Development Department Retools, Shifts Strategy
Published Apr 07, 2004
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced a major organizational restructuring in the summer of 2004, a move aimed at providing a more proactive research-based and regional approach to job growth and retention.
The name says it all: Project New Day.
ECD Commissioner Matt Kisber says the effort is a restructuring that comes from ideas suggested within the department and by external partners.
“We’re changing our culture and focus at ECD by becoming more customer service driven, putting more focus and resources in the field, and using the expertise of our team to specialize in areas important to economic and community development,” Kisber says.
Lockwood Greene, an independent economic development research firm, assessed the department’s operations and strategic focus by interviewing ECD and other state employees, including Gov. Phil Bredesen, along with representatives of constituencies like the Tennessee Industrial Development Council, TVA and individual communities.
“Our job was simply to take all the ideas and input from ECD and other sources, put together the best structure and develop a way to crystallize it,” says Robert Pittman of Lockwood Greene. “This type of assessment and restructuring in an economic and community development program is unprecedented for a state.”
Some of the changes include combining recruitment, retention and expansion activities in the regional offices; creating regional business development director positions; expanding the scope of services and staff to support community development activities; and expanding the department’s research function.
“We can only be as good as we strive to be,” Kisber says. “We look forward to continuing our efforts in encouraging partnerships, building a strong team and enhancing our communication processes.”
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