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Hammock

City inks deal with Retail Strategies

By Michael Butler

Tallassee is hoping to attract new business with its recent contract agreement with Retail Strategies. The agreement is for three years at $30,000 per year.

"I have to wear a lot of hats; superintendent of utilities, mayor... Basically, I'm the econmic developer, but I'm only one person," Tallassee mayor Johnny Hammock said. "Sometimes you need to contract persons that are the experts that know the lingo, know the developers, know those type people to bring them in and know your opportunity zones.

"I only have a certain amount of hours that I can do this stuff, and I'm not an expert on it. I'm getting my certificate from Auburn University in Leadership in Economic Development. I've learned a lot going to these workshops. I'll wrap that up in August. But, still you need someone calling on these people everyday for you."

According to Hammock, Retail Strategies is credible in the retail trade and can potentially be the closer on luring businesses in Tallassee.

"They're going to have all the data; the traffic counts, the trade area population, demographics, stuff like that. We've already worked with them in some aspects. They've helped us."

Cunningham

Retail Strategies already works with Wetumpka and Millbrook.

"I'm not saying, we can attract everything like Wetumpka," Hammock added. "They're ten minutes from Montgomery, so they're going to have more opportunities."

Tallassee Chamber of Commerce director Jerry Cunnigham is optimistic about the city's arrangement with the national firm based in Birmingham.

"There is so much networking," he said. "They already have the contacts. It doesn't guarantee that things are going to come in, but they know who might be interested based on other markets. I'm impressed and look forward to the partnership."