KIRKSVILLE, MO -- Three months...that's how long it's been since Kirksville’s Director of Job Creation Phil Tate has been in contact with anyone at Wi-Fi Sensors. His last attempt was last week.
Also, we've found out that Wi-Fi was also late on its loan payment to the State of Missouri, but Tate told members of the K-REDI committee the company did contact Missouri’s Department of Economic Development to request a 90-day extension.
Even with the uncertainty of Wi-Fi's future, Tate is proud of K-REDI's role in attracting the company to Kirksville.
“K-REDI was successful in attracting WI-FI and having them make the location decision. K-REDI is not involved in making sure that the company is successful. We can assure that we try to do everything we can. So, I feel good about the fact that we were able to convince them to make the decision,” Tate said.
Tate says it's been frustrating that he's been unable to contact the company, but he still has hope that Wi-Fi will be successful.
It was also announced at today's K-REDI meeting that Tate’s contract with the organization was extended another year.
Tate says he sees the extension as a recognition of his based on some of the project K-REDI has done and the projects they’re currently involved with.
“My background is pretty extensive through the State of Missouri. My contacts continue to be strong through the Missouri Department of Economic Development and I know the programs. And you know…in this day and age it’s pretty tough out there in economic development. And the leads and prospects are what are most difficult to come by. I know how to work a project as well as anybody and I’ll say probably better than most,” explained Tate.
He says that it’s the communities like Kirksville that have an on-going, sustainable, high-quality economic development organization are the ones that will be successful regardless of who’s the director.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO