By Madison Remrey
Phillip Smart, Ruston’s new economic development director, shares plans aiming to enrich the city in this week’s Q&A.
Q: What does your job entail as the economic developer for Ruston?
A: My job, in a broad statement, is the process by which creating a better quality of life for the citizens of Ruston. A more precise answer is to direct and coordinate economic and community development engagement for the City of Ruston and Lincoln Parish. I assist with the growth of Ruston by recruiting and encouraging businesses and people to locate here.
Q: What goals would you like to accomplish during your time as an economic developer? Why are these your goals?
A: There are many goals we have for Ruston; you probably don’t have enough space to write them all down. Each one of our goals is just as important as any other goal we have for the City of Ruston. We want to develop a highly skilled workforce, reduce unemployment, increase the standard of living, promote economic stability and support local entrepreneurship as well as to assist with developing ready land for commercial and industrial use. We are strengthening, maintaining and continually upgrading our infrastructure to provide the best capacity to our current and anticipated needs. We are assisting with retaining and expanding current local businesses. We do consider annexing additional land, as necessary and when possible according to smart growth principles to accommodate future expansion in cities. The City also does this to help establish housing and transportation to improve the quality of life. We want the city to be as prosperous as we know it can be; henceforth, every goal we have is the most important one to us.
Q: How do you plan to implement your goals?
A: To obtain these goals, we will focus on workforce development, job creation, infrastructure, small business development, greenfield/certified sites, business retention and expansion, secondary education, technology transfer, K-12 education, crime prevention and housing. We network throughout the region to provide the most efficient plan to achieve our goals.
Q: What benefit do you see your plans having on Ruston?
A: Once we adhere to these plans, the benefits are endless. We will reduce economic barriers and become more resourceful. The City of Ruston will experience growth through tourism, lodging, retail, education and the overall quality of life.
Q: You’ve mentioned in previous articles that unification within the community is important—- that we all must work together. Will your plans help achieve this for Ruston?
A: Yes, there is no need to duplicate our services if the service is already available. We can save time and money by partnering with the current programs and agencies that are in place. We have to come to an understanding that we all want the same goals and that is to make Lincoln Parish “THE” place to work, live and play.
Q: Why do you do the job that you do? What makes you excited to be Ruston’s economic developer?
A: I would love to say that I do this job because it’s something that I have always wanted; however, God has chosen this job for me, my steps are ordered by him. I believe I was put here to help all citizens increase his or her quality of life. I am committed to creating a favorable economy, a place where people of diverse talents choose to work/live and where investors as well as entrepreneurs can choose to locate and grow. I want everyone to have something to look forward to. We want citizens to enjoy life to the fullest potential. We are focused on solutions to improve everyone’s quality of life.
