The Loudon County Economic Development Agency, Inc. was originally created on May 24, 1965, as the Loudon County Industrial Commission, Inc. and later chartered as a private non-profit organization under the Tennessee’s Secretary of State on August 9, 1985 as Loudon County Industrial Committee of 100, Inc.

On April 25, 2000, the Board approved a change in name, membership and expansion of the organization’s role as the Joint Economic and Community Development Board under Public Chapter 1101. Under this role, the Agency is responsible for coordinating governmental and private industrial development and economic development activities in Loudon County.

The Agency is governed by a eight-member board comprised of one member each from the three governments, and one member each representing the County Commission, Lenoir City Committee of 100 for Industrial Development, Inc., the Chamber of Commerce, Greenbelt Property Owner and one member appointed at-large. Each serves a two-to-four-year term. The Agency employs an Executive Director and staff to plan and coordinate the Agency’s development activities. Financial support for the Agency is provided by Loudon County, City of Loudon, Lenoir City and Lenoir City Industrial Committee of 100.

So the purpose for the EDA is to bring economic development to the county, creating jobs and generally being an asset for the county and cities. There are some who believe the EDA does a good job for the county. I am not one of those people. I guess if someone could show me one success from the EDA in the last 20 years I might feel a little different.

Many years ago, Loudon, Lenoir City and Loudon County entered into an agreement to fund this organization. Not sure who's brain child the funding scheme was but it sure left the county tax payers holding the bag. The current cost sharing is Loudon County 64.5%, Lenoir City 16.4% and Loudon 14.9% with another 4.2% coming from other sources. Last year, Loudon County paid $162,545.00, Lenoir City paid $41,226.00 and Loudon paid $37,529.00. The total EDA budget was $251,878.00. The EDA employees an Executive Director at a pay of around $90,000.00 per year.

The EDA, as it is currently organized, is an obsolete organization in the era of the internet. Businesses looking to locate in our area will start their search on the internet. If they find what they are looking for, they may pursue contacts within the county. Loudon County has a $95,000.00 mayor, Loudon City has a $130,000.00 city manager, Lenoir City has a $78,000.00 mayor and a $95,000.00 city manager. Just how many high paid executives does one county need to entice economic development? At least one less than we have now.

By law, the county and cities are required to have a joint economic board of some kind. The need for a 90k executive director has long passed. All they need now is an office, a phone, someone to answer the phone and a web site. I suspect this can be accomplished for a far lower cost than the tax payers are stuck with now.