CEDC Lays Out Possible Economic Development Project

Proactively attracting new retail establishments to Cumberland was discussed at the recent meeting of Cumberland Economic Development.  Grant availability through the Appalachian Regional Commission would allow the CEDC to contract with a national recruitment consultant to do a detailed market analysis.  CEDC Director Matt Miller said the result of the consultant’s work would benefit the city…

“Expected outcomes include engagement with prospective retailers, attraction of new retail establishments over time, and increased private investment and job creation within the community.”

Miller said the project is a good step forward in getting retail back into the city limits…

“I think downtown is one component. This is going to be focused city-wide. Because, for instance, there’s 20,000 square foot of vacant space in Rose’s Plaza, most of White Oaks Plaza is vacant. There’s a lot of opportunity for us to start really strategically looking at how we can fill a lot of those vacancies.”