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Council hires retail expert to attract businesses



By Tim Farley
News Editor

After some mild dissent during Monday’s city council meeting, Retail Attractions became Piedmont’s newest link to drawing major restaurants and stores into the community.

Rickey Hayes, founder and owner of the Owasso-based company, told the council he’s never seen any community with as much retail potential as Piedmont. Hayes cited Piedmont’s educational attainment, median household income and housing value as three key figures that already have drawn interest from at least two national developers.

In preparation for Monday’s meeting, Hayes said he discovered 47 percent of Piedmont residents have college degrees and the average household income is $96,446. He also told the council the city’s median housing value is slightly less than $200,000.

“That is astronomical. It’s off the charts,” he said. “I don’t know of any other community in Oklahoma that has near the income your city has.”

Hayes told the council a story about contacting two national developers and providing them with Piedmont’s statistical information.

“Both said, without asking the name of the community, ‘you have our full attention,’” he said.

However, that comment and the statistics didn’t impress everyone. Resident and former councilman Roy Mayabb said retailers won’t come to Piedmont because the business environment isn’t right. Mayabb said retailers would be better off in other cities because of the infrastructure, tax base and cheaper land.

“You’re wasting our money and his time. You vote. I don’t care,” he said.

Councilman Al Gleichmann took a negative stance claiming a “group” of people in Piedmont won’t allow retail development.

“Rickey has a good idea but I’ve been out here a lifetime and Piedmont is not friendly to retailers. This council can’t do anything about the group that does this,” he said.

Mayor Valarie Thomerson replied, “Well, let’s change that. We are the ones who will create a business friendly atmosphere. You are the leaders in each of the wards.”

Councilman John Brown urged the council to approve the contract with Retail Attractions because of the potential business boom that can occur. Retail Attractions will be paid $4,000 a month for 10 months plus travel expenses to economic development conferences in Texas and Las Vegas. The contract can be renewed at the beginning of the next fiscal year.

“Piedmont is ripe for development,” he said. “We need to get our name out there to get the businesses that are passing us by. Nobody is putting our name out there. How are we going to get these things (road improvements) without these businesses?”

Brown continued, “We are the largest city without a lot of things.”

The council approved the contract by a 4-1 vote with Gleichmann casting the only dissent.

More figures provided by Hayes proves Piedmont residents are spending large amounts of their money outside the city limits.

Hayes told the council residents are spending $10 million a year on food and beverages outside of Piedmont. With a 5 percent sales tax, Piedmont is missing $500,000 a year in revenue based only on food and beverages.

“We will take this data behind the doors of the retailers and present it to them. Right now, you’re sitting in a position to access a revenue stream to help this community grow,” Hayes said.

Hayes was straight to the point with the council about the necessity for land.

“The numbers don’t matter if there is no available real estate,” he said.

However, Hayes was confident he can bring retailers to Piedmont because of the financial figures and the availability of land.

With a network of 500 retail brands, Hayes said he and his staff are in daily contact with developers looking for a new venture. Some of the retail brands Hayes has worked with in the past include McDonald’s, Arby’s, CVS, Kohl’s, Hampton Inn, Jimmy’s Egg, Advanced Auto Parts, Office Depot, KFC, Pier 1 Imports, Panera Bread, Ross Dress for Less and Best Buy.

Retail Attractions has worked with more than 370 communities across 37 states since 2007. The company also has facilitated new commercial construction totaling more than 10 million square feet with more than $500 million in total value. In addition, that work resulted in city sales tax and an ad valorem base that more than tripled previous figures.

Hayes said he will begin immediately contacting national brand restaurants about Piedmont.

“Nobody is telling the Piedmont story and we’re fixing to tell it,” he said.