"We just have so much potential for retail growth in this community, and we just wanted to hire someone to do that," Miami Mayor Brent Brassfield said.

Stopping a $437 million annual leak in sales tax revenue is one of the top goals of the Miami City Council, now they're doing something about it.

The council is hiring Economic Developer Rickey Hayes to fix the leak, and draw more business to the area.

He'll act as a go-between for the city and the businesses, highlighting what Miami can offer.

"What we want to validate the market, and give the community the chance to move up on the priority list of the retailers," Hayes said.

Thursday's special council meeting pulled the trigger on the deal, an accord that will pay Hayes $45 thousand dollars a year out of the city's general budget.

"It's all just a piece of the puzzle spending the kind of money for professional services during hard times is a tough thing to swallow, but his track record is proven," Brassfield said.

"My rolodex is more valuable then I am, it's just a value of knowing who to call," Hayes said.

Hayes' company, Retail Attractions, is based out of Owasso.

Since he's set up shop, Hayes says his company has added 4.5 million feet of retail, including Target, Best Buy, and Olive Garden.

Now he'll spend the next 12 months collecting information on what Miami needs, and who will best suit the area.

"What we're going to do is try to cherry pick the retailers that fit the leakage," Hayes said.

Hayes says Miami has immediate needs in building supplies, sporting goods, and clothing stores, a task he'll look to start solving immediately.