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Council approves economic developer contract



CLAREMORE — Owasso resident Ricky Hayes will be retained by the City of Claremore for another year, as members of the Claremore Public Works Authority have approved Hayes’ contract for Hayes to provide economic development services.

Approved at last week’s CPWA meeting, Hayes’ latest contract is his third with the City of Claremore to generate retail and economic development services through his company, Owasso-based Retail Attractions, LLC.

As outlined in his contract, services required of Hayes include:

  • Assessing current situations, including obstacles and opportunities and advise the client (the Claremore Public Works Authority) regarding findings and next steps.
  • Assisting the client regarding marketing efforts to attract new businesses.
  • Advising and assisting the client pertaining to real estate transactions, opportunities, or processes in regards to development efforts.
  • Advising and assisting the client pertaining to incentives, infrastructure needs, partnering with developers and using developmental agreements to the best advantage of the client.
  • Advising and assisting the client pertaining to public relations efforts regarding development in the city.
  • Engaging network of contacts on behalf of the client to ensure the right people in the development community know about the opportunities in the city and continually keep the city in “front” of the development community.
  • Introducing the client’s officials to network contacts to enhance the city’s ability to market itself in the future.
  • Serving as liaison between the client and the development community as needed to facilitate the process of commercial investment in the community.

Per his contract, Hayes will receive an annual consultation fee of $40,000, payable at a rate of $3,333.34 monthly on the first day of the month, beginning Feb. 1, 2011, and to continue for 11 months through January 2012.

Prior to his first contract with the City of Claremore in 2008, Hayes worked for the City of Owasso and was instrumental in making the community attractive to retailers, helping bring in national chains such as Target, Best Buy, Hobby Lobby, and several others.

While Hayes’ agreement with the City of Claremore prohibits him from serving as an advertising agency (i.e. economic developer) for other municipalities within Rogers County while under contract, Retail Attractions represents numerous municipalities outside Rogers County.

Among the cities also represented by Hayes through Retail Attractions are Enid, Glenpool, Grove, Collinsville, Mannford, Muskogee, Miami, Owasso, Guthrie, and Skiatook.

Hayes’ contract was approved by members of the Claremore Public Works Authority in a unanimous vote.