DIRECTOR TO LEAVE POST AT PERRYVILLE; BUSINESS SEARCHER TAKES MISSOURI JOB

PERRYVILLE -- Dianna Moore's job is to deal with jobs.

As executive director of the Perry County Industrial Development Authority for the past eight years, Moore has worked hard to attract new industry to Perryville and Perry County.

But Moore will change jobs soon; she's leaving to take a position with the Missouri Department of Economic Development as director of the state's Community Development programs.

Moore's last day on the job here will be Aug. 15. She will begin working for the state Sept. 1.

"I am excited about going to work for the state," she said. "I think it is an interesting opportunity for me. It will still let me work with smaller communities, which I like to do."

As executive director of the Industrial Development Authority, Moore has been at the forefront of economic development efforts in Perryville and Perry County.

Since being hired in April 1983, she has been the first and only economic development director for the city and the county.

"It's a county position, but it's funded 50 percent by the city of Perryville and 50 percent by Perry County," said Moore.

In the past eight years, a number of major industries have situated in Perryville, including an auto-parts manufacturing company and a direct-mail printing company. In addition, several existing industries have expanded.

"Basically, we have estimated 1,700 total jobs have been created in eight years," she said. "Unemployment has declined from 14 to 5.7 percent."

All of this has occurred in a county of about 16,000 people, of which nearly 7,000 live in Perryville.

"We do have a reputation of being probably one of the more successful smaller communities in the state as well as one of the most aggressive ones" in attracting industry, said Moore.

"We have a really good reputation as a place for an industry to locate," she added.

"The work force is extremely skilled. The community does work with a company when it comes into town."

Moore said attention is paid not only to attracting new industries but to helping existing businesses grow.

"We have a really good vocational-technical school here that has worked real close with our industries," she pointed out.

"We have a multifaceted economic development program. We are aggressive in terms of direct-mail campaigns, marketing trips. So we have a well-rounded program that gets our name out there," she said.

Moore said that when the economic development program was established here eight years ago "there were only a handful of communities our size that had a full-time economic development program.

But that has changed. "A lot of small communities are realizing that for them to succeed they have to do something to increase the tax base and provide jobs."

Said Moore, "It's been a fun eight years."

She recalled that when she moved to Perryville from Nevada, Mo., where she was community development director, the Southeast Missouri town had an empty available building, a couple of industries and one industrial park.

Now there are three industrial sites two owned by the Perryville Development Corp., which is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce, and one owned by a private developer.

Moore said the designation of an enterprise zone in Perryville has also helped attract industry.

The Industrial Development Authority operates on a $74,000 annual budget.

"It's basically the IDA's responsibility to do the marketing of the area and issue industrial revenue bonds," she said.

Moore said she has enjoyed her job in Perryville. "I will miss a lot of people and a lot of friends."

She said that in economic development "you have to be a good salesperson. You have to know the area and you have to like the area.

"If an economic developer is excited about the area, then that generally rubs off on the people that you are talking to," said Moore.

And judging by industrial expansion and growth in the Perryville area, Moore's enthusiasm has rubbed off on a lot of people.