GROUP NAMES DIRECTOR; KENTUCKYT MAN WILL HEAD RECRUITMENT

JACKSON - D. Mitch Robinson, a Kentucky economic development veteran, has been named the executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association.

Robinson's appointment was announced Thursday by Cape Girardeau Mayor Gene Rhodes, chairman of the seven-member association board.

Rhodes praised Robinson's qualifications for the post, who he said received strong recommendations from references.

For the past five years, Robinson has been executive director of the Henderson Area Economic Development Council in Henderson, Ky.

Prior to that, he served two years as industrial/economic development director for the Ohio County Industrial Foundation Inc. in Hartford, Ky., and served 18 months as a public administration specialist with the Purchase Area Development District in Mayfield, Ky.

Robinson, who will begin his duties May 24, said he looks forward to the new position, which he said is similar to his present post.

"I want to thank the board for selecting me to this position," Robinson said.

He said that the cooperative effort between Cape County, the cities of Cape, Jackson and Scott City, and the Cape chamber of commerce, "shows a commitment to economic development here that we have to have for the long run.

"I was surprised there had not been a program in the Cape area before at this level," he added.

Robinson said the key to attracting new industry is having people living in the region who are proud of their area and willing to promote it. "I think people have to be your number one selling point," he said.

Robinson said new industry also is attracted by a proven record of service to existing industry.

While an area always needs to attract new jobs, Robinson said that how existing industries are treated is "a measuring stick" for new prospects to consider in deciding a location.

"When people look at locating an industry in an area, they don't just look at the site where they want to build, but they look at the whole area," he said.

The new director is optimistic about bringing jobs to the area, but warned that some prospects take time. He recalled that one major prospect he worked with took five years to move.

But the economy looks promising, Robinson added. "We have gone through the down period, and I believe we are in the upper end of the cycle," he said.

Robinson said he will target industries that utilize what this area has to offer.

The association's office will be located in the Cape chamber of commerce building. Between now and May 27, he plans to get the office set up and hire a secretary.

Robinson said he looks forward to the challenge of starting the office from the ground up.

One of his first tasks will be to visit with officials at the Department of Economic Development in Jefferson City.

Robinson said his philosophy of economic development is "commitment." He explained that the process is ongoing and not something that can be pursued for a while and then dropped for a while.

In making a career move, Robinson said he was looking for a place in the Midwest, in a city along an interstate highway with a university.

While in his current job, Robinson said he successfully located nine new industries with 350 new jobs and a capital investment of $30 million. He also assisted in expansion projects that reflected $85 million in capital investments and 750 new jobs.

A native of Owensboro, Ky., Robinson is a certified economic developer. He also served four years on the board of the Kentucky Industrial Development Council and six years as a board member of the Big Rivers Development Partnership.

He has a bachelor's degree in economics and government from Western Kentucky University and is working toward completion of a master's degree in public administration this fall.

Robinson and his wife, Debbi, have two young children.