City of Cookeville renewing a contract with consulting firm Retail Strategies for a ninth consecutive year.
Community Planning Director Jon Ward said the company provides services for retail recruitment, research, and market analysis. He said they measure information using credit card swipe locations, cell phone data, and regional trends.
“I think the use of it has expanded every year over year based on our demand and how we evolve as a community,” Ward said. “How we grow, what makes us more attractive to retailers, and they’re out there trying to tell that story.”
Ward said the company also keeps track of available land tracts and what commercial retailers might be best suited to that particular area. He said they also have recruitment strategies where they represent the city and contact a minimum of 30 retailers, brokers, and industry partners as part of the ongoing partnership to support Cookeville in retail recruitment efforts.
Ward said there have been a number of companies Cookeville has recruited through the program. The renewal fee for the contract is set at some $25,000, with the contract running through August 2023.
