Economic development directors become a must-have city position

More Twin Cities suburbs are adding economic development directors to lure industries, boost growth and shake off their labels as ­bedroom communities.

The trend isn’t a new one — some larger suburbs have had the post for years — but in the postrecession economy, cities that have gone without are now hiring for the task once relegated to city ­managers and planners.

“Cities, more and more, are realizing they need to develop their tax base and add jobs,” said Craig Waldron, a public administration professor at Hamline University. “I think it becomes even more critical now as we come out of the recession. What’s happening is there is not going to be a lot of help from the federal government anymore.”

http://www.startribune.com/economic-development-directors-become-a-must-have-city-position/386894461/