Dear Editor,

Will Junction City pay to play to have voting membership on the new EDP board now called Develop Danville? Rule number one from Sales 101 for our EDP. When you’re going to sell an idea be inclusive. Don’t start by having to dig yourself out of a hole of your own creation.

Junction councilmen said the following when meeting with the EDP Vice President.

They:

• “Feel treated like little backdoor child when it comes to EDP.”

• “Didn’t see how the city would get attention, even if they did pay.”

• “…never felt we’ve been an equal of anyone’s choice.”

The EDP/Develop Danville vice president and COO (Title Town?) replied, “it takes all of us working together.”

All true, however, doesn’t it begin with leadership from the top? It seems Junction’s elected councilmen paint a picture that highlights the problem. How is it that after 12 years of the same EDP/BCIF leadership Junction City leaders feel this way about an organization supposedly working in their interest? Sound familiar? What does this say about EDP/BCIF leadership?

Junction has reason to be wary. The state cabinet for economic development often sends spec forms regarding potential property meeting certain specs or potential companies aren’t interested. Danville/Boyle County has paid thousands in matching grants building infrastructure for Industrial Foundation properties. Unless Junction’s properties provide this infrastructure, they can be left out by a “sale of omission.”

Junction could be bold and invest in themselves! Demand the county provide funds for a quality webpage accessing search engines and then accentuate your positives.

Junction City:

• Has a beautiful drive as one enters the community on U.S. 127 South.

• Isn’t controlled by an over regulatory Planning and Zoning.

• Close access to Danville’s amenities.

• Driving west towards Parksville becomes the “Gateway to the Knobs” a “New England of the South.”

• Access to a quality airport.

Place a sign that traffic leaving or coming to the airport can see, reading; BEFORE ENTERING DANVILLE OR LEAVING BOYLE COUNTY CHECK OUT BOYLE COUNTY’S BEST KEPT SECRET. JUNCTION CITY IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!  

And then become it! Or continue being EDP/Develop Danville’s “little backdoor child.”

Randy Gip Graham

Danville