Joey Grisham

What are Hutto's biggest draws for economic development?

I think [the city has] been ahead of the game. Certainly the [EWCHEC] is one of the biggest tools I have to market, because you can tie the higher education into industry. Williamson County is one of the fastest-growing counties, and Hutto is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. I think with the growth, the land availability, the higher education center and the workforce, I think those four are the biggest assets we have right now. And then, of course, you throw leadership in there, that's always critical anywhere.

Where do you see Hutto's growth potential?

Hutto will continue to grow on the residential side, but we need commercial growth. We need [the tax burden] to be more equi-balanced with commercial. Really, that's important on two fronts. One, it keeps jobs here, and two, it prevents retail leakage. We've got to focus on commercial activity, getting more businesses in here that create jobs and property taxes, sales taxes and helps balance the tax burden.

When you look back a year from now, what do you hope to have accomplished?

The obvious thing is [filling] some of the void, [including] from a retail standpoint, working to get a grocery store and some other retail here so that people aren't having to drive outside of the market. From an industrial standpoint ... be able to have a marketable plan so we can go out and market to prospective companies. In the first year, you always meet as many brokers, Realtors [and] stakeholders [as you can] and make sure they know what you have to offer and who you are and where you're at.

Personnel file

• Grew up in northern Mississippi
• Married with two children, wife is a nurse practitioner
• Has worked in economic development for more than 12 years
• Earned a bachelor's degree in political science and business at the University of Mississippi, a master's degree in political science from the University of Memphis and a master's degree in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi
• Past experience includes retail and consulting as well as work with Tupelo, Miss., and Granbury and Keller, Texas