Creating a brand name for the city’s commercial district and establishing a business expansion and enhancement grant program are two of the top priorities for Murphy’s economic development plan approved by the council at its March 16 meeting.

The boards of Murphy Municipal Development Dis­trict and Murphy Communi­ty Development Corporation worked with city staff in giv­ing a recommendation on the plan to the city council. The boards met in three work ses­sions to develop the plan.

Jared Mayfield, director of economic and community development with the city of Murphy, discussed the draft plan with councilmembers in a work session. The plan was later approved in the regular session.

Councilmembers watched a PowerPoint presentation that detailed the plan. Mur­phy’s economic development staff said the boards advised them that certain themes were important to them: business retention, a need to engage with and involve the business community, maintaining in­frastructure, understanding the unique character and a need to brand the city’s char­acter and celebrating Mur­phy’s diversity.

For the full story, see the Mar. 25 issue or subscribe online.

By Don Munsch • [email protected]