The City of Wheaton hopes to create a new office of economic development and have a director and staff hired by Jan. 1.
Council members meeting in a planning session this week have directed City Manager Donald B. Rose to begin advertising in trade publications for a director of economic development with an expected annual salary of $35,000 to $40,000.
The city expects to spend about $150,000 the first year to create the office and complete preliminary projects, including a marketing study and development of a plan to promote the town, Rose said.
Hiring an economic development director was one of several
recommendations made by a committee of residents, business people and government officials that studied problems in Wheaton`s downtown for six months and reported last summer to the City Council.
