Some Knoxville aldermen see the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development more like the Galesburg Partnership for Economic Development.
Ward 4 Aldermen Lester Naslund and Dan Eiker along with Ward 1 Alderman Jim McGovern and Ward 2 Alderman Kirk Heller said after last night’s Knoxville City Council meeting they were dissatisfied with the lack of representation areas outside Galesburg see from the KCAP.
As such, Naslund and Eiker, both of whom voted July 5 against contributing $2,000 to the partnership, said they were not swayed by a brief speech from partnership President Ken Springer.
Springer said the partnership advises entrepreneurs, advocates for businesses, negotiates incentives and generally spurs economies.
He further said KCAP does not charge businesses, entrepreneurs or clients for their services, so the partnership relies on contributions from communities like Knoxville.
“If Knoxville does want to chose to invest in the partnership, I think it sends a good message that you support the mission of economic development,” Springer said, “and I hate to say it, but like all nonprofits, if nobody funds us, we go away and those services are no longer available to the community.”
McGovern and Heller said they were undecided on whether they wanted to distance themselves from the partnership.
Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Maurer said the matter will likely be revisited during next month’s meeting.
The Knoxville City Council was split 3-3 at the July 5 meeting on whether they wanted to make the same $2,000 contribution that they had in 2015. At that meeting, Maurer said he was “disappointed” by the council’s decision to shift away from KCAP.
