After a tumultuous 2007-2008 year, Goshen County Economic Development Corp. held its annual members meeting at the Bucking Horse restaurant Thursday to report on past accomplishments and goals for next year.

GCEDC President Julie Kilty opened the meeting by detailing some of the past year’s events, including the many changes for the GCEDC. Foremost among them was the resignation of the former executive director, Brad Sutherland, and the hiring of new Executive Director Lisa Johnson.

“We found the best candidate in our own county,” Kilty said.

Other changes included a new office on West 22nd Avenue, a new administrative assistant, Laura Gurule, a new logo designed by local artist Julie Nighswonger and a new Web site designed by LaGrange resident Brandy Evans, which is set to go online soon.

Kilty said she attended a site selection and recruiting “boot camp” last year to listen to what companies and workers are looking for when they relocate, including good infrastructure and quality of life.

“We need to be a community that attracts workers,” Kilty said. “Workers will draw companies.”

Kilty said the local labor market has a great deal to offer new businesses, including low turnover rates, good labor skills and available education and job training.

“My major goals for us at GCEDC were to look at our infrastructure and get Goshen County ready for development,” Kilty said.

Kilty highlighted many of the projects the GCEDC is involved with, such as providing grant assistance for the Alzheimer’s Unit, the former Torrington Middle School Gym, the Hawk Springs Community Building and the LaGrange Recreation/Business Center. The GCEDC is continuing the building leases for Our Clothing Store and Heartland BioComposites and has hosted site visits for several companies interested in Goshen County.

Kilty was later presented with a plaque by two-time former GCEDC president Todd Peterson for her work during the year.

Secretary-Treasurer Marilyn Fisher delivered a financial report after Kilty’s talk. The GCEDC has about $2.8 million in total assets, mostly in property and equipment. It has about $26,000 in current liabilities and $353,000 in long term liabilities.

The organizations funds have so far withstood the economic downturn.

“We had nothing in the stock market,” Fisher said. “It’s all in CDs.”

Executive Director Lisa Johnson outlined some of her priorities for the coming year such as improving image and communication within the organization. Johnson said she had asked the town governments in Goshen County to name their top economic priorities, and they came back with retention and expansion of businesses, infrastructure and land use planning, three areas that are included in the GCEDC’s strategic plan for 2008-2009.

Three Goshen County GCEDC members were elected to the board of directors. Bob Taylor, owner of BenchMark of Torrington; Cactus Covello, owner of Covello Motors in Torrington; and John Patrick, manager of Patrick Brothers, Inc. in Jay Em, were elected unanimously.

Robert Ward, a current county commissioner who has been working with the GCEDC since he was mayor of LaGrange, closed the meeting. Ward said he enjoyed seeing the diverse group of businesses, governments and organizations that comprise the GCEDC and that they should be proud of local growth.

“I think sometimes with Goshen County, slow is better than fast,” Ward said. “That way you design it how you want.”

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