Miller strives to cultivate presence in Salem By Aila Boyd Having been on the job for a little more than seven months, Salem’s new director of economic development, Tommy Miller, feels he is settling into the job nicely. Tommy Miller characterizes the time since taking on his new job as being a “whirlwind.” He moved to downtown Salem from Richmond, having most recently been a senior business investment manager at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. After working at the partnership, as well as in Orange County as economic development director before that, Miller said he felt well-equipped to breathe new life into Salem’s economic development efforts.
“The transition is going good,” he said. “It’s been exciting and very fast paced.”
Going into the job, Miller’s first priority was to get to know his colleagues throughout the city, as well as the local business community. By “getting out there and meeting with the business community and letting them know that there is a representative here at the city to help in any way we can for their future success,” he said he’s able to demonstrate that someone in the city is focused on “At the state level, there was a lot of economic development after going engagement with leadership at Fortune more than a year without someone in 50 companies to small startup businesses. the position. So far, he reports he has It really provides a good understanding met with leaders from the majority of of where we can maybe step in or I can Salem’s businesses. point them toward resource providers that can take them to the next level,” Miller’s efforts to make himself visible Miller said of his experience. Despite seem to be paying off. “It’s been a little Salem not being his first rodeo, Miller overwhelming. I’m really excited by the had his work cut out for him. One of the response I’ve been getting. Folks are challenges that attracted him to the city really happy and excited that someone is that it’s “apples to oranges” compared is here in the office. They’re reenergized to Orange County (no pun intended one to work with the city and our office,” he presumes) given the fact that the city has said. “I want to keep that momentum a small footprint and is fully built out. going.” Miller’s boss, Salem City Manager Jay Taliaferro, agrees. “Tommy has worked hard to build relationships and develop trust with our existing businesses and industries in Salem,” he said. “The outreach effort he has made in the community and regionally has been critical. People are now familiar with who he is and what skills he has to offer, and that familiarity will benefit Salem greatly as we move forward.”
Courtesy of City of Salem
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An area of focus for Miller has been working to continue the momentum in the downtown area, which is comprised of a large number of small businesses. “We want to make sure the restaurants