Doutt Appointed Economic Development Director

Beachwood City Council members voted 5-0 to appoint James Doutt as the city's economic development director at Monday's meeting.

Doutt has worked for the EBO Group in business development and human resources and served as executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corporation for ten years.

He has also served as the President of the Ohio Economic Devopment Council and has 16 years of experience in marketing.

Doutt said he will work with the city to formulate goals for the department, but, "There are certainly some things that jumped right out from the getgo."

He wants to establish a formal business retention and expansion program - the the majority of new job creation and business investment comes from existing businesses, he said - and go after attraction.

"That's where you hit the home runs," he said.

Doutt, whose annual salary will be around $94,000, said Mayor Merle Gorden, will start work April 23.

 in the city since last year and his contract ends April 30. An  recommended a permanant director and economic development department.

Gorden said the city had several applicants and interviewed about a half dozen "well-qualified" candidates.