The Italy Economic Development Corporation met Tuesday evening to conduct business and schedule a strategic plan steering committee meeting.

David Miracle of Ovilla, consultant, had board members identify community leaders and business owners involved in the community that could be strategic in this process.

Mark Stiles, EDC president, set a dinner meeting for Monday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Miracle said a strategic plan needs implementation and a mission statement created from sub-committees that form at this meeting.

He continued, “We need to attract new business. We want to improve the quality of life in Italy and its economic development. We want to make sure the community is behind us.”

Stiles added, “Right now, to earn a living, you have to work in Dallas or Fort Worth or Hillsboro. We want to increase this tax base. Nobody’s going to say that we didn’t try.”

During the regular business meeting, there were discrepancies about TEDC membership cost. Stiles asked Teri Murdock, city secretary/administrator, to get the correct membership dues information for active membership and volunteer membership.

The board was unable to discuss transferring funds from the TexStar pool to a local bank since two of the three members of the sub-committee were absent. Stiles recommended that if the committee had not met by the next meeting, that Murdock get the interest rate information from both banks.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the EDC is set for Aug. 24.