City Narrows the Field for Economic Development Director

For the second time Gaithersburg city officials have narrowed down the field of candidates for the Economic Development Director position to the final few.

Assistant City Manager Tony Tomasello said they should be making an offer "very soon."

The position was first advertised last year in the midst of the city's push to make economic development a top priority.

In 2010, officials set aside $2.5 million in a very tight budget year dedicated solely to sweetening the pot for businesses that may want to expand or move to the city.

Part of that money was to pay for the only new position created in that budget—the Economic Development Director.

Officials also paid former County Councilman Mike Knapp nearly $80,000 as a consultant to assess the city's status in regard to economic development.

He earlier this year, saying that businesses want to move forward, but they want to do it in partnerships with government agencies. And in general, Gaithersburg is on relatively solid footing.

Earlier this year, Tomasello announced that the city was down to the final two candidates for the Economic Development position. But days later, he said the city of the candidates.

He said issued arose during their background investigations.