Politics & Government

City Prepares to Hire Economic Development Director

An offer letter has been sent.

For the second time this year, Gaithersburg is on the brink of hiring an economic development director to help shepherd the city's $2 million business development fund.

Assistant City Manager Tony Tomasello said a conditional offer letter has been sent to the candidate, and only a few procedural items need to be taken care of before he starts.

If he passes a physical and background check, then Human Resources can send a final offer letter, which would include a start date.

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"We're definitely talking September," Tomasello said.

The candidate hails from the area, he added, without specifying where.

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The candidate currently runs a Business Improvement District, Tomasello said. A BID is a geographic area in which businesses band together to fund improvements and implement programs or incentives.

The salary range for the position is from about $67,000 to slightly more than $102,000, Tomasello said. And although he "saved some money," the candidate's salary would be very near the top of the range.

Earlier this year, a group of candidates was whittled down to two, and then finally one. But both of the top two candidates did not pass the background check, and the position was re-advertised with a slightly higher pay range.

The $2 million was set aside in an otherwise austere fiscal 2011 city budget. It is part of the city's strategy to woo businesses to locate or expand in Gaithersburg, thereby stimulating the local economy.


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