BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

CANEY — An Oklahoma-based retail developer was hired Monday by the Caney City Council to develop a retail study for Caney that can be used to lure new business to the community.

Goal number one for Retail Attractions of Owasso, Okla., is to locate a prospective grocery store to the Caney community, which has been hampered with the loss of its grocery store in February.

“You have one glaring need,” said Rickey Hayes of Retail Attractions. “I can tell you that there are at least 26 retail grocery store companies looking to locate in new markets in the country. I believe we can get you a grocery store, it might not be the same as you had, or even as big. But I think we can find a company that is looking to fit Caney’s need.”

Retail Attractions is working with the cities of Caney, Coffeyville, Cherryvale and Independence to create a retail analysis that is used as the primary source of information for locating national retailers. Retail Attractions already has ample credit to its resumé, which includes many of the new retail developments in Owasso, Okla., and nearby Collinsville, Okla.

Mayor Dale McBride said the work of a national development prospector such as Retail Attractions has been sorely needed in Caney because of the lack of available resources and knowledge of city officials and the Caney Chamber of Commerce.

“There isn’t a one of us who isn’t an advocate for Caney, but what we have been needed is an advocate with teeth,” said McBride about the need to take economic development to a higher level.

McBride added that he and several other business leaders had been working on locating interested grocery store companies, including Country Mart, Dollar General and Sav-A-Lot, but had not been successful in creating a relationship with any of those companies.

That’s why having a professional firm represent Caney in those discussions was necessary, said McBride, who said the community could expect to lose as much as $4,000 per month in lost sales taxes due to the absence of a grocery store.

“Our number one goal is to keep our mill levy down,” said McBride. “I think if we can do anything to build our sales tax base, we’ll be able to keep that levy down.

“I really don’t see how we cannot do this,” McBride said of the hiring of Retail Attractions. “I think our investment, should it prove successful, will pay for itself through the additional tax revenue created with new business in the community. I think what we’re voting on tonight is one of the most important things we’re going to do for Caney’s future.”

Under a proposal that was approved by the Caney City Council on Monday, Retail Attractions will be paid $1,750 per month for a 12-month period to seek prospective national retailers to the Caney community. Retail Attractions will also be paid $4,000 to develop the retail analysis that provides statistical information on Caney’s retail strengths and challenges.

Even though the 12-month contract will not go into effect until June 1, Hayes will represent the Montgomey County towns at a retail development convention in Las Vegas, Nev., in May.

Hayes assured councilors that national retailers were interested in locating in towns like Caney. He pointed to Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, which is now developing a “neighborhood store” prototype that caters to small markets.

He said other retail chains were using small-market prototypes to extend themselves into smaller areas.

“I don’t think you’ll see a Target or a Best Buy come to a town like Caney, but there are companies that are looking to come to towns like Caney,” he said.

Hayes said the best attribute for the community is the busy U.S. 75 highway corridor, which he said poses an “ideal” situation for new businesses.

“You have potential,” he said. “The lack of population does not mean as much because the volume of highway traffic on U.S 75 and the way the highway sits in the community. There are retailers that will fit you just perfectly.”

Hayes also said some national retail firms were also looking to expand into downtown business districts and not just highway frontage properties. With the availability of retail space in the downtown business area, Caney could stand to gain attention from some national firms, he said.