Page 12 - 2020 Resource Guide

OPEN FOR BUSINESS - CITY CREATES According to Parish, “One of the most incredible customer-
NEW SERVICES TO HELP BUSINESSES focused actions that we have implemented is a Kickstart meeting.
For anyone who needs assistance in building, renovating, or
developing property, we get all of the city players in one room.
In 2019 the city of Paducah established a new Customer
We gather the City Engineer, Planners, Fire Marshal, and other
Experience Department and developed a Small Business
pertinent experts and agencies. The citizen or developer puts
Resource Guide to help with business development and growth.
names and faces together, gets vital information, and questions
“As a city government, providing city services is what we do. answered in a meeting that lasts less than an hour. It’s powerful!”
Therefore, our goal is to create a customer-centric culture by
embracing these values in our daily work. In reality, we’re an At a Kick-Start meeting, a Customer Experience Representative
is assigned to act as a liaison and point of contact. To schedule a
organization full of your friends and neighbors who are devoted
to providing exceptional public service,” said Assistant City Kick-Start meeting, contact the Customer Experience Department
at 270-444-8000 or email customerexp@paducahky.gov.
Manager Michelle Smolen.
City Manager Jim Arndt adds, “We also developed a new
“Putting citizens at the forefront of city government decisions
position, the Business Development Specialist, and hired
has turned our thinking upside down,” said City Clerk-Customer
Kathryn Byers. Kathryn is meeting with businesses and focusing
Experience Department Director Lindsay Parish. In July, Parish
on business retention and expansion. She is a vital link between
began leading a small but powerful new department, Customer
City government and associated agencies.”
Experience. Her department greets visitors as they enter City
Hall and makes sure they get what they need to make their City One of the first areas of work for the Business Development
government experience successful. Specialist, was to create a new Small Business Resource

12 | PADUCAH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2020 BUSINESS OVERVIEW