Stuart is a growing town right on Interstate-80.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t use some help in its growth. Stuart Economic Development Director Matt Funk tells Raccoon Valley Radio that what he and the economic development group do is promote and “sell” the city. To do that, they talk with potential business owners, and try to show them what the city has to offer. Funk adds that networking is also a big part of the job, especially getting to know people in companies interested in expanding.

Funk mentions that there’s a few things he’d like to try and do moving forward as the Stuart Economic Development Director.

“I do desire to have some sort of an educational campus. There’s been some communications about that. That’s a long term goal, to bring some continued ed. Some kind of a small community college satellite area, maybe to town. (And) expanding the sports complex and a community center.”

Funk says that those are some of his top goals moving forward, but that it takes some time to work on them. Gathering information, looking at what grants are available and any city funds that may be available for those projects are all things that the group looks into.