New Corbin City Manager gets warm reception from Chamber of Commerce

Corbin City Manager Michael Phillips spoke Tuesday at the general membership luncheon of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

New Corbin City Manager Michael Phillips spoke Tuesday before a packed house at the monthly membership luncheon of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Phillips, a 63-year-old South Carolina native who was officially hired two weeks ago, received standing applause as he stepped to the podium to address the crowd.

"I have kind of an open door policy," Phillips told the gathering of local government, business, education and civic professionals. "I like to keep my door open and let anybody come in anytime and comment or complain … I want you to come by and talk to me and send me emails and let me know about things that are going on."

Phillips said he has a strong background in being an administrator, and is adept at producing reports and the more mundane routine of running a local government. But he also said he likes to think "outside the box" and try to brainstorm ways to make the community a more desirable place to live for its citizens, and more attractive to visitors.

"I’m a person that is always looking for a new tourism opportunity or a chance to go to talk to somebody and feel them out about an idea," Phillips said.

Phillips, who was born and raised in Greenville, SC, points to his hometown’s success as a tourism destination as a possible roadmap for cities like Corbin. Greenville, he said, is a town that was established around the milling industry that had fallen on hard times until a BMW automobile factory located nearby. BMW suppliers also moved in creating an economic boom. But local leaders, envisioning a time where BMW may no longer be around, spearheaded an effort to hedge their bets and turn the town into a vibrant, tourist-friendly community.

"Now, Greenville takes in more money from tourism than they do from anything else," Phillips said. "We really need to put an effort forward to look for opportunities like that here in this community."

Phillips said he sees enormous potential in Corbin, and pointed to projects like the Colonels Sanders Park downtown as the type of idea that could attract tourists. To keep them coming back, or contemplating a relocation to Corbin, he said is vital too.

"When we get these people in to town, we have to be available to them and promote our community."

Phillips said Corbin is in need of more housing, and noted that while many builders may be hesitant to invest in the new housing sector right now, they could be convinced otherwise.

"We have to show them this is a strong community and that it is different here than it is in some other places."

Phillips most recently served as City Administrator in Rincon, GA for three years. Prior to that, he was County Manager for Appling County, GA and City Administrator in Chester, SC. He is a Vietnam War veteran and held government jobs in the family court system and emergency management. He has also been a human resource manager for a private hospital. He was selected from over 65 applicants for the city manager position.

He and his wife currently reside on Poplar Ave. in Corbin.