DEARBORN – Mayor Jack O’Reilly, Jr. is creating an economic development roundtable in an effort to ensure the community’s long-term sustainability.

O’Reilly has chosen longtime Dearborn resident, entrepreneur and money manager Jim Parrelly to chair this group in order to “ensure long-term sustainability and maximize the benefits of Dearborn’s economic momentum”, as stated on the city of Dearborn website.

“Successful cities rely on powerful, consistent partnerships with the people and the companies that benefit from the services they provide,” O’Reilly said. “Dearborn should be no different.  We have first-class companies, first-class services and first-class neighborhoods. Working together will secure a bright future for all of us.”

Parrelly told The AANews that he’ll be working closely with all sections of the community.

Jim Parrelly

“This council will be established and I’ll be adding leaders from the community so that we can attract a network that complements what we’re already doing with all the avenues,” he said, adding that he’d like to attract a lot of interest for investing in Dearborn.

“This council aims to attract synergistic investment to add to our community by companies and organizations,” he said.

Asked what the first order of business would be for this council, Parrelly said they’ll have a better idea for that after gathering leaders to add to the council and after the mayor sets his agenda.

“Speaking from my own experience, the majority of the people who would be on the council would be people who have been involved in Dearborn and its success, major financial institutions or education or manufacturing,” Parrelly said. “…We would ask them to give back to the community by formulating one voice to attract more jobs and possibly more tax revenue.”

Parrelly also said it’d be great for the community if Dearborn had additional tax revenues coming in from businesses and development outside of Ford Motor Company.

“Ford Motor Company made a significant investment in three blocks in West Dearborn, so we can model and complement it through our project in Dearborn,” he said.

O’Reilly praised Parrelly’s expertise to chair the roundtable.

“I cannot think of anyone better positioned and more experienced to lead this new effort,” O’Reilly said.