Amarillo City Council members gave the go ahead for city staff to write a contract to hire consultants to identify gaps in economic development. The cost: About $170,000. The city is in the process of also hiring a downtown planner and economic development manager to help oversee the project. Deputy City Manager Bob Cowell said while the roles of the two pending positions are to develop the strategic economic development plan, hiring consultants is necessary because they provide the institutional expertise necessary to make the plan successful. read more