After years of searching for an economic and community director in Farrell, one has finally been hired.

Randall J. Williams of Erie, a Sharon native, accepted an offer for the position last week, said City Manager LaVon Saternow.

Williams was one of 19 candidates who applied for the job. He will begin work Sept. 2 at a salary of $35,000. An Act 47 grant for a little more than $82,000 will pay his salary over a three-year period.

Williams graduated from Sharon High School, received a bachelor's from Mercyhurst College and an MBA from Pitt University. He went on to attend the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business.

His most recent employment was at the Keystone University Research Corporation in Erie, where he was an administrator. He also worked at both Mercyhurst and Allegheny colleges, where he was an assistant financial aid director. He was employed for six years at Erie County Regional Career and Technical Center, which no longer exists.

Williams has been hired on an as-needed basis, and his position is being shared between the city and Mercer County Regional Planning Commission. He will also work as a liaison with other communities.

Though he doesn't have direct municipal government experience, he was an excellent candidate, Mrs. Saternow said, adding there were many excellent candidates. He has an extensive background in grants, she said.

Some projects Williams will work on include housing rehabilitation programs and Community Development Block Grant applications for 2004.

"We haven't worked out any details. It will be flexible," Mrs. Saternow said of the position.

In addition to education and experience, the state expected applicants to be able to deal with CDBG programs.

The state sets candidate requirements and had a part in the interviewing process, which began in February after the position was readvertised. The job had previously been offered to a qualified candidate, but was rejected.