Each year at this time, Toledo Free Press asks local economic development leaders to share their thoughts, plans and visions for Toledo and the region in the coming year. We want to know what they think are the biggest successes to build on, the biggest challenges ahead and what they are most excited about. It never disappoints.
“Toledo’s best days are still to come,” Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins declared, pledging to continue his focus on job creation and his support to local companies considering expansion.
Toledo Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Gramza focused on the chamber’s talent attraction and retention efforts, encapsulated by the slogan, “It Matters Where You Make It.”
“People are the No. 1 asset of any company,” Gramza wrote. “We must be able to grow local talent, recruit talent from other regions and hold on to talent when recruiters want to lure it elsewhere.”
The Lucas County Commissioners touted their efforts to streamline economic and workforce development efforts with the creation of the Department of Planning and Development and a partnership with the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) alongside Wood, Ottawa and Monroe counties called Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. They also plugged Work Ready Lucas County, an initiative that helps measure, identify and close skill gaps in the workforce.
Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development (NORED) President Hans Rosebrock of FirstEnergy used his company’s $600-million steam generator replacement and refueling project at Davis-Besse as an example of how large-scale private sector investments can make a big impact on our regional economy.
RGP President and CEO Dean Monske talked about his agency’s role in pitching and selling Northwest Ohio’s assets to domestic and international site consultants looking for places to expand, while Toledo African American Chamber of Commerce President Jay Black focused on ways to help promote growth and development of African-American-owned businesses, which stabilizes neighborhoods while helping the region as a whole.
The University of Toledo’s Molly Reams Thompson, Rhonda Wingfield and Jessica Sattler jointly recapped successes in innovation at UT. Roost, Nextronex and Blue Water Satellite were among startups that made a splash in 2014.
This year is shaping up to be one of the most exciting for Northwest Ohio in decades, concluded Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority President and CEO Paul Toth, citing low interest rates, oil prices, unemployment rates and more — “all signs that our economy is moving in the right direction and that further investment in the region is imminent.”
Finally, TFP’s Lou Hebert offers his solution for the “riverfront riddle” of the Marina District — a park. “Let it be what it is now and what it wants to be: a park,” Hebert wrote. “Whatever it is, it should be grand. We should have no quarter for little plans. We need to do something to stir our souls. Toledo needs to make a statement — a bold one to the rest of the world and to ourselves. This is our chance. This is our challenge. This waiting and vacant piece of our riverfront is our opportunity.”
Here’s to 2015. Cheers.
Sarah Ottney is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press. Contact her at sottney@
toledofreepress.com or find her on Twitter at @sarahottney.
