GALION — Optimism is best served with a dollop of realism. Which was exactly the mood present during the Galion/Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce annual Economic Forecast meeting Tuesday morning at Grace Point Community Church.
“There’s a lot going on in our county, Galion and Crestline,” Chamber of Commerce President Joe Kleinknecht said. “I hope you enjoy hearing from them.”
Guests, which ranged from area insurance agents, grocery clerks, to city council members, were presented with 10 different perspectives in the area’s economic development vein. Among those perspectives was Galion Mayor Tom O’Leary.
“If you like hotels, restaurants, opportunity of having a 300,000 square foot facility that we’ll likely use to create jobs, then you’ll like 2016,” O’Leary said.
He quickly followed up his own statement with a sanguine smile and said, “But with it comes some controversy because of the creation of CRAs and TIFs. But do a Google search and you’ll see … they’re both tools used for economic development.”
Galion City Council is currently working to pass legislation to create a Tax Increment Financing district, which is expected to attract a 70-bed hotel off Ohio 598. The creation of a TIF district has raised some concerns among some council members.
O’Leary’s reference to the 300,000 square foot facility was an allusion to the city’s recent acquiring of the vacant HTI building. Council approved the donation to the city in late December 2015.
Two individuals who work closely within the area’s manufacturing industry offered their perspectives. Community Development Director for the Crawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development Steve Crall pointed out there are 300-500 jobs available in the industry — they just need filled.
“So we’re going out with students to manufacturing sites every fall and it’s on the move and doing very well,” Crall said. He also mentioned CCEEDP’s Leader in Me program that reaches kindergarten through fifth grade students to teach leadership principles.
President of Elliot Machine Works Inc. Richard Ekin added to the manufacturing perspective by adding insight as to why the industry has trouble filling jobs.
“We’re so heavily regulated,” he said. As a result, all manufacturing companies have taken a hit because they are forced to make cuts.
“Manufacturing provides jobs and a strong tax revenue stream. But they also give a community identity and pride. I remember seeing a Galion Grader in my eighth grade history textbook,” Ekin said.
Galion schools Superintendent James Grubbs gave guests insight on what the district has done and is currently doing to better steward Galion tax dollars.
“Unfortunately I was not here for the entire year last year, but I look forward to what this year brings,” he said. He briefly touched on the renewal of a 7.3 mill levy in November and thanked all guests for being instrumental in passing it.
Grubbs also pointed to a new Interest Based Bargaining program he intends on implementing when negotiations between certified staff and union members happen.
In the high school and middle school, Grubbs said he plans on holding “discipline training sessions” to make sure the schools are on the same pages with their protocols and practices.
“Also, I know a lot of you are wondering about the search for a new football coach. The search is ongoing, we have three final candidates. We should be able to announce the new hire after the next school board’s meeting (March 17),” he said.
Throughout the Economic Forecast, Chamber of Commerce members sprinkled words of gratitude to nearly 30 co-sponsors for the event, ranging from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Home Care Matters, Geyer’s Supermarket, A-1 Printing, Burkhart Farm Center Inc and other local businesses.
