RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio – The Richland Community Development Group (RCDG) along with representatives from the county and local cities is participating in the Community Economic Development Academy sponsored by American Electric Power (AEP). Mayor Steve Schag of Shelby, Councilman Mark Weidemyre of Ontario, Mansfield Economic Development Director Tim Bowersock and RCDG staff member Bridget McDaniel attended the kickoff workshop ED 101 on March 19 in Wooster.
The 4.5 hour workshop focused on marketable properties and sites as well as quality websites and handling of site visits by prospective new companies.
The multi-phase professional develop program was created to build a better understanding of the site selection process that companies use to locate new plants and operations.
After the lead-off workshop, the team will complete a gap analysis about local available sites and will host a mock site visit by InSite Consulting, the site selectors who conducted CEDA.
AEP makes the academy available at no cost to the local communities in order to help create more opportunities for economic development.
McDaniel said that the workshop information was very up-to-date and helpful. “Economic development has moved from an art to a real science,” said McDaniel. There is a no-nonsense approach to this buyer’s market and the training reinforced that approach, she said.
She complimented those that took time to attend the workshop, stating that “we have a real ‘team’ approach in this county.” The cities, villages and county government work well together in our efforts to attract and retain business.
“Completing this academy will strengthen those ties as it will help us fine tune our approach to growing our economy,” noted McDaniel.
