Committee reports on business initiative
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Committee reports on business initiative
Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton begins the Business Retention and
Expansion forum this week at Alley 21 in Hillsboro.
Seeking more ideas and continued discussion, members of the Highland County Business Retention and Expansion Initiative held a community forum
Tuesday, June 15 to report on the results of their two-year study.
The two-hour forum was held at the Alley 21 Bicentennial Room and was hosted by Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton, Ohio State University
Extension Agent for Highland County Rose Fisher Merkowitz and Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber.
“We are looking for more ideas for business retention and expansion and to have an open discussion on the future of Highland County,” Heaton said in
his opening comments before an audience of approximately 60 people, mostly public officials, educators and business representatives.
“We’re still basically an agriculture-based economy,” Heaton said. “But that doesn’t mean we neglect our other industries.” Heaton pointed out some
of the advantages and disadvantages businesses face in Highland County.
Heaton also pointed out “We can expect another 500 people in Highland County to lose their unemployment this year.”
Ohio State University Professor Dr. Greg Davis, who worked with the committee, discussed understanding the local economy and making strategic
decisions. Davis said it was important to understand issues related to the local economy. Quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, Davis said, “The future belongs
to those who prepare for it.”
Due to the pending DHL decision, the initial BR&E survey was delayed three months last year, Merkowitz said. “We put surveys on hiatus for three months due to DHL,” she said.cMerkowitz noted that the county’s last BR&E was in 1992, and the initiative looked at the health care, industry and retail sectors of the economy.
“Eighty percent of the jobs created are created by existing businesses,” Merkowitz said. ... “If we don’t make a difference, all this is for nothing.”
“We’re not sure where we are going right now,” Farber said. “We need partnerships. We need your minds and your hands.”
Farber referenced recent cuts to the county’s extension office and the economic development office in seeking more local support.
After the presentations, those in attendance broke out in smaller groups to focus on: quality of life, education, transportation issues, website
development, a community directory, and future business retention and expansion initiatives.
Seeking more ideas and continued discussion, members of the Highland County Business Retention and Expansion Initiative held a community forum Tuesday, June 15 to report on the results of their two-year study.
The two-hour forum was held at the Alley 21 Bicentennial Room and was hosted by Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton, Ohio State University
Extension Agent for Highland County Rose Fisher Merkowitz and Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber.
“We are looking for more ideas for business retention and expansion and to have an open discussion on the future of Highland County,” Heaton said in
his opening comments before an audience of approximately 60 people, mostly public officials, educators and business representatives.
“We’re still basically an agriculture-based economy,” Heaton said. “But that doesn’t mean we neglect our other industries.” Heaton pointed out some
of the advantages and disadvantages businesses face in Highland County.
Heaton also pointed out “We can expect another 500 people in Highland County to lose their unemployment this year.”
Ohio State University Professor Dr. Greg Davis, who worked with the committee, discussed understanding the local economy and making strategic
decisions. Davis said it was important to understand issues related to the local economy. Quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, Davis said, “The future belongs
to those who prepare for it.”
Due to the pending DHL decision, the initial BR&E survey was delayed three months last year, Merkowitz said. “We put surveys on hiatus for three months due to DHL,” she said.cMerkowitz noted that the county’s last BR&E was in 1992, and the initiative looked at the health care, industry and retail sectors of the economy.
“Eighty percent of the jobs created are created by existing businesses,” Merkowitz said. ... “If we don’t make a difference, all this is for nothing.”
“We’re not sure where we are going right now,” Farber said. “We need partnerships. We need your minds and your hands.”
Farber referenced recent cuts to the county’s extension office and the economic development office in seeking more local support.
After the presentations, those in attendance broke out in smaller groups to focus on: quality of life, education, transportation issues, website development, a community directory, and future business retention and expansion initiatives.
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