County development position created

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Economic development has taken on even greater priority in Van Wert County with the hiring of a part-time business outreach coordinator by the County Board of Commissioners.

Sarah Smith was in her new office on Thursday and will work with Van Wert Economic Director Cindy Leis to bring needed jobs to the county.

Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger stressed that Smith’s hiring is not meant as competition to the existing economic development efforts, but to provide additional development efforts for the county. In fact, he said the commissioners would work hard to ensure that Smith’s efforts are coordinated with those of Leis and the Ohio State University Extension development program.

“I think this will be the best of all worlds,” Lichtensteiger said of the county’s adding new economic development efforts to the existing development program.

Commissioner Todd Wolfrum added that the increase in county permissive tax revenues has allowed the county to have more flexibility in bringing on an economic development person at this time, although because Smith was hired as an independent contractor, he said the county would keep costs down by not paying out health insurance and other benefits for her.

The commissioners did acknowledge that, with the local economy still more than a little shaky, the added expense of a county economic development person is not “perfect timing,” but also stated that the move is “consistent with the commissioners’ commitment to the growth of the county”.

Lichtensteiger said having a county development person should be a priority for the county. “When I ran for county commissioner, I said economic development is Job 1,” Lichtensteiger said. “It seems silly to say this is a priority and then not give it extra funding.”

The newly created position will be responsible for targeting businesses in the surrounding areas that might be interested in expansion opportunities available in the Van Wert County. In addition, Smith will head local efforts to assist the county’s villages will developing economic opportunities and exploring other potential development through targeted visits and cold calls.

Lichtensteiger added that Smith’s energy and creativity would also be an asset in providing more communication between the commissioners’ office and township and village government.

“For me, it’s always been about Van Wert County, what’s best for the county,” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to working with Leis and learning from her experience.”

According to a release from the commissioners’ office, the county initiative is aimed at helping Van Wert County “assert itself in the very competitive market for jobs and economic growth, while still retaining the hometown atmosphere and quality of life that the residents of the county have always enjoyed.”

Lichtensteiger said the commissioners would meet with the County Economic Development Advisory Group’s executive committee next week to complete the final details of the collaboration between Smith and Leis’ office.