Commish meet with development rep.

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Van Wert County Board of Commissioners heard a report from new Business Outreach Coordinator Sarah Smith on Tuesday.

Smith noted that she has been talking to various business and government representatives seeking input in areas that may be beneficial to future county economic development. She said she has been meeting with village officials in the county, as well as township trustees, and has also been speaking with representatives of businesses in surrounding counties to get a feel for what future development possibilities may be available to the county.

In addition, the commissioners will be meeting with a couple of local manufacturers next week to receive information from them on what they like about the county, what they need and what could be improved.

“We want to talk to actual business people to receive feedback, so that we can better know what companies want when we look at companies outside the county for possible economic development possibilities,” Smith said. “We’re just learning right now, we’re trying to build on knowledge, rather than just guessing.”

“This is why they hired me,” Smith said of her fact-finding research, adding that her title of business outreach coordinator is very appropriate to what she has been doing lately. “I’m reaching out everywhere.”

Representatives of York, Willshire and Liberty townships will also be meeting with the commissioners in the near future to talk about wind power and Ohio Power Siting Board requirements, Smith said, adding that she is meeting with Dan Litchfield of Iberdrola Renewables to discuss marketing the county from the energy standpoint.

“I’m just trying to figure out how to get Van Wert County on the map and get people looking at us,” she added.

One of those meetings has been with Mark Manuel, vice president for development for Crown Control Corporation in the Auglaize County community of New Bremen, and Smith said that meeting resulted in a positive exchange of information.

She also noted that she has met with village officials in Wren and Convoy, and that she had taken Main Street Van Wert Interim Program Manager Adam Ries with her to Convoy to help provide ideas on downtown esthetics.

Smith said she is also seeking ideas from area residents and business people on what they think could be valuable for county economic development efforts.

“My approach to the whole thing is that, if anyone has ideas, I want to know about them,” Smith said, adding that anyone with possible development ideas can email her at sksmithx5@hotmail.com.