Chambers host regional ED summit

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

ARCHBOLD — Representatives of seven northwest/west central Ohio Chambers of Commerce met this week at Northwest State Community College in Archbold to discuss how they can best collaborate to enhance economic development in the region.

Counties represented include Van Wert, Defiance, Paulding, Henry, Fulton, Williams and Putnam.

In addition to Chamber executives and business representatives, mayors of several communities in the region – including Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer – also attended the meeting.

Dr. Thomas Stuckey, president of Northwest State, acted as facilitator of the forum, moderating a discussion that took place on a number of economic development topics, including regionalization, workforce development and partnerships between government and private businesses and organizations.

Local Chamber President/CEO Susan Munroe said she felt the forum provide lots of good feedback on economic development issues, as well as sowing the seeds of collaboration across the region. Others attending from Van Wert County, in addition to Munroe and Mayor Farmer, were OSU Extension Community Development Director Cindy Leis, David Thompson of the Kenn-Feld Group, Vantage Adult Education Director Pete Hayes,  and Dan Litchfield of Iberdrola Renewables.

“Collaborating with the central/northwest Ohio counties for economic development, private/public partnerships, (and) educational and workforce issues is a strategic, tactical necessity as we look to attract businesses to our area,” Munroe noted. “Our counties share similar goals and challenges: we all want to see job growth; we all want to attract prospects while retaining our young people.”

Munroe and others were optimistic about the possibility of establishing regional partnerships that could benefit all seven counties. “This seven-county summit is just the beginning to begin to reap the assets of this region, collaborate, reduce redundancies and share best economic development practices,” Munroe said.

One summit participant from Bryan put it best: “What benefits northwest Ohio, benefits Bryan.”

“It’s that kind of understanding and appreciation of the impact of collaboration that employers look for when evaluating a community,” Munroe added.

In addition to four hours of facilitated discussion on various economic development topics, forum attendees came together at lunchtime for more informal talk about future plans stemming from the earlier discussion.

Other meetings are planned to develop actions plans arising from this past week’s summit.