Glass City Jungle

This in from the office of Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken:

In Troubled Economy, Gerken Sees Progress In Private Investments

LCIC Mid-Year Report To Be Shared with Commissioner Colleagues

Toledo, Ohio – Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken knows that an almost 10% unemployment rate isn’t just a statistic, it’s a troubling sign of how much help Lucas County truly needs right now.

“Let’s be frank, this economy is probably in its worse shape in twenty years,” said Commissioner Gerken. “Every lost job means one less meal on a child’s plate, too few drugs to keep a senior well, one more family losing their home to foreclosure. That’s simply unacceptable.”

But that’s why the recently released mid-year report of the Lucas County Improvement Corporation, which was shared with all three Commissioners and other LCIC members, is a sign that private investment and job creation can still happen – with the right mix of public and private support.

The Lucas County Improvement Corporation was reorganized in 2005 to take the politics out of economic development and establish regional cooperation among the entities in Lucas County.

According to the report, since the beginning of 2008, the LCIC and its staff have assisted 17 separate private and community developments within Lucas County, totaling over $21,000,000 in private capital investment.

The projects are a diverse representation of the kinds of jobs that Lucas County must attract to remain competitive. The largest project among them is a $7,000,000 investment by ClappDico, an international high-tech tool manufacturer, which will create 86 additional jobs in Lucas County and retain 42 more.

In addition, some of the other investments that LCIC assisted with include: Aunt Minnie’s Frozen Foods, a minority-owned food processor, Fresenius, a global medical services provider, Pizza Papalis, a new restaurant experience near Fifth Third Field, and Next Resins, a plastics materials and resin manufacturer.

According to LCIC staff members, the organization works every day with the Regional Growth Partnership, the Port Authority, and the University of Toledo to support economic development efforts, but none can provide the public-sector tools – like permitting, tax abatements, infrastructure, and CRA – that the LCIC is designed to support.

“Our job at the LCIC is to work with our local partners and use the public-sector tools at our disposal to help private investment take hold in Lucas County,” said LCIC Executive Director Matt Sapara. “I’m confident that this $21 million investment means that the private sector recognizes the tremendous potential in our communities.”

In total, with the LCIC’s assistance, the report shows that these businesses will create 282 new jobs this year, and retain another 184 in Lucas County.

“This report is good news for job seekers and good news for other businesses looking to invest in Lucas County,” said Commissioner Pete Gerken. “We’ve proven that we have skilled professionals ready and willing to help bring the next generation of jobs to Lucas County.”

“Our residents are trying to get by in one of the toughest economies ever, and I hear that from folks everyday. But middle class families should not lose hope, because the investments are coming and the LCIC is there to help,” concluded Gerken.