Economic
Development Plan to bring more jobs to Elyria
Mayor Grace and his staff have carefully developed
a comprehensive action plan to increase quality job opportunities
in Elyria. The plan has already yielded extremely positive results
and continued pursuit of that plan will position Elyria for even
greater success over the next several years.
There are many action steps, they include:
Expanded the city’s tax incentive program to improve our ability to keep and attract business and industry.
Several agreements have already been negotiated resulting in
these businesses expanding in Elyria.
Mayor Grace negotiated a Joint Economic Development District
(JEDD) agreement between Elyria and Elyria Township. It has
been recognized as the most comprehensive JEDD agreement in
Ohio. It will also provide for unprecedented economic opportunities
for both communities. This will open up hundreds of acres of
land in the township for new developments providing job opportunities
for area residents. In addition, the City of Elyria will receive
80% of the income taxes generated from these businesses.
“Grace has been able
to obtain many hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for
a variety of projects.
Most notable is a federal grant for nearly $6 million to finish
the long-planned industrial parkway to benefit economic development.
Construction is to start later this year. This was Elyria's first
federal grant for new road construction in three decades. Grace
had to convince agency officials to change rules so that Elyria
could receive the money. That's a mayor in action.” – The
Morning Journal, April 22, 2003
The
Grace Administration’s Economic
Development Strategy
In decades past, the model for improving a city
was to attract manufacturing plants, which would attract people
to live, work, raise their family and retire in 30 years. Today,
individuals often work at one place for less than ten years,
often as few as five. Recognizing the likelihood of short-term
employment; longevity and loyalty to a particular company have
become less of a sustaining factor for communities. It has substantially
been replaced by quality of life features, the most important
being a high quality school system. Reliable workers live where
the quality of life is strongest. Employers will locate and expand
where a reliable work force exists. Our best economic development
strategy is to improve our quality of life offerings to keep
and attract quality people, who will, in turn, keep and attract
quality companies.
There are companies, too many of them, that are
motivated to build their facilities as inexpensively as they
can get away with. They are motivated by cheapness. When times
are difficult and a remotely better deal presents itself they’re
gone. And they leave with little regard for the families left
in their wake.
On the other hand, there are many quality companies
that build quality facilities and are looking for quality employees.
They are civic minded and their employees are engaged in the
life of their communities. When times are difficult and a better
deal presents itself they are much less likely toleave the community
that they are endeared to and call home. These companies are
motivated to locate in communities that share these same values.
We have many such companies in Elyria. We not only
need to keep them, we need more of them. These companies and
their employees are attracted to quality. From the natural and
built environment they circulate in, the parks they recreate
in to the schools that educate their children. In order to keep
these quality companies we need to make our community better
in every way we can. Better neighborhoods, better parks, a better
downtown and especially, a better school system.
Architectural Design Review
As part of our effort to keep and attract quality people and quality companies,
we instituted Architectural Design Review. This enables the community to require
buildings to be built of a quality and character that are respectful of the
people who patronize them and who call Elyria home.
New
Businesses, New Construction, In the Past Four Years
(partial list)
New businesses, new construction
Ross Environmental Headquarters, LCCC
PC Campana Technology Center at LCCC
Community Health Partners
Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospital
Don Jason Remodelers
Fifth Third Bank, major restoration of historic post office
Midway Market Square
Circuit City
Giant Eagle
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Country Inn & Suites Hotel
Tri-City Medical office building
George’s Roofing
Decker Construction
Splash & Dash Car Wash
Chestnut Commons, fall 2004
Industrial Relocation
DCT Logistics
Burn Manufacturing
York Plant, tenants
Fisher Guide Plant, tenants
Major expansion to existing facilities
EMH Regional Medical Center, Birthing Center
Spike Meckler & Brill Law Offices
Methodist Village, new building
Abbewood and Lifecare Retirement Center
Life Care Ambulance, expansion
Litehouse Pools
Diamond Products
Northern Savings & Loan, 2004
Existing businesses expanding into new or larger facilities
Reaser Enterprises
Equity Trust, new office construction, LCCC
Lorain National Bank
Riddell All American
Ohio Metallurgical
Ohio Screw Products
Multi-Foods
Abraham Ford
Matia Honda
McNeely Schuba, new office
Paul’s Beverage, expansion
New Business to existing building
Family Dollar
Vandemark Jewelers
Legacy Vending
Institutional Expansion and New Construction
County 911 and Emergency Management Agency
St. Jude School
County Justice Center, under construction
Elyria City Hall, under construction
Open Door School and Church, annexed into Elyria
St. Mary's School, 2004
Restaurants, new construction
Bennigan’s
International House of Pancakes
Red Robin
Texas Roadhouse
Golden Corral
Burger King, replacement
McDonald’s, replacement
Wendy’s, replacement
Restaurants, into existing buildings (remodeling)
Moss’, new ownership and restaurant
Zaki’s
Luchita’s
Weiner Construction |
