While Ironton residents demonstrated the unity requested by representatives of the state government, government officials offered few new answers to long-asked economic development questions.

Wednesday, January 12, 2000

While Ironton residents demonstrated the unity requested by representatives of the state government, government officials offered few new answers to long-asked economic development questions.

At a public meeting at Ohio University Southern Campus’s Bowman Auditorium Tuesday night, representatives from the Region 7 Economic Development Office, the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, the Department of Development and the Bureau of Employment Services, gave the hundreds of Ironton residents gathered more assurances that the state will help the city.

That help will come in the form of up to $30,000 in funds for marketing. The total amount will depend upon how much is raised by a local community foundation, said T.J. Justice, director of Gov. Bob Taft’s Region 7 Economic Development Office.

"We are here with one goal in mind and that is to unite with you in developing economic success," Justice said. "We hope to partner with Ironton in launching an economic campaign the state will fund."

State officials pledged continuing support in both the long-term arena of finding and maintaining new industry in the city and the short-term goals of providing financial and educational assistance to those who qualify.

Former Cabletron and AlliedSignal employees, as well as Intermet-Ironton Iron employees said they had hoped for more productive answers.

Instead, families in crisis were instructed by Melissa Delisio of the state Bureau of Employment Services to apply for any and all assistance available.

"The Ohio Bureau of Employment Services is available to help with unemployment compensation and in some cases retraining. It is very important that when those kinds of services are made available that you listen very closely for your own personal situation," Ms. Delisio said. "We are there to provide solid information and to assist you in determining what options are available to you."

In the meantime, Ironton residents were told to continue uniting together and to work on constantly marketing their community.

"You don’t market a building, you market an entire community," said Joy Padgett, director of the Governor’s Office of Appalachia. "When a community is in a time of crisis and you don’t know how soon something positive is going to happen, it is easy to focus only on that part. But, it is more beneficial to take that energy you have and use it in a positive way, such as working toward retention and expansion of existing businesses."

Although audience members were assured Taft is behind the efforts and had asked his staff to remain on top of the Lawrence County situation, which he reportedly called a priority, the governor was not in attendance.

Instead, Ohio Sen. Mike Shoemaker, Congressman Ted Strickland and state representatives Bill Ogg and John Carey took the podium, each one asking Ironton residents to remain patient and to hold on to hope.

"Those of you who don’t feel like you fit into any one program need to visit OBES. We may need to talk to financial institutions in the area to see if they can be more generous with financial obligations of affected families," Strickland said. "But, we also need to maintain hope. Try to stay close to your community leaders and offer your help and support."

Shoemaker said it is time for specifics, not just in Lawrence County, but throughout southeastern Ohio.

"This is not an isolated problem," Shoemaker said. "If we don’t begin to make some plans, we’re going to be having meetings like this all up and down the river."

Other suggestions for a proper direction included working on the area’s transportation system, particularly the highways, Ogg said. Highways might take years to complete, but there are things area residents can do more immediately, like remain positive, he added.

"There’s not a quick answer. There’s not a company coming in to fill that building next week," Ogg said. "But, take advantage of the programs and rely on your team of leaders. Stick together and keep fighting."

None of these suggestions or possible answers will solve the problem overnight, officials agreed. But, there are new areas to explore that might put Ironton back on track, Carey said.

"Technology is a possibility for this area," he said, adding he will travel to Findlay, an area of much recent growth with technological jobs, to research the possibility of all avenues of technology employment. A new state fund provides $1.8 billion to pursue technology jobs, he added.

"We should do everything we can to tap into that," Carey said. "These people have held the mining and agricultural and manufacturing jobs and they have proven they can learn and that they have the skills."

No solid answers as to the specific direction the state will take in aiding Ironton’s marketing efforts are available yet. But, state leaders did say several meetings are scheduled with other counties, other departments and other dignitaries in an effort to determine how regions that have been similarly affected were able to successfully pull out of the crisis situation, according to Justice.

Meanwhile, workers are still out of work or facing layoffs and the city is still working to find a way to attract business to the area.

"Ironton City Council and I are working hard to stay focused and move on," Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary said. "We want to continue to keep the communications lines open and continue working with Columbus. Together, we’ll make things happen."