Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary called the timing of next week’s federal economic strategy meeting excellent for the city, which has seen unprecedented job losses within the last year.

Monday, July 10, 2000

Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary called the timing of next week’s federal economic strategy meeting excellent for the city, which has seen unprecedented job losses within the last year.

"I think it’s great that they selected Ironton for the town meeting," Cleary said. "It gives all the leaders and business people the opportunity to continue discussing the growth of Ironton, Lawrence County and the Tri-State."

The meeting is the fifth in the Appalachian Regional Commission’s series on distressed counties held throughout the Ohio Valley to explore critical problems that the counties face in working to generate economic growth, ARC spokesperson Mike Kiernan said.

It will bring Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, Kentucky Gov. Paul Patton and ARC federal co-chairman Jesse White to Ironton Wednesday for a local brainstorming session on a new ARC strategic plan, Kiernan said.

The two governors and White are members of the commission, which was created by Congress in 1965 to spur economic development throughout the 13-state Appalachian Region.

"As part of the planning initiative, the ARC has begun gathering input from the public, local community and government leaders, as well as experts in many fields, to identify new ways to break the cycle of persistent poverty in distressed counties," Kiernan said.

The ARC plays a significant role in Lawrence County’s economic development, which makes the town meeting very important, Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce executive director Pat Clonch said.

Mrs. Clonch and other chamber leaders will attend the meeting, she said.

"The ARC is a real partner in everything we’ve done," she said. "This is our opportunity to go in and talk about what our needs are and also what are successes are."

ARC funds helped build the Cabletron facility, which now houses Liebert Corp. Funds also will strengthen the South Point Industrial Park development. The ARC has also financed miles of highways and water lines throughout the county, as well as boosted public housing dollars.

"There isn’t anything that ARC funds are not available for," Mrs. Clonch said.

The town meeting is one of the most important events of late because the plans that will spring from it can mean more and better development programs for the county, she said.

In fact, the information gathered at the meeting will be used to build a new set of strategies to help all 29 of Appalachia’s poorest counties become more competitive, Kiernan said.

The commission is expected to review the proposed strategic plan in the fall and make recommendations on how to implement the plan.

Being considered distressed is a two-fold issue – it does have a stigma associated with it that an area is in desperate poverty but, on the other hand, if your designated distressed it gives you extra points for grant funding and federal economic programs, Cleary said.

"I would like to see a distressed county designation," the mayor said, adding he plans to quiz ARC leaders about that idea.

"If we truly qualify, we should go with the designation and use it to its full extent to help us with our recovery process," he said.

The town meeting will take place Wednesday in Bowman Auditorium at Ohio University Southern Campus from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Taft will host the event. Patton and White are also scheduled to speak. Former CNN news anchor Bob Losure will serve as moderator.

West Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood, who currently serves as the ARC’s states’ co-chairman, will not be able to attend the meeting due to a scheduling conflict, but has expressed strong support for ARC’s outreach efforts, Kiernan said.

The town meeting will include presentations from economic development leaders in the region as well as provide an opportunity for citizen participation, he added.

Taft said no part of the state should be left behind as Ohio’s economy booms.

"I’m committed to that and am working hard to see that happens," he said. "The strategies that we’re using in Ohio can help other states and we can learn from them also. That’s the value of these exchanges. Collectively we can increase opportunities in areas where they didn’t exist before."

Cleary said he also sees the meeting as an opportunity for the area to thank the governor and his staff for work in bringing Liebert Corp. to Ironton.

"But it also gives us an excellent opportunity to talk about how that company isn’t where it should end," he said. "Let’s go with it and keep the growth coming.

"We need more than that first boost."