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Franklin Reviews 1st Year as Mayor, Looks Ahead
WARREN, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley's developing shale play presents "plenty of opportunities" for the city of Warren that its mayor fully intends to exploit. Taking advantage of those opportunities is just one of the economic development initiatives Doug Franklin plans to pursue in the second year of his term as the city's chief executive, he says.
Franklin today delivered the second annual state of the city address of his term at the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber's Good Morning Warren breakfast. The event, held at the Courthouse Square headquarters of the Raymond John Wean Foundation downtown, was sponsored by CenturyLink.
"Obviously we're very excited about the shale play. We're in the process of positioning ourselves," Franklin told The Business Journal prior to his speech. Marketing representatives from the chamber are going to Houston to "create relationships" with the oil and gas industry "to make sure that we're positioned correctly to align ourselves for the shale play that's coming our way," he said.
Trumbull County sits in the Utica play, and shale presents multiple opportunities for Warren, the mayor said. "First and foremost, you can't drill without water and we have an abundance of water. Secondly there will be a need for increased housing and also office space, so we think we can capitalize on all three of those areas," he said.
Much of the city's progress during his first year in office took place downtown, where "you'd be hard pressed to find any empty storefront," Franklin noted. He expressed his appreciation to the business community and the chamber in particular for their efforts on the city's behalf to spur development and create jobs.
This year Warren will continue to work with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Mahoning Valley Economic Development and other economic development entities to more aggressively market the city, and in particular its industrial sites and other available properties. The city is also launching a new marketing plan through its website, where it is exploring the possibility of offering online permitting, licensing, parcel management and other services.
The mayor said he is no less optimistic about Warren's future than he was a year earlier when he delivered his first state of the city address, even though the city still is experiencing "more than its fair share of economic problems." The city "is and will be a vibrant and exciting place to live, and we'll accomplish this through hard work, partnerships and regional collaboration," he pledged.
During the address, the mayor outlined the city's efforts to provide the basic city services that are its "first obligation" to Warren residents and businesses. He pointed to the city's success at obtaining grant dollars for infrastructure, trimming costs and staffing, and reducing blight through demolition. Last year the city demolished 377 vacant and blighted homes through the Neighborhood Stabilization program and this year will bid out an additional $1 million in neighborhood demolitions.
In 2012, the city also received a covenant not to sue from the state for the former Mahoningside power plant site, a formerly contaminated eyesore that is now 6½ acres prime for development. In partnerships with the Western Reserve Port Authority, the Trumbull County Planning Commission and Howland Township, the city is pursuing federal funds to address the golden triangle area, the mayor noted.
When he ran for mayor, he recalled, he said one of his goals would be to speak with business owners in the city to learn what the city could do to help them, an initiative he has been able to pursue through business roundtables coordinated by the chamber and its president/CEO, Tom Humphries. Warren's businesses have "a certain loyalty to the city" and Franklin pledged to do all that he can to assist them, not just to reward that loyalty "but because your success is necessary for our success."
The mayor also announced that the city will be making a presentation to the board of Packard Music Hall, which recently completed $1.5 million in upgrades, regarding an agreement to have Sunrise Entertainment, in collaboration with Bob Early Productions, begin outside marketing of the music hall to attract new entertainment and talent.
During the breakfast event, the chamber's Warren Area Council presented the Upton Community Service award to the Warren Junior Women's League at the event. Karen Margala, league president, told the audience she is proud to be part of the organization but "even prouder to be part of the Warren community." Margala thanked all those who have supported its efforts and events, including the annual Champagne Luncheon, which last year raised $12,300 for the Children's Rehabilitation Center, and this week's Taste of Trumbull.
"Thank you for supporting us, believing in us and trusting in us to accomplish the goals that we set and the good work that is vital to this wonderful area," she said.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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