Saturday, December 15, 2007
An official pointed out
problems that the area has in attracting businesses.
AUSTINTOWN — Cooperation between communities is key if the Youngstown area is going to get funding from Columbus, says Ken Carano, regional director for Gov. Ted Strickland.
“Regionalization is a fact. Battles between communities are over,” Carano told a group of business people gathered at a Regional Chamber breakfast Friday.
“We better all sit down together, find out what we really need and go down to Columbus and talk,” he said. “Unless the community as a whole becomes one unit, we won’t be heard.”
He said that the Mahoning Valley needs to fight against the “C-C-Cs” — Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. “Unless we hold hands a little bit tighter, we’re not going to get what we deserve in the Mahoning Valley.”
Carano also outlined some problems the Valley faces in attracting businesses.
The Valley, he said, is fighting a perception problem — that it’s a crime area.
“Bull. We aren’t anymore,” he said. “We had a lot of problems but those problems are over. Forget about it.”
He said that the Youngstown area also has a reputation for unions stifling business.
“Baloney. It’s a fallacy that unions won’t work with business,” he said. “But you have to sit down and talk to them.”
Delays in granting permits, however, he said, are a real problem here.
“Businesses don’t want to wait six months for a permit,” he said.
If a business comes in with a project, he said, people should “stay up 24 hours a day” until the business has a permit.
“It should take three days,” he said.
Carano also pointed out that there is state money available if a company wants to expand and create jobs.
“Look for it. Call us,” he said.