Councilman: Salem losing jobs, workers

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

SALEM — The city is losing wealth-creating local firms and professionals, Councilman Dave Nestic told council.

Nestic, who heads council’s economic-development committee, said the city has a stagnant, aging population with diminished opportunities, so professionals are migrating to larger, more affluent cities.

Another problem, he said, is that the population hasn’t risen since the 1970s.

“It’s not unique to Salem,” Nestic said during council’s Wednesday meeting. “This is happening all over the country. ... we are not alone.”

The Ohio Department of Development and other economic- development agencies are trying to help. There are also five business incubators that help businesses grow in northeastern Ohio.

Locally, the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center has been created to help local businesses create jobs and compete in the economy.

Nestic is secretary of Salem Area Industrial Corp., an allied group.

Jock Buta is president of the board of the two organizations.

Local economic development officials said they expect to hire a person soon to oversee local economic development projects.

Buta said, “We don’t need another plan that goes on the shelf.”

Funds to run the economic projects come from fees from members taking part in the development effort.

In other action during the three-plus-hour meeting, Salem businessman Rick Herron asked council for a tax-abatement area in the northwest portion of the city, where family homes, apartments and townhouses would be built. He did not identify the company that wants to build the structures.

Matthew L. Sutherland, a senior tax-incentive specialist for the Ohio Department of Development, said the project could receive a 100 percent property-tax break for 15 years.

Councilman Earl A. Schory II said that the area for tax breaks could be expanded throughout large portions of the city. He said he would ask the city planning commission for its opinion on whether the abatement area should be enlarged.

wilkinson@vindy.com