By Press Staff Writer
Over the next few months, all businesses located in Northwood will have an opportunity to help city officials better understand the issues they face.
The City of Northwood’s new Community Improvement Corporation, assisted by Reveille, The Ohio State University Extension, and the Ohio Sea Grant College Program, is launching a Business Retention and Expansion Program (BRE) to evaluate the local business climate and to assist local businesses with retention and expansion within the community.
“Our goal is to increase and open up the lines of communication between businesses, city government staff and our local community improvement corporation officials,” Northwood Mayor Edward Schimmel said. “Existing businesses create up to 80 percent of all new jobs in a community, so it’s important to examine the needs of those companies already committed to Northwood.
“The role of government should be one that helps businesses to be innovative, profitable, and to create employment opportunities. It’s not our job to be in the job creation business, but it is our job to make sure the environment they do business in is conducive for business.”
The first phase of the project will involve surveying businesses of all sizes within its borders. After the survey data is tabulated, city, CIC, and local development officials will examine the results and methods to refine community services to assist businesses stay and grow in Northwood.
Businesses are encouraged to complete and/or return the survey by April 24.
“In the short term, we’ll be identifying immediate concerns and looking at issues and services that need improvement,” CIC president Dave Gallaher said. “Our goal of the Community Improvement Corporation is to be a value-added asset for our businesses in the best manner we can.”
The Northwood Business Retention and Expansion program is sponsored by Northwood Community Improvement Corporation, Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce, Wood County Economic Development Commission, and the City of Northwood, in association with The Ohio BR&E Initiative.
The Ohio BR&E Initiative, located on The Ohio State University campus in Columbus, is sponsored jointly by Ohio State University Extension and the Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics.
For more information concerning the city’s economic development initiatives, visit the city’s website at www.GrowInNorthwood.com.