Business Success

According to community members, business success is the number one challenge facing Crawford County. 83% of people surveyed said people are leaving Crawford County because of the lack of good job opportunities (see chart above).

But, that’s not all they said. In the spirit of Business Success Week at the Vision (and the final week of our focus series), we’ll take yet another look at what community members had to say:

-“We must diversify our economy”
-“We need to support our business community. The public needs to be aware of what is available within the county”
-“The demand for trained labor is unmet”
-“Collaboration between education system and employers needs to be better”
-“There's no reason for young professionals to come here”
-“We must have more community pride and ownership”
-“Drugs and lack of soft skills are barriers to business development”
-“We need to support entrepreneurship in the county”
-“We need to seriously shift how we promote the county”
-“How can we capitalize on an aging population to expand business?”
-“We need to keep farming alive and well here for future generations”

Key themes that emerged from this topic include:

The need to diversify the economy, lack of promotion of the county, need for business development plan, cost of business, amount of wealth generation, employment training, brain drain and youth outmigration, competition in manufacturing from other geographical areas, entrepreneurial growth, capitalizing on current strengths and agricultural preservation.

Business success and job availability will be discussed during a focus meeting on August 17 at Lowe-Volk Park. Community members who are interested in actively participating in this meeting are invited to call 419.563.1809 or email crawford2020@crawford-co.org. Until then, all community members may take this short survey to provide input on this pressing issue.

As one survey respondent said: “business is vital to the longevity of our county … there must be a positive shift in perspective.”

Workforce Preparation and Education

Approximately 70% of community members who were surveyed during our eight community meetings said Crawford County does NOT have enough trained workers with the skills needed to grow the economy.

Less than 10% of people in Crawford County have attained a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Hence, we’re focusing on workforce preparation and education this week at the Vision.

Let’s take a closer look at participants’ comments from phase one:

-“Schools need to do a better job forecasting industry needs and preparing students for those jobs”
-“We’re losing good kids to jobs elsewhere”
-“The history of good jobs is gone, but we still have an entitlement mentality”
-“We need to tap into the regional technical colleges for more help”
-“We should expand mentoring (programs) to help with life skills”
-“We need to have a workforce that employers want to hire”
-“It’s hard to find a job here even with a good resume”

Key themes that were identified during the meetings are as follows:

Ease of public assistance, work ethic and soft skills, drug and alcohol use among employees, workforce preparation in schools, collaboration within the education system and with businesses, need for entrepreneurial growth, wages, agricultural sustainability, life skills training, “brain drain” and need for higher education rates.

An issue-specific meeting dedicated to workforce preparation and education will be held on August 16. If you are interested in actively participating in this meeting, call 419.563.1883 or email crawford2020@crawford-co.org for more information or to RSVP.

Those who do not wish to participate in the meeting can still get involved in the process by taking this short survey. Responses will be discussed during the issue-specific meeting to help begin crafting a plan for the betterment of Crawford County’s workforce and education system.

Quality of Life

Last week, we took a closer look at what community members had to say about public safety in Crawford County. This week, our focus has shifted – now, we’re talking about quality of life.

But what exactly is quality of life? During our eight community meetings, we found that the term resonates differently with people.

Here’s a sample of some of the comments we recorded during our eight community meetings:

-“We forget that we have great things here, such as lower cost of living”
-“We need to improve entertainment options”
-“We have to make Crawford a place where people want to be”
-“There’s too much apathy”
-“School systems are one of our greatest assets”
-“We need better wages for sustainability of our communities”
-“We have a ‘poor man's mentality’”
-"Crawford is known for welfare benefits - people are referred here from CA and other states"
-"We should capitalize on our agrarian heritage"
-“Our young people need to feel more connected”

Key themes identified during the meeting reflect the comments above.

Themes included: affordability of living, location (“we are in the middle of everywhere”), lack of cultural/diversity/arts opportunities, excellent park system, ‘brain drain’ (keeping young people in the county after they go away to college), strong community values, small town atmosphere, the need to address poverty issues, lack of networking opportunities for professionals and a difference in perception of quality of life between generations.

The term may hold a different meaning for different demographics, but many comments and themes were consistent during phase one of the Vision initiative. On Aug. 16, a focus group will take a more solutions-minded approach to the topic to address some of the challenges and concerns which have previously emerged.

Until then, all community members are invited to participate in this short survey – especially those who were not able to attend our first set of community meetings. The responses from the survey will help shape the development of a plan to guide the future of quality of life in Crawford County.

Public Safety

This week, Crawford: 20/20 Vision is focusing on public safety – including drug related issues. Throughout the course of our eight general community meetings, we surveyed and listened to the thoughts and opinions of community members concerning the state of Crawford County’s public safety.

Here’s a sample of what they had to say:

-“I can hardly find anyone to pass a drug test”

-“No one wants to talk about the excessive heroin use”

-“Heroin use is underreported”

-“Law enforcement needs more funding”

-“There’s a culture of drugs, we need increased money for patrolling”

-“We need Crime Watch”

-“Drugs are related to bad economic times”

-“There’s a lot of theft due to drug use”

-“We have a lot of agencies ready, willing, and able to help”

-“We need more drug awareness education”

Key themes during the community meetings reflected the emotions and perspectives listed above.

Themes included: issues with employee drug use (citing specifically second and third shift), drug use in schools, the connection between drugs, crime and the economy, county budget impacting criminal justice services, hard drug usage and high mortality rates, duplication of services, a need for better support from the judicial system, and a general consensus of the issue of drug and alcohol abuse in the county.

Although many comments during our first eight meetings focused on problem identification, a number of community members voiced that they feel safe in Crawford County and that they appreciate the relatively low crime rates.

As part of Crawford: 20/20 Vision’s “Public Safety Week,” we’ve developed a short online survey to allow as many community members as possible to give input and offer their own perspective (take the survey here).

The challenges are clear. Our focus has shifted from problem identification to solution building. We must now look to the future and collaboratively form a plan to combat drug use, crime and other issues in the county.

One anonymous survey responder said: “We can't bury our heads in the sand and ignore this topic. The drug use issue is part of the downward cycle. When quality jobs are available, families become important, good schooling is important, drug use should decline. We have to start some place.”

Criminal Justice Services Levy

Our county is experiencing significant economic challenges. The following is an endorsement letter that is intended to provide citizens, elected officials, and community and civic leaders and organizations within Crawford County with information about the criminal justice service levy.

THE CHALLENGES

All revenue streams to support core government services and public safety have been negatively impacted by the downturn of the economy, which has escalated the rate at which the cash reserves of the county are depleting.

-Sales tax revenue declined by 13% in 2009 – projected to decline an additional 12% in 2010. This 25% decline in sales tax revenue since 2008 affects both the General Operating Fund and the Jail Operating Fund which is supported by sales tax revenue.
-Interest revenue is projected to decline by 65.35% in 2010.
-Other revenue sources have declined by more than 37%.
-Revenue collections have not kept pace with inflation. (1.9% since 2006 as compared to 2.4% inflation)
-Changes in state mandated incarceration requirements have increased local costs.
-Crime rates and drug activities are increasing, putting additional financial pressure on the county’s criminal justice system.
-Since 1994, the inmate population has increased from a daily average rate of 27 to a daily average rate of 115 in 2009.
-Since voters approved a jail levy in 1994, all cities have closed their jail facilities, thus obligating the county to house municipal prisoners and assume all financial responsibilities for incarceration.
-Loss of approximately $200,000 in annual jail housing revenue from other counties due to jail being filled to capacity with local inmates.
-Drug related crimes have doubled and thefts and burglaries have increased by 48% since 2003.
-The drug of choice in Crawford County is now heroin with approximately one-third to one-half of the average daily jail population being addicted to heroin.
-Over the last several years, Crawford County has consistently ranked in the top ten in the State of Ohio for the number of heroin related deaths.

THE EFFORTS
Crawford County’s elected leaders have worked diligently to maintain the cost of providing core government services. Since 2006, the actual cost of providing core government services has only increased by 2.9%. PRIOR to asking taxpayers to approve additional revenue to support public safety and criminal justice service, in our county the following financial reductions and changes were made:

-General Fund budgets were reduced 17% lower than actual expenditures for 2009.
-Elected official salaries were frozen in 2008 indefinitely.
-County General and Jail Fund employee salaries were frozen in 2009.
-All NON-MANDATED financial support was reduced or eliminated for agencies such as: OSU Extension, Soil and Water, Regional Planning & Economic Development, and the Fair Board.
- Employer contributions for health care were frozen at 2009 expenditure levels.
-Health insurance contributions by employees increased in 2010.
-Health insurance deductibles were imposed for 2010.
-All NON-MANDATED travel was eliminated, and all equipment, capital improvements and facility maintenance budgets were reduced and/or deferred.

THE IMPACT
Because government agencies are so interrelated, any further reductions in budgets or workforce will result in significant delays in providing government services from ALL COUNTY GENERAL AND JAIL FUND DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, INCLUDING ALL COURT SYSTEMS, THE COUNTY AUDITOR, CLERK OF COURTS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY PROSECUTOR, COUNTY RECORDER, COUNTY SHERIFF, COUNTY TREASURER.
With ever increasing unfunded state and federal mandates and given the fact that current employment levels of the county are 12% lower than employment levels nearly a decade ago and with a declining tax base and revenue streams, providing core government services in a timely manner is becoming nearly impossible.

Again, the challenges our county faces are significant. We must come together as a community to take charge of these issues to ensure a brighter, safer future for the place in which we live and work. Please join us by endorsing and supporting the five-year, 2.75 mill property tax levy on August 3rd.

Sincerely,

County Commissioner, Gary Miller
County Commissioner, Mo Ressallat
County Commissioner, Doug Weisenauer
County Treasurer, Gary Cole
County Prosecutor, Stan Flegm
County Auditor, Robin Hildebrand
County Engineer, Cecil Newcome
County Recorder, Karen Scott
County Clerk of Courts, Sue Seevers
County Sheriff, Ron Shawber

“CREATE A COUNTY” CONTEST

Show us your vision for Crawford County!

We’ll be holding some important meetings mid-August to sort through everything we learned thus far in the Vision initiative. In the four weeks prior to these meetings (beginning July 19), Crawford: 20/20 Vision is holding a “create a county” contest as part of our weekly series.

Community members of all ages are invited to share their vision of each topic in Crawford County for each respective week (listed below). Our emphasis is on seeing Crawford County from your perspective -- we're even throwing in some prizes for winners!

The weeks and topics are as follows:

-July 19 – 23: Public Safety
-July 26 – 30: Quality of Life
-Aug. 2 – 6: Workforce Skills and Education
-Aug. 9 – 13: Business Success and Job Availability

For example, during Public Safety Week: paint a picture, snap a photo, build a diagram, write an essay – show us your vision of public safety in Crawford County now or show us what your vision is for the future of Crawford County. Use your imagination! There is no limit on creative medium. The guidelines are specifically set for interpretation to allow for the most creativity.

Submitted works will be presented during issue-specific meetings to represent all ages and perspectives in the community.

Entries must be submitted by Friday at 3p.m. of each week. You must include your (or a parent/legal guardian’s) name and contact information.

Winners will be determined by the Crawford: 20/20 Vision Steering Committee.

Options for submission:

Email: crawford2020@crawford-co.org
Mail or Drop-Off:
Crawford County Economic Development Partnership
112 E Mansfield St
Courthouse – Suite 208 (located on 2nd floor)
Bucyrus, OH 44820

We want to see the Vision through your eyes.

Care For Your Fair.

For many residents of Crawford County, the thought of the Crawford County Fair evokes memories of summer days, 4-H, animal shows, competitions, demolition derbies, horse races, concerts, friends, delicious foods and carnival rides. Crowds of people attend annually to relive memories of the past and to create memories for the future – to continue the traditions that have persevered on the Crawford County fairgrounds for so long.

There are three main components that contribute to the success of the fair every year: the people, the animals and the buildings that house them.

While the people and animals stay for just fair week, the buildings stand year-round. Since many of the structures on the fairgrounds were built before WWII, there is a dire need for new facilities. Many of the buildings are almost beyond repair.

As a result of that need, a plan to improve the future of the fair has been developed. A fund has been established in cooperation with a private donor to build a new multi-purpose livestock facility on the grounds where the old goat barn and maintenance barn currently stand in less than optimal condition.

The benefits of the proposed 100’x200’ steel building are immeasurable. Not only will the facility house goats, hogs and llamas, but it will also provide opportunities for open class shows, farm and agricultural expos, state-wide livestock shows and sales, home and garden shows, flea markets and farmer’s markets, DARE rallies, auctions and winter storage. The building will also be safer and more eco-friendly than current facilities.

The official cost of the building has not yet been determined, but an estimation of $300,000 - $350,000 has been set for materials, labor and pens. Funds raised that exceed the cost of the building will not contribute to any fair operating costs – financial surplus will go directly to an endowment fund held through the Bucyrus Area Community Foundation for maintenance for the entire fairgrounds. Finances will be handled by Projects, Inc.

All county community members are invited to participate in the effort. Contributions and support will benefit the fair both now and in the future. Participating donors will receive recognition that will be preserved in the new facility.

The levels of donation are as follows:

Showmanship Award: $5,000

Grand Champion: $1,000

Reserve Champion: $500

Pen Sponsor: $250

Blue Ribbon: $200

Red Ribbon: $100

White Ribbon: $50

Donations of any value are welcome and greatly appreciated. For more information or to find out how you can help, visit the Fair Board Office during fair week, July 18 – July 24, or call 419-562-7936. Informational fliers and donation envelopes will be readily available.

You can make a difference in the future of the Crawford County Fair. Care for your fair.