On the agenda

Mayor to tackle economic, community development in first 100 days

In his first month of public office, Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield has a lot on his plate.

Having announced new administrative members, he said the team is starting to settle into their new positions.

“It’s been going good,” Whitfield said. “The team has been getting settled and we’re tackling the things we set out to do in our 100-day plan and just introducing ourselves to folks around the city and learning. A lot of listening and learning.”

This 100-day plan was released prior to his swearing in on Dec. 29 last year. It includes five elements of improvements: economy, community, culture, transition and hiring new administration members.

Tackled so far

Whitfield said within his first week of taking office, taking on the city’s business and economic development has been the first project of the administration.

The city’s economic transformation and business services coordinator Dawn Calvert has been speaking with businesses as well as economic development organizations like Lorain County Community College, Nord Family Foundation and Jumpstart Elyria.

“She’s been not only meeting with businesses out in the community, but also working with the staff internally so that processes are streamlined,” Whitfield said.

Building a partnership with businesses also looks like engaging in entrepreneurship, with projects like establishing a pitch competition currently on the table.

With Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems to be leaving Elyria in 2021 and the city to inevitably lose jobs, the city is connecting with current business owners that Whitfield believes will help expansion and job growth.

“In business they teach you it’s always easier to keep a customer than gain a customer,” Whitfield said, “and so I think a lot of people get it wrong in spending so much attention trying to wave and steal attention and say ‘Come over here, come over here.’

“They neglect the businesses right underneath them who if they invested time and resources, they could be expanding and creating those jobs that are missing. We’re committed to invest in the businesses that are in this city and helping them grow.”

Other pieces of economic development also include forming an economic development and business services council and launching a Skill City Initiative for training and certification opportunities.

What’s to come

As for community development, the first initiatives will take off at the end of the month. They will include hosting an education and youth development summit, forming both a youth and elders council and building partnerships and planning for a community center, according to Whitfield.

The goal in establishing these is to create more out-of-school activities for Elyria’s children and increase senior projects.

As for culture, creating an Elyria events workgroup and establishing a police and community relations board is part of Whitfield’s 100-day plan.

On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Jan. 9, Whitfield met with the city’s law enforcement to discuss what building that connection with Elyrians may look like.

“They seem interested in bridging the divide within this community and establishing that trust,” Whitfield said. “They seem very interested in it.”

He said he already has residents who have expressed interest in joining the relations board.

Feedback

As for what Whitfield has heard from businesses and residents, keeping up to date with the city is among the most common concern thus far.

“I think communication is the No. 1 thing,” he said. “I think people feel like they just haven’t been communicated with and they’re not in the loop with what’s going on and they find out about things after the fact.

“They want to be at the table and part of the conversation.”

By Jordana Joy

jjoy@morningjournal.com @MJ_JordanaJoy on Twitter

JORDANA JOY — THE MORNING JOURNAL Elyria Frank Whitfield has outlined a full slate of projects for his first 100days in office.