| And the winner is...
Congratulations to our Agribusiness Committee, Ernie Brass, chair; Sylvia Hoffmanback, and Randy Horst, members, for shepherding the grant request process with the Cleveland Foundation to the tune of $35,000 being awarded for a study of agribusiness in Lake County, including the viticulture (grape) industry. It’s the first grant of its kind in the history of Lake County. The grant will be administered by the Lake County Soil and Water District in Painesville and will provide for the evaluation of the economic impact of the viticulture industry with the goal of preserving the lands in eastern Lake County for vineyards and other agriculture, including nurseries. A comparison of the cost of community services to the major land use types will be included.
Lake County Portrait Data
Educational Attainment by Percent, 2000 |
L.C. |
Ohio |
US |
|
13.5 |
17.0 |
19.6 |
No H.S. Diploma |
34.4 |
36.1 |
28.6 |
H.S. Graduate |
6.7 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
Associate's Degree |
21.6 |
21.1 |
24.4 |
Bachelor's Degree or Higher |
The percentages are somehwat comparable with no bragging rights by Lake County.
Lake County Employment by Sector, 2002 |
| Estab. |
Employees |
| Food services, etc. 438 |
8,066 |
| Metal mfg. 284 |
5,209 |
| Administration 380 |
3,895 |
| Health care 349 |
3,382 |
| Professional, Tech. 597 |
3,354 |
The preponderance of food service employees is evident by the data.
Per capita income, 2005 |
| Lake County |
24,803 |
| Ohio |
23,322 |
| U.S. |
25,035 |
While OK, the Lake County income level is nothing to brag about, indicating the need for better-paying jobs.
Is Lake County Good for Business?
A collaborative survey said yes for '06, with 83 percent responding affirmatively.
Economic Strengths - Active and New Business - Lake County |
| Year |
Active |
New |
Percent |
| 1993 |
4827 |
599 |
12.4 |
| 2002 |
5639 |
490 |
8.7 |
The decline of new business as a percentage of active business is evident, indicating a destabilizing effect and the need for an economic development push. Commercial overbuilding is evident in some areas of the county.
Lake County Quality of Life - What Matters Most: |
| Survey Results: |
% |
| Safe neighborhoods |
97 |
| School quality |
92 |
| Health care |
83 |
| Affordable housing |
68 |
| Human services |
59 |
| Shopping & restaurants |
51 |
| Outdoor activities |
49 |
The National Association of Realtors recently released updated median sales prices for existing single-family homes in various metroploitan areas and regions of the U.S.
Median sales prices in the second quarter of 2006 were:
$350,000 in the West
$299,200 in the Northeast
$188,200 in the South
$167,400 in the Midwest
$139,000 in Celveland-Elyria-Mentor
Housing Starts |
| |
QI 2006 |
QI 2005 |
| Cuyahoga |
258 |
484 |
| Geauga |
54 |
64 |
| Lake |
193 |
161 |
| Lorain |
317 |
352 |
| Medina |
227 |
244 |
| Portage |
193 |
162 |
| Summit |
338 |
348 |
|
| Meetings |
Next Meeting: January 12, 2007, noon lunch, Dino's I-90 and Route 306, Willoughby. Cost: $13 members, $16 nonmembers
Speaker: President Michael T. Victor, Plans for Lake Erie College and its role in Lake County
Call Elsie at 352-3412 for reservations
NEXT TRUSTEES MEETING:
January 17, 2007, 8 a.m., FirstMerit conference room, 7800 Reynolds Road, Mentor
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| Officers |
Steve Tsengas, President
OurPets
Jeffrey Shibley, Vice President
Yours Truly
Beverly Vitaz, Sec.-Treas.
S. R. Snodgrass
Randy Horst, Past President
Dollar Bank
Dave Gilmer, Ex. Director
440-350-2974
TRUSTEES
Ernie Brass - Money Concepts
Tim Cahill - FirstMerit
Angelo Cicconetti,Jr. - Lubrizol
John Crocker, L.C. Treasurer
Don Crellin
Bib Debevec - Debevec & Co.
Laura Freeman - Bus. Journal
Bruce Herold - Chase
Sylvia Hoffmanbeck - CBH Realty
Martin Kuula - First Energy
Jim Martin
Ray McGuinness - CBH Realty
Keith Palmer
Marie Pucak - Mentor Chamber
Neil Sawicki - NAI Daus
Tom Thielman - MEACO
Darrell Webster - L.C.Planning
COMMITTEES
Membership
Jim Martin, Chair
P.R./Program
Randy Horst, Laura Freeman, Chairs
Agribusiness
Ernie Brass, Chair
Legislative Breakfast
Jeffrey Shibley, Chair
Economic Forum
Steve Tsengas, Chair
International Folk Festival
Rollie Santos, Chair
Congratulations and best wishes to the trustees elected to serve the 2007-2009 term:
Ernie Brass, Money Concepts
Bob Debevec, Debevec & Co., CPA
Kevin Lynch, AT&T
Jim Martin, Retired
Ray McGuinness, Coldwell Banker Hunter Realty
Neil Sawicki, NAI Daus
Darrell Webster, Lake County Planning Commission
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Good industries in Northeast Ohio:
Polymers, medical, fuel cells, nanotech and information technology.
Strengths:
Population centers, service industries, manufacturing with global orientation, diverse manufacturing base, educational resources, air access and corporate headquarters.
Weaknesses:
Education not valued, declining population, organized labor, rust-belt image, ingrained mindset adverse to change, financing, aging and unskilled workforce.
There is no silver bullet to turn a slow-moving economy into a high-performance one. There are no homeruns; it's singles and lots of tough work.
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