Mayor Grace and his staff have carefully developed a comprehensive action plan to increase quality job opportunities in Elyria. The plan has already yielded extremely positive results and continued pursuit of that plan will position Elyria for even greater success over the next several years.

There are many action steps, they include:

Expanded the city’s tax incentive program to improve our ability to keep and attract business and industry. Several agreements have already been negotiated resulting in these businesses expanding in Elyria.

Late last year, Elyria was awarded a $6 million federal grant to construct the long awaited Industrial Parkway. In addition to improving response to the west side of Elyria it is making approximately 500 acres for development; half for residential development and half for business and industry.

Water pressure improvements are underway which will be completed by the end of the year. Many industries will benefit by being able to reduce their fire suppression equipment and their associated expenses. These fire suppression improvements will also reduce their insurance costs.

Several state and federal environmental grants in excess of $1 million were awarded to Elyria. The grants are providing the necessary funds that are enabling the city to evaluate and clean up a contaminated industrial site. When the clean-up is complete, two Elyria manufacturers that adjoin this property will be able to expand their businesses in Elyria.

Mayor Grace negotiated a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) Agreement with Elyria Township. It is recognized as the most comprehensive JEDD agreement in Ohio and will provide unprecedented economic opportunities for both of our communities. This will open up hundreds of acres of land in the township for development where area residents will find employment opportunities at the businesses that locate there. In addition, the City of Elyria will receive 80% of the income taxes generated from these businesses.

“Grace has been able to obtain many hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for a variety of projects. Most notable is a federal grant for nearly $6 million to finish the long-planned industrial parkway to benefit economic development. Construction is to start later this year. This was Elyria's first federal grant for new road construction in three decades. Grace had to convince agency officials to change rules so that Elyria could receive the money. That's a mayor in action.” – The Morning Journal, April 22, 2003

The Grace Administration’s Economic Development Strategy

In decades past, the model for improving a city was to attract manufacturing plants, which would attract people to live, work, raise their family and retire in 30 years. Today, individuals often work at one place for less than ten years, often as few as five. Recognizing the likelihood of short-term employment; longevity and loyalty to a particular company have become less of a sustaining factor for communities. It has substantially been replaced by quality of life features, the most important being a high quality school system. Reliable workers live where the quality of life is strongest. Employers will locate and expand where a reliable work force exists. Our best economic development strategy is to improve our quality of life offerings to keep and attract quality people, who will, in turn, keep and attract quality companies.

There are companies, too many of them, that are motivated to build their facilities as inexpensively as they can get away with. They are motivated by cheapness. When times are difficult and a remotely better deal presents itself they’re gone. And they leave with little regard for the families left in their wake.

On the other hand, there are many quality companies that build quality facilities and are looking for quality employees. They are civic minded and their employees are engaged in the life of their communities. When times are difficult and a better deal presents itself they are much less likely toleave the community that they are endeared to and call home. These companies are motivated to locate in communities that share these same values.

We have many such companies in Elyria. We not only need to keep them, we need more of them. These companies and their employees are attracted to quality. From the natural and built environment they circulate in, the parks they recreate in to the schools that educate their children. In order to keep these quality companies we need to make our community better in every way we can. Better neighborhoods, better parks, a better downtown and especially, a better school system.

Architectural Design Review

As part of our effort to keep and attract quality people and quality companies, we instituted Architectural Design Review. This enables the community to require buildings to be built of a quality and character that are respectful of the people who patronize them and who call Elyria home.

New Businesses, New Construction, In the Past Four Years
(partial list)

Ross Environmental Headquarters, LCCC
PC Campana Technology Center at LCCC
Community Health Partners
Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospital
Don Jason Remodelers
Fifth Third Bank, major restoration of historic post office
Midway Market Square
Target
Circuit City
Home Depot
Giant Eagle
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Country Inn & Suites Hotel
Tri-City Medical office building
George’s Roofing
Decker Construction
Splash & Dash Car Wash
Chestnut Commons, fall 2003

Industrial Relocation

DGT Logistics
Burn Manufacturing
York Plant, tenants
Fisher Guide Plant, tenants

Major expansion to existing facilities

EMH Regional Medical Center, Birthing Center
Spike Meckler & Brill Law Offices
Methodist Village, new building
Abbewood and Lifecare Retirement Center
Life Care Ambulance, expansion
Litehouse Pools
Diamond Products
Northern Savings & Loan, fall 2003

Existing businesses expanding into new or larger facilities

Reaser Enterprises
Equity Trust, new office construction, LCCC
Lorain National Bank
Riddell All American
Ohio Metallurgical
Ohio Screw Products
Multi-Foods
Abraham Ford
Matia Honda
McNeely Schuba, new office
Paul’s Beverage, expansion

New Business to existing building

Family Dollar
Vandemark Jewelers

Institutional Expansion and New Construction

County 911 and Emergency Management Agency
St. Jude School
County Justice Center, under construction
Elyria City Hall, under construction
Open Door School and Church, annexed into Elyria

Restaurants, new construction

Bennigan’s
International House of Pancakes
Red Robin
Texas Roadhouse
Golden Corral

Burger King, replacement
McDonald’s, replacement
Wendy’s, replacement

Restaurants, into existing buildings (remodeling)

Moss’, new ownership and restaurant
Zaki’s
Luchita’s
Weiner Construction