The Warrensville Heights Area Chamber of Commerce (WHACC) Annual State of City Business event was held on Nov 16, 2016 at Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus in the Jack, Joseph & Morton Mandel Humanities Center. 86 attendees represented the chamber business members. Leading the panel discussion was Terrell Dillard, owner of Warrensville Heights based Jan-Pro of Greater Cleveland. Terrell is a WHACC board member and an advocacy committee chairperson.
On the panel was Larry Finch, Community Development Director for the Village of Highland Hills, Mayor David Smith of the Village of North Randall and Mayor Brad Sellers of Warrensville Heights.
The WHACC would like to thank Dr. J. Michael Thomson, Tri-C East Campus President for hosting and sponsoring the event.
A recap of the questions presented to the panel from the chamber included:
- What is the state of the health of your city as it stands now and your vision over the next several years?
- Can you address specific initiatives the Tri-Cities are working together on?
- What can the chamber do to help you or assist you in these endeavors and/or participate?
- Can you identify some of the challenges in your city that might be on the horizon?
Highlights of the discussion included Mayor Smith’s goal to change the landscape and stimulate revitalization of the Village of North Randall and to attract business that will give sustainable income over the next 20-30 years.
Larry Finch reported that the village will soon be breaking ground on a new 90 acres development making way for a ABB, formerly Bailey Controls bringing roughly 450 jobs. It will leave more than 60, 70 acres in that 90 acres open to develop.
From Mayor Sellers, “… this is the hottest area in Southeastern Cuyahoga. The thing that we’re holding out here is between our location here on 271 all the way over to 480 in Northfield, the most redevelop-able land in this county of concentrated value and worth. Don’t be fooled. Don’t be led astray. This is where it is going to occur.”
When asked about future challenges the panel concluded; controlling our budget, continuing new development, housing stocks and buildings that are aging, and redefining ourselves.
To hear the panel discussion in its entirety you may listen to the podcast.
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