A recent comment on this blog challenged me and other members of council to find a way to focus on economic development. The challenge has not escaped us.
Right now there is no entity that’s sole focus is on the marketing, promotion and economic development of Oil City.
All of us on council have commented on this in numerous conversations over the past eight months I’ve been on council. It is something Lee Mehlburger noted a week ago in his call for developing a marketing strategy.
True, city government has a role to play, but certainly that is not its sole function or purpose. Traditionally, marketing, promotion and related economic development have been undertaken by partners in the private sector (often nonprofits established for that purpose) and allied quasi public agencies, such as industrial development authorities.
Oil City’s Community Development Corporation merged into the Oil Region Alliance with the formation of that agency. The CDC served as the primary economic development agency working to bring businesses and jobs to the downtown, renovate buildings for new uses and attract developers.
I’ve been told by the former leadership of the CDC that there were several reasons they agreed to merge into the ORA. Foremost was the idea that the ORA would provide the strength of many and enable it to be more successful. (The original vision was that all the economic development groups in the county would join the ORA. That did not happen.)
Some former leaders of the CDC also frankly said there were concerns about the CDC’s long-term financial viability and whether it would have sufficient funding to do what would be necessary to continue its mission.
The Oil City Chamber of Commerce, whose focus, promotion and marketing was geared primarily to Oil City, became the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, with a wider view and interest. I believe that was the right move for the chamber and the region. The chamber continues to promote the city – continued management of the Oil Heritage Festival is just one example – and works diligently in hopes the community prospers. Chamber Executive Director Susan Williams and her staff deserve nothing but praise and thanks for all they do.
Still, the Venango Area Chamber cannot like its predecessor put nearly all its emphasis on Oil City alone, nor should it. Its role has changed.
As supportive as I am of the regional approach to economic development and promotion, I also firmly believe we need some entity that’s only concern is Oil City. An organization that can promote what we have in the city; our events, our arts program, our festivals, our businesses and downtown. An organization that’s sole purpose is to grow and attract businesses and residents to Oil City.
The Franklin Industrial and Commercial Development Authority declined to merge into the ORA. The Franklin Chamber of Commerce declined to merge into the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce. I believe Franklin has benefited by having organizations that’s purpose remains solely the one community. One example is the very nice tourism brochure for Franklin put out by its chamber.
Oil City has some very active and involved groups – Take Pride in Oil City, the neighborhood associations and the north side and south side business associations. Perhaps someday they can become the primary promoters of the city.
We need to do something. As it is, Oil City is lost in the whole. We have no identity.
I’m not sure where city government fits in this. I do know we don’t have the money to do much, or the staff.
So share your ideas of how we go about growing or creating entities that partner with city government to market and promote Oil City and take the lead in the non-government side of economic development.
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7 comments:
Great summary of how we got here. I agree with your insightful comments. Although you are correct that City government can't really do economic development right, someone needs to take control of the current fractured approach and you appear to be addressing it. At least this tax payer is appreciative.
I think a lot of folks that probably care have given up and are accepting our fate. I like to see individuals who will go against the tide and try to stop the decline.
I do have a question though. If we lack manufacturing space in Oil City then does that mean we haven't lost that many mfg. jobs compared to previous years of largess? Why is Oil City's tax base shrinking?
Can you explain what's causing it? There have been additions to the housing stock since our hey day in the 60's. Are less employed home owners moving in? Are more government assisted people moving in? Is more of the housing stock turning into HUD approved rentals that decay and eventually fall off the tax rolls? Even the empty buildings in the downtown sector still generate tax revenues. Have too many been converted to non-profit agency ownership? Are we generating the same amount of revenue from a inflation adjusted standpoint but the cost of services has increased?
I will say that I have heard from more than one source that attracting white-collar jobs to Oil City (i.e., to the former hospital building) is difficult due to the overall impression of the town vs. Franklin. Is that true? The artist relocation program addresses that to some extent however can more be done to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the downtown areas?
Our "grittiness" might appeal to some folks but I doubt it would be the majority. I don't see young hip artists coming here - they want more than OC and Franklin can offer. However, those wanting to retire, slow down, change scenery and appreciate old Victorian homes, woods, rivers, etc. they do seem attracted to the slower pace. I think we will find that is our niche and we should work that angle.
Thanks for setting up this blog! I hope it grows in popularity and more ideas are shared. I would encourge our Mayor and other council members to use it to get their ideas and thoughts out there.
Anonymous,
Thanks for your comments. I will try to answer a couple of your questions, but my answers are only my informed (I hope) opinion.
As to manufacturing space: We do have a shortage of space for industrial development. We are largely built out. The reasons are many. We certainly have lost a large number of manufacturing jobs, but those companies that remain use largely the same amount of space. An example is Webco on Seneca Street. It is an important employer and component of our industrial base. I’m not sure how many it employs today, but it is just a fraction of the number employed in that facility when it was a J&L steel plant.
The same is true for the Oilwell Supply facility, which is the basis for the Oil City Industrial Park. The buildings there are filled with good, solid businesses, but employment levels don’t come near Oilwell’s employment levels. Oil City is not unique in this.
One reason for our declining tax base is the comparative market value of our industrial, commercial and even residential properties compared to decades ago.
The “grittiness” you speak of is certainly an issue, and a concern of everyone on council. I think we are addressing that as aggressively as we can. The new downtown associations will have to be a part of correcting this. There is also a good possibility we will have a Main Street program – a largely state-funded, grass-roots effort – that has the potential to be very effective in downtown revitalization.
I believe that one of the keys to turning Oil City around is to provide the level and quality of services and the amenities that make our community a place where people want to live. Unfortunately, that takes money and people also want low taxes. It is a real Catch 22.
Thanks for the explanation and answers. That was what I suspected. Operating efficiency probably also contributes to less jobs in the manufacturing sector.
The decline in the market value of properties is still puzzling to me given what homes are selling for now vs. 30 years ago. I would suspect that the issue there is the County's Assessment.
You are also right that no one wants their taxes raised, but I think you would find that a lot of the real estate tax payers are paying taxes on assessments well below the true market value.
That excludes the slum lords that let rentals deteriorate, of course.
Along those lines, I have a suggestion to help fight blight. There surely are hardworking home owners that can't afford to have their homes painted or don't have the ability. Could the City set up a partnership with a local contractor or contractors to paint their homes for a nominal fee or in exchange for some sort of community volunteer work the home owner can do? There would be income restrictions, of course, and it would exclude landlords.
The contractors could write-off the work as a contribution or advertising and the City could have input into the color scheme. Possibly organizations and businesses could participate and offer to paint or contribute also. The Blight Committee could choose the recipients. They might even want to target certain areas and approach the home owners.
another "anonymous" suggests:
If a mere paint job could eliminate blight, there would be no blight.
Roof, Windows, Wiring, Plumbing, Structural: Talk to anybody who has actually performed renovation and restoration work on an old (or not so old) house.
No matter the scope of work required to reduce the blight, bringing additional government controlled programs into the picture will only create bigger problems.
I am writing in response to the most recent article in the Derrick regarding Lee Mhelberger's marketing strategy. I wholeheartedly agree with him and you have said it here also - Oil City is not being marketed well.I can't imagine ORA is doing much directed specifically at Oil City. If they are, I never see it.
I recently walked the length of Seneca Street starting on the other side of the street from City Hall. The new roadwork aside, it looks and feels like a ghost town. The plaza that housed the former social security office and then the next block with Cornplanter Square and the former Thrift Drugs store just looks desolate. Partly just from weeds growing in the sidewalk cracks and trash, but also the horrendous appearance of the windows. The next block is better up to Duncomb, but then the desolation continues. The road pavement is deplorable and the overall feel of that section is tired and worn.
This is where existing building owners need to be encouraged to spruce up the areas around their properties. A building can be empty but still inviting and marketable. As they are now, I can't imagine anyone seeing any potential. Where is the pride in ownership? Even a lot of the occupied buildings look sad and neglected.
We can market all the natural beauty we have here, but the downtown sections and some neighborhoods need to come together and like the Mayor says "get ready for company". Otherwise anyone driving through will think this town is dead and fall in love with Franklin by comparison. There is a pride in ownership that is lacking here. I don't know how you change it.
It might help for the Mayor and Council to challenge building owners (occupied and vacant) to take a look at their properties and make improvements large and small (pulling weeds, picking up trash, washing windows, taking down ratty blinds and curtains, etc.). Council did a walk around town once, maybe they need to again and just subtlely ask what they can do help improve the appearance of some of these sections. While they're at it they can commend the folks that keep things maintained and tidy.
I'm not sure what to say in response to "another anonymous."
Certainly, blight is much more than the need for a coat of paint. If only it were so simple. However, there are those places where some elbow grease and a coat of paint would make a real improvement and better the neighborhood.
I think government programs can, and have worked. However, some have not.
John, good point about the effect a coat of paint can have - and just some elbow grease.
Charity has to start and stop somewhere. If someone can't afford to maintain the mechanics of their home in a safe manner, then the reality is that they probably shouldn't be a home owner or need to find housing that fits their budget.
Just throwing your hands up in the air and thinking there's nothing we can do because we're largely an impoverished city is NOT going to solve anything.
If something is driving an increase in blight I find it hard to believe it's poverty. There are A LOT of jobs available in the manufacturing sector in the area right now. Unfortunately, trying to find applicants who can pass a drug test is a sad reality.
We need to attract people here who want to work and maintain their property. On the other hand we need to discourage residents who want to squat and live off public assistance - whether it's in public housing or a HUD approved rental. If they are able bodied and can work but choose not to, they need to go some where else rather than Oil City.
A "hand up" is fine, a constant "hand out" has got to stop or they will bleed this City dry.
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