BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—During last night’s Bucyrus City Council meeting, the Crawford Partnership, under interim director Sarah Herrle, presented the first quarterly report since the departure of former director David Zak.
Herrle emphasized that out of the 169 active projects undertaken by the Crawford Partnership for Crawford County, a substantial 88 are focused specifically. Ninety-six of the total projects are related to economic development.
Crawford County Now reached out to Bucyrus City Councilman Zyan Hickman, who chairs the Economic Development Committee, for his thoughts on the presentation. Hickman said, “I have nothing but positive remarks about their progress, and I wish them the best during their transition following David Zak’s departure.”
According to the Partnership, economic development initiatives have seen significant advancements, notably the securing of a $100,000 JobsOhio Small Business Grant, which will benefit two local businesses and lead to the creation of six new jobs in Bucyrus.
The report also revealed that out of 54 leads generated by the Partnership, eight are currently active, including one that has already conducted a virtual site visit—a promising sign for future investments in the city.
Workforce development initiatives have also undergone a successful transformation. Programs such as the Teacher Bootcamp and WAGE Tours are proving effective, with another WAGE Tour scheduled for October 24, involving Bucyrus students.
The introduction of the YouScience platform is expected to further strengthen the community by retaining local talent and guiding young adults toward viable career paths.
While the Economic Development Committee Chairman expressed gratitude for the Partnership’s diligent work, he highlighted the importance of virtual site visits and the YouScience program in attracting and retaining talent. “Talent is hard to find and even harder to keep. Finding career paths for our young adults not only benefits them but also enhances Bucyrus’ job retention in a competitive market,” Hickman said.
The Bucyrus City Council Economic Development Committee is also exploring the potential creation of a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) or Cooperative Economic Development Agreement (CEDA) involving the city and local townships. Plans are underway to hold a workshop to discuss the benefits of each option, contingent on the interest of the townships.
When asked about the utilization of buildings left vacant by companies like GE and IBTech, Hickman acknowledged that while he is not fully versed in the utilization of existing structures to drive job growth, buildings such as the GE Building and the warehouse near IBTech are prime candidates for new industries, pending external interest.
Hickman shared that his attendance at the October 8th Tourism Advisory Council meeting with the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce generated discussions about innovative approaches to seasonal tourism. One idea that emerged was to create a unique event reminiscent of Ashland’s “Pumpkin People,” but with a distinct Bucyrus twist potentially involving bratwurst.