Chillicothe — The director of the Ohio Department of Development recently spoke on in the “Annual Celebration Breakfast” of Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development. In her part of the annual economic event, Lydia Mihalik was the keynote speaker.
Economic development and community plans were the topics of seven speakers in the two-hour event at the Chillicothe County Club on December 11th.
Ohio Director of Development of Development Mihalik congratulated Ross County and Chillicothe on their work at home and in the region, especially with their roles in the Appalachian Community Grant.
In her speech, she summarized the investments planned in Ross County from the grant, including in Bainbridge and Frankfort. She congratulated the local dedication to help Ross County achieve new levels of prosperity.
Mihalik pointed out that the last time she was in town, it was the May 1st unveiling of the plan for Yoctangee Park. She said she talked about Appalachia and the future of Ohio with news media…and noted that her staff was worried that she was promoting a single business with a Chillicothe Paints baseball cap on her head.
Mihalik said she hoped the event and the plan renews a “sense of inspiration and determination to get some pretty cool stuff done.” She said Ohio is on the move, embracing innovation, and that “we are building an Ohio where ideas thrive and solutions are born…even if takes 30 years.”
In introducing her, Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney pointed out that she had been the mayor of Findlay, Ohio. Mihalik said that being mayor has shaped her role in the state, saying that “local knows best.”
“The best solutions come from working closely with local partners. We do not have a patent on good ideas in Columbus, for sure,” she said. Hear her in her own words in the below video of her speech.
In my previous stories with videos of the event, I covered the emceeing by local economic development director Tammy Eallonardo and an interview with Mihalik; Ross County Commissioner Jack Everson’s description of a new “Comprehensive Plan” for the county starting up; and Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney describing the plan to renovate Yoctangee Park.
