LEDC planning for annual trip to Columbus

SOUTH POINT — If the economic movers and shakers of the county have their way, this year’s s pring trip to the Columbus statehouse building will be more than a journey down nostalgia lane.

It will be a chance to hit the state’s legislators with the full force of the county’s top promoters.

Back in 1986 then chamber of commerce director Pat Clonch had the idea that if Lawrence County was going to move forward, the county needed to sit down with its representatives in Columbus one-on-one.

“‘If it was going to be, it was up to me, that old adage’” LEDC director Bill Dingus recalled. “I think there was the realization to be pro-active. It was our responsibility to meet with the legislators and help understand what they do.”

For the past 25 years that pilgrimage has been an annual event, letting county leaders meet with legislators to lobby for projects. Now those trip organizers would like to see any and all of those who have ever been on the one-day Columbus trip to show up this May to put together an extra united front.

“I think it is time to rekindle a number of those relationships,” Dingus said. “These people … know how to hit the ground running. … They know how to tell the story, what we are doing. We have to endear those leaders to Lawrence County.”

Dingus sees the annual spring trip as a strategy that has contributed to pulling the county out of the economic downturn of the 1980s.

“I think it has really been part of the Lawrence County turnaround,” he said. “You look back 25 years ago Lawrence County was at an all-time high in unemployment.

Sometimes in Lawrence County, we were very critical of the state activities and somewhat critical of the fact that we felt Lawrence County was not getting its fair share of state resources.

“Today I see many counties that continue to do that. They are very critical that the state is doing nothing for their county.”

That this collective lobbying is effective is shown by the amount of federal funds that came into the county this past year, Dingus contends.

“Lawrence County did better than any other rural county in Ohio with stimulus funds,” he said. “Why? We had our priorities in line. … the city of Ironton, the county. The city leadership has been very active working on projects, the Depot project, the sewer system project, all of these projects are being prioritized and worked on toward completion.”

Each spring the county meets with legislators on three topics where development leaders want the focus.

“One is always transportation — rail, water and roads. Transportation is one of the fundamental keys,” Dingus said. “One is around development. Thirdly we select another area. It may be health, as we started moving on a new medical center. The EPA, whatever kind of major hot button problem.”

This year’s trip will be Thursday, May 12. Anyone wishing to attend may contact chamber president Bob Smith at (740) 377-4550.

“The state legislators, cabinet directors and various staff directors hear from me regularly, hear from Ralph Kline regularly,” he said. “But …. you bring that personal touch.”