JEFFERSON – Dani Robbins, the new CEO of Lake to River Economic Development, paid a visit to Ashtabula County during a Tuesday, March 10, commissioners’ work session as part of what she called a “listening tour” to introduce herself to local leaders and begin to get a feel for what the communities in the nonprofit’s area need and want moving ahead.
Robbins lives in Ashtabula County, having bought a house there about 10 years ago, and she and her husband moved into that house full time last June, she said. She also has experience working in the community, having been the director at Homesafe Inc., a domestic violence shelter in Ashtabula, after finishing graduate school during the 1990s.
“I have spent my entire career in service, primarily nonprofit service in various communities from two domestic violence shelters, Boys and Girls clubs, I served as a consultant for many years in leadership and governance work and taught at Ohio State and John Carroll (University) and ran the master’s (degree) nonprofit program,” she said.
Greg Myers, executive director of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, said he only recently learned that he and Robbins had actually attended graduate school together.
Robbins said she’s recently been appointed CEO of the Youngstown-based nonprofit regional initiative formed to drive sustainable economic growth throughout Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties and wants to get to know the leaders and stakeholders in each county to better serve their needs.
Commissioner Kathryn Whittington said she’s learned from both advice and experience to listen before taking on problems.
“I was told the other day, ‘Listen twice, speak once,’” she said. “Listen to what people are saying, hearing what they’re saying and then be able to sit down, really know what they’re talking about to really help them.”
Myers characterized Growth Partnership and Lake to River Economic Development as natural partners in advocating for Ashtabula County and that Lake to River covering its particular four-county area gives a voice to small-population communities in requests for state and federal funding.
Michael McGiffin, vice president of engagement and investor relations at Lake to River Economic Development, said the organization has good, established relationships with U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce and Ohio Reps Sarah Fowler Arthur and David Thomas in working to bring state capital budget funds and Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funds back to Ashtabula County.
Commissioner J.P. Ducro IV said that while the county is “hungry” for economic development, he didn’t want to become so eager that county leaders “leave money on the table.”
Ducro said he looks forward to working with Lake to River in lobbying for state and federal investments in the community.
McGiffin advised the commissioners to “flip that” and invite stakeholders and decision makers to Ashtabula County to show what it has to offer and its potential.
With a number of local communities banning or enacting moratoria on developing data centers, McGiffin recommended keeping an open mind, as having a flexible approach in negotiations can allow for development while ensuring a healthy relationship between developers and the community.
Robbins told the commissioners that once she has completed her listening tour, she intends to begin working on a strategic plan for the region.
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