Wal-Mart Mess Illustrates a Failure of Government Cooperation

Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the world as well as being the largest grocery retailer and toy retailer in the United States. The corporation operates more than 3800 stores in the country. Given these accomplishments, one would think that if a community was in favor of welcoming a Wal-Mart into their area, it would be the easiest thing in the world.

Well, it's the easiest thing in the world unless you run into the tar pit that is regional government cooperation in the Mahoning Valley.

To begin with, Mayor Jay Williams should never have attempted to utilize a Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) in Liberty plaza. The area was developed decades ago and is in desperate need of redevelopment. JEDD's are primarily used to encourage economic development in undeveloped areas. If Wal-Mart wanted to develop the land near the 711-Gypsy Lane interchange a JEDD would be appropriate.

Next, we have the Liberty trustees who are encouraged Wal-Mart to build knowing the project would utilize Youngstown city water, without understanding what was involved. Given the recent press concerning JEDD's between Austintown and Boardman and the vehement opposition from those communities, it is unbelievable that the trustees did not read the Youngstown city application for a commercial water tap. The application states that the new business make a best effort to hire at least 25% of their work force from Youngstown. This oversight is especially grievous because the workforce clause has been in effect since Pat Ungaro's term as Youngstown city mayor. Mr. Ungaro is now the Liberty Township Administrator. One has to wonder how this potential roadblock was overlooked by both the trustees and the administrator who initiated it.

Finally, this fiasco has been marred by the public statements from Mayor Williams and Trustee Jodi Stoyak. Both parties have made statements to the press that indicate cooperation is not a priority:

“Wal-Mart could have actually hired more than 25 percent from the city, but by doing this and stopping this project, no one in Mahoning or Trumbull County will see any additional jobs,” Stoyak said. “We are starving for jobs in this area, and this project is being held up by the mayor. Unfortunately, I don’t think Mayor Williams realizes that Wal-Mart is not going to play games with him.”- Trustee Stoyak.

“All trustees can do is work with the press to apply more pressure publicly and let the public know exactly what is going on with this situation,”- Trustee Stoyak.

“... If this [building] program is being put on hold, it is because of the incompetency of either Liberty or the people at Wal-Mart.”- Mayor Williams.

If the project somehow doesn’t move forward, “it’s not our fault,” Williams said. Ungaro should have mentioned it to Wal-Mart years ago, Williams said.- Mayor Williams.

Given those statements it's clear that the interests of township and city residents are being ill served by their leaders. The most important thing is to get the Wal-Mart built so that jobs are created and the Liberty plaza has a strong economic anchor. This petty bickering and finger pointing serves no purpose except to show potential developers how hard it is to accomplish anything in an area where politics trumps all other interests.

Now is the time for regional leaders to come together and do the following:

• Perform a lessons learned study from this project to identify potential problems like the 25% employment requirement.
• Identify the areas best suited to new economic development.
• Decide which areas would benefit local areas best by utilizing a JEDD.
• Develop a list of needs for each political sub-division within the Mahoning Valley that can be satisfied by regional development.
• Develop a marketing plan for attracting business.
  

We have stumbled around in the darkness long enough. It's time for our elected leaders to work together in their approach to economic development.