Gary Thompson, former director of the Oregon Economic Development Foundation, said he is continuing to assist with economic development projects in Oregon until a new director is found.

Thompson took a job on Sept. 1 with the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) as the new director of JobsOhio for northwest Ohio.

“I happen to live about 400 yards from [council chambers], so it’s not that I’m leaving town,” Thompson said to council at a committee of the whole meeting last Monday. “There are probably three or four projects that are hot and heavy that we’re working on. I continue to work on them and will not let them fall through the cracks. I continue to be a resident of Oregon and I want to see its economy grow.”

Thompson thanked city officials for working with him on economic development projects over the years.

“I’d like to say `Thank you’ not only to Mayor [Mike] Seferian and [Administrator] Mike Beazley, but Oregon City Council. It’s been my pleasure to work with you for the past six years on issues related to economic development and growing the economy of our city.”

Thompson said he has been “filling in double duty,” since going to work for the RGP, which he said was a challenge.

“For the past two weeks, I’ve been filling in double duty and that duty is starting to decline rapidly where I’m spending probably nine hours of my day in my RGP office and one hour in the evening in Oregon cleaning up some things,” he said.

The Foundation’s president, Timothy Pedro, has “stepped in” along with the executive board of the Foundation, and has been in close contact with Seferian and Beazley, said Thompson.

“They have plans to move everything forward until then. I’m helping out on an `as needed basis,’” he said. “I think the Foundation is a fabulous institution.”

He also praised Councilman Jerry Peach’s leadership on the Economic Development Committee, and his regular attendance at the Foundation meetings.

“I know the next director of the current board will appreciate that support as well,” he said.

“I think the Economic Development Foundation is an important part of the community and I know it’s been an important part of previous administrations,” said Pedro. “I’m sure we’ll continue that way. I’m pleased to be part of the transition team to grow the environment for economic development and I’m looking forward to working with all of you.”

Councilman James Seaman asked about the strength of the Foundation’s memberships.

“The membership has been very consistent over the last couple of years,” said Pedro. “A few fall off the wagon, if you will, and a few new ones come on the wagon. I’m happy to report that at a board meeting last week we had a strategic plan to go out and reach out to some of those members who fell off the wagon. We have four or five members that have rejoined. And we have three or four that are on the fence. In general, it’s been very strong. This organization has always been well respected.”

Seaman also asked whether the city will ever get a new `sit down’ restaurant.

“I want to know what camp you belong to - Olive Garden, Panera or Red Lobster? Which one are we going to get?” asked Seaman.

“I like them all,” said Pedro. “I can tell you I’m a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, a major organization that promotes retail development across the country. I can tell you this – whatever you want - it’s about roof tops, roof tops, rooftops.”

“I understand `roof tops, roof tops, roof tops,’” said Council member Sandy Bihn. “I understand income levels and all those things. We’re not Maumee or the Franklin Park area. But we have a uniqueness here that the numbers don’t project and we’ve always had trouble getting them to be factored in to get those kinds of businesses – like Target – to come here, and that is the State Route 2 traffic and the gateway to the lake, and the amount of transient people who come through here that stop and eat and stay in the hotels. It’s hard to get your arms around those numbers. I heard this a while ago about Wendy’s, that they made the same amount with the franchise here as they did in other areas of Toledo, but because of the seasonal bump here, it made it a more profitable establishment for their franchise. But I don’t know how we could get our numbers around that so we can sell that and have it so people here could have what they so heartily desire – more restaurants and retail. But if you know the way in terms of

people who provide that kind of analysis and provide that extra information that might allow you and us to recruit the kind of things the community wants, we certainly would like to participate in that partnership.”

“I would be delighted to come back to the group with a plan of attack. That’s not out of the question,” said Pedro.

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