Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting myself and top city leaders today for the 2008 State of the City address. Today, the State of the City is vigorous, visionary, and optimistic as we sprint into the new year with hope and anticipation.

Last year saw Toledo’s economic vision and focus begin to take on a stronger and more confident personality. One day last June was symbolic of that. We gathered at Liberty Park, overlooking the site of the old Jeep Plant – a plant that employed generations of Toledoans and helped win wars and defend our nation. We gathered to watch as they demolished the smokestacks from that plant. The transition from smokestacks to clean technology was underway. One had only to look north to see a modern, highly advanced complex of assembly plants and supplier parks. Those plants and their technologically advanced equipment will employ future generations of Toledoans. Chrysler and G.M. will be assembling autos and trucks in Toledo for decades.

However, it was not the automobile, but the solar panel that most symbolized the visionary economic future of our city.

Last Thursday, I toured one of the facilities that are garnering us national attention. It was my pleasure to join Governor Strickland in touring the First Solar facility in Perrysburg. First Solar is the largest manufacturer of solar cells in North America and helped establish this region’s reputation as a leader in alternative energy. They, along with Xunlight another manufacturer of solar energy-related technology, are helping Toledo lead the nation toward fully utilizing this inexhaustible energy supply.

Not only are we attracting investment to our city, but foreign companies and foreign media are looking at Toledo and seeing the positives. FDi Magazine – a publication of the Financial Times of London – recognized Toledo as the most business friendly city (in its population category) on the North American continent as well as naming Toledo one of the Top Ten Cities of the Future. Toledo’s economic renaissance was noted in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and The Economist.

2007 was also a year Toledo gained national and international recognition for being on the cusp of becoming a center for clean, alternative energy. In 2008 and beyond, we must continue the quest for Toledo becoming one of the hotspots for energy alternatives and independence.

Let me be clear: private entrepreneurs, the University of Toledo, and government – federal, state, and local – are spearheading the initiative to bring clean, green technology labs, factories, and jobs to the Toledo area.

In 2007, for example, the City of Toledo Department of Development undertook 87 economic development projects. Those projects yielded 1,657 new jobs and 3,670 jobs retained. Capital investment in Toledo in 2007 totaled $429 million. Over the last two years, we’ve overseen 152 development projects with 2,968 jobs created and 5,987 jobs retained. That’s the best two year period we’ve had for job creation since 1998 and 1999. And, capital investment in Toledo in the last two years has totaled $1.165 billion -- that’s billion with a capital “B”. That’s the best number since I took office in 1994.

While those numbers are solid, we cannot afford to think provincially when it comes to economic development. Competition between Toledo and its suburbs, as well as Lucas County and our neighbors in Wood County, Monroe County, Lenawee County and Hillsdale County does not serve us well. Cooperation, however, has led to results. The deal Toledo struck to create a Joint Economic Development District – or JEDD -- with Perrysburg Township is being hailed by state leaders as the model of regional cooperation. The City is working on JEDDs with five other suburban communities in the region to assure that our regional economy grows and everybody shares in the wealth.

The quality of life we enjoy here in Northwest Ohio was recognized as well. A panel of judges from the United Nations rated Toledo as the third most livable city of our size in the world. That rating was based on the quality of our environment, our dedication to preserving our environment, as well as our efforts at improving the health and wellness of our people.

Along those same lines, the quality of Toledo’s drinking water earned the distinction of being one of the five best tasting drinking waters in the United States by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. High quality fresh water is dramatically increasing in value as the Sunbelt and the South initiate the rationing of water because of prolonged droughts.

Our community’s dedication to nurturing young people earned us the distinction of being named one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise – founded by Mrs. Colin Powell. We recently earned that award for 2008 as well. A tip of my hat to Bill Kitson, of the United Way, who led that effort.

We were also the safest major city in Ohio – and arguably in the nation -- last year. We had just 13 homicides in Toledo in 2007 and all of them were solved. While 13 homicides is 13 too many, when compared to cities our size like Cincinnati that had 86 murders and Cleveland that had more than 100, Toledo’s streets were safe and tranquil.

Those safe streets are seeing new, affordable and market rate housing being built. While our suburbs and neighboring counties all saw double digit decreases in housing starts, Toledo’s housing starts increased by 21 percent in 2007. This, despite the dramatic national downturn in housing starts and the foreclosure crisis. Homebuilders see Toledo as a place in the region where they can build and sell homes. In all, 420 new housing units were completed in the City of Toledo in 2007.

As we begin a new year, several large projects are moving forward in the region that promise both new jobs and an increased quality of life.

Working with the University of Toledo and the Regional Growth Partnership, the City of Toledo is developing a technology corridor that encompasses the main campus of U.T., its Health Science Campus on Glendale Avenue, and areas in between. The goal is to develop new technology and find the means of transferring that technology to the private sector to help it create jobs. It has been said by many economists that the greatest indicator of a region’s economic health is the number of patents it generates. We’re confident that many patents in the field of alternative energy and clean technology will be generated in this tech corridor. Those new patents will lead to new jobs.

This dedicated partnership in developing new technology in Northwest Ohio led Governor Strickland to select Toledo as the location for the Midwest Regional Center for Alternative Energy. Toledo is already being recognized for its growth in this area. My thanks to Dr. Lloyd Jacobs and Steve Weathers for their invaluable assistance in this partnership.

The Marina District is starting to take shape in East Toledo and, when completed, will redefine Toledo’s riverfront much as the new Veterans Glass City Skyway redefined our skyline upon its completion last year. We completed the Glass City Marina and it will be operating this spring. The Port Authority has completed the Marina Passenger Terminal. We will see vertical development this summer, as Larry Dillin begins construction of housing and retail structures in the Marina District.

This summer will also see the long-awaited creation of the Marina District’s Riverfront Park. I’ve seen Larry Dillin’s design and believe that we are redefining Toledo’s waterfront into an exciting, world-class public space. The park will include an amphitheater, a clock tower, rain gardens, walking and bike paths, and an urban beach.

Another exciting development in downtown Toledo is the construction of a new sports arena. When completed in 2009, it will complement Fifth Third Field to spur increased development in the central business district. Once panned as a downtown that rolled up its sidewalks at 5:00, downtown Toledo is becoming vibrant with business during the day and entertainment at night.

A breathtaking, waterside project is being designed for the Warehouse District with new homes and townhouses, shopping, and restaurants, and boating opportunities on the Swan Creek. The developers are securing property rights as I speak today.

In Toledo’s neighborhoods, the New Schools, New Neighborhoods initiative is improving both the learning environments in Toledo’s schools and the living environments in proximity to those schools. New homes are being constructed in direct proximity to new schools such as Chase Elementary, Sherman Elementary, and the Stewart Academy. This program is a partnership between the City, Toledo Public Schools, LISC, and the business community. It is helping us renew our housing stock for the future.

Toledo now has established a vision of what we want to be in the future and has made strides in pursuing that vision of becoming a world leader in the production of alternative fuels and clean technology. We continue to shed our image of a Rustbelt community full of decaying smokestacks and the media are taking notice.

To continue the pursuit of our vision, we’ll need to continue regional cooperation.

Working with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, the Regional Growth Partnership, and the University of Toledo, we will develop a “Sell Toledo” campaign to market ourselves on a national and global scale. The Department of Development will supply businesses with marketing material to help sell outsiders on the benefits of locating in Toledo. We will feature our quality of life, our affordable housing, our state of the art telecommunications and technology development, our location at the Crossroads of America and our positive business climate.

The time is now to stop talking about Toledo’s faults. It’s time to start talking about Toledo’s successes. Nothing breeds success like success. The public sector in Toledo City government is doing its part. The private sector who have invested in Toledo have done their part.

And we must continue to place young leaders in responsible positions and let them help grow our community.

I am very optimistic about Toledo’s future. To keep that future bright, we need to renew the ¾ of One Percent tax levy on March 4. This levy generates $58 million of revenue for the city and pays for many of the services Toledoans value and enjoy. It is a renewal – not a request for new money – and those not working do not pay.

It is time Toledoans start appreciating and praising our community. 2008 is the year for us to work together to take Toledo’s vision and confidence to new heights -- to secure a bright future for our children and our children’s children.

-- Carty Finkbeiner

February 11, 2008

Source of text: WNWO

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