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As you drive around Sylvania, you may notice blue and white flags flying in many locations. They're generally seen waving side by side with the American flag and the Ohio state flag. There's one in front of the City Administration Building on Monroe Street. There's another in front of Township Hall. And one at the entrance to Olander Park.

They bear the logo of Lake Erie West, the community organization designed to give Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan a regional identity. The organization was founded in 1992 and continues to gain support from area businesses, communities and organizations.

"Lake Erie West has the potential to be an enormously powerful marketing tool for the region, which is unlike any other region in the world," adds Township Trustee Jim Schwerkoske. "This time-based concept has been underutilized until recently and is just starting to take off, as people realize and understand the power and benefits of Lake Erie West as a global address and identity."

Gary Madrzykowski, director of the Olander Park System and member of the Sylvania Community Development Corp., agrees. "Modern technology makes the world a smaller place every day, which means that regional communities need to market their entire area to the global market," Madrzykowski explains. "Lake Erie West, by its very description, provides that type of growth and economic development for our area."

And that will mean a direct benefit to Sylvania residents. "The majority of Sylvania residents work outside of the city limits," Mayor Craig Stough points out. "Economic development anywhere in the region strengthens our local economy by providing job opportunities for our residents."

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