Boom Town to Doomed Town?

A long time ago Mansfield, Ohio was a booming mega-factory city. Now it is represented with boarded-up, graffiti riddled houses and decay. While driving near the downtown area, you often discover houses hidden behind overgrown weeds, shrubbery and trees.  



The former:Westinghouse World Headquarters (see website header for current photo)

It’s been said during its heyday you could quit one good paying factory job and be hired at another- all in the same day. Not anymore.

Healthcare appears to be the best paying income in town with fast-food jobs being the most widely available. Consequently, it’s not unusual for folks to work two or three different jobs to stay afloat.

Mansfield has many people unemployed. Drugs have overtaken some neighborhoods to the point of no return. Welfare recipients and people on disability are the norm here. Arson is  nearly the front-page daily news. Not a pretty picture!

We didn’t reach this level of instability overnight; no it took several decades of erosion to get to where we are today.

Diversity and Leadership?

Some might say we lack diversity. Others say we failed to attract new business or lacked planning for the future. I would agree with all of those assumptions.

Our leaders failed to lead. Instead, the core players spent years locking-out other businesses from becoming competition. If the “good ole boys club” couldn’t control it or make money off it, the business wasn’t welcome.

It’s impossible to diversify without competition. The focus was never on where we we’re going. Greed was all that mattered. Consequently, when the existing businesses changed or dissolved; another hole was left in the void.

Help is On the Way?

 

Several years ago, a community of business people formed an organization to attract outside interest and bring new businesses into our area. I became suspicious when I noticed many of the members were from the same groups of people who for decades were related business owners and charter members of the “good ole boys club.”

I was hoping Mansfield was going to make a serious effort to plan and attract new businesses. Then it was announced the organization was going to focus on improving existing business, first. What a surprise, some things never change!

Our Only Plan?

The only new proposal that I am aware of is attracting warehousing business since we’re located halfway between Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio with an airport and railroad nearby. Empty buildings and warehouse facilities are numerous. Unfortunately, most of these buildings are owned by the club members. Great idea, if you’re looking for a fleece (I meant lease).

Photo by: THart2009

Mean Town

I’ve had members of city council tell me they wouldn’t open a business in downtown Mansfield. The fear of crime and lack of people downtown ensures this attitude. People don’t have money to spend and that does make it tough on entrepreneurs or possible small business start-ups. The existing business owners must have a courageous heart of steel and I respect their resolve.

What We Need!

Perhaps no city has a greater need to grow and prosper. We lack so many options, and choices. Mansfield, Ohio has so many needs to be filled, yet the opportunities are scarce. Why?

Without consumers we stagnate. We become hardened. Our dreams die. Our taxpayer base is shrinking. Decent paying jobs are part of the answer.

We need leaders that can lead.  We need young people who are passionate and have a vision about creating a future and the courage to follow through with a plan.

We must end the current gatekeepers of cronyism within politics and business.

We must create something sustainable or we will forever be nothing more than rust!

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and third party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

Are You a Cog in the Wheel?

The Cog in the Wheel

A week-long series by a local paper concerning poverty has led me to observe and re-iterate a few things.

1.     The Rust Belt built its core foundation on manufacturing.

2.     The manufacturing era has been over for some time.

3.     People have not been able to grasp the concept of line #2.

4.      Consequently, many of the people lack the tools necessary to be productive in this environment.

Boomtown

Years ago, cheap labor was the solution to a factory owner’s success. Many of those people were from Olive Hill, Kentucky and moved to Mansfield, Ohio. Working hard to be a “cog in the wheel” meant receiving a decent paycheck and retiring comfortably.  

Performing a repetitive task quickly and effectively was all that mattered. Increasing employee’s pay and marketting to the massest  permitted the factory owners to sell more products resulting into expanding production facilities and increase in revenues.

Corporations and unions maintained the status quo and continued to protect their own best interest. Everyone profited for decades.

Greed

We bought into all the marketing ideas to purchase stuff that wasn’t necessary. Employees never realized they were being slowly duped by buying into the overall concept of the manufacturing era.

We kept up with the status quo going deeper in debt to appear rich. We lived beyond our means mortgaging our future.

Greed within- unions, employees, corporations and government opened the doors to cheaper labor- overseas. Suddenly mass jobs disappeared. Debt replaced our ability to live comfortably. The global economy slowly replaced the need of the local economy.

The global recession, bailouts, and national debt deepened our concern for stability.

The Rust Belt Era

Mansfield, Ohio suffers the same fate as any “rust belt city”. Civic leaders failed to plan ahead and were unable to fill the void with a new industry. Former factory workers continued to long for the “good old days”. They’re gone!

We will never see a large factory open with hundreds of jobs paying $100,000 a year with overtime in our lifetime. The premise has always been about cheaper labor. Once your job is written down in a manual someone else, somewhere else- will do it cheaper.

Where do we go from here?

While attending school is a viable option, many people with college degrees are unable to find work in their chosen field.

Photo used courtesy of: Ralph Bijker.

The trick in today’s workplace environment is to find a void and fill it with a passion and sincere desire to be successful. Merely being a “cog in the wheel” guarantees failure. Multiple skill sets will be needed to standout and be unique. Discovering available options allows you to “get in the game”.

Eliminating and avoiding debt is paramount for surviving and succeeding in the years ahead.

Being able to provide a service or a need at a higher quality verses the mass produced goods from overseas is the best option for success in this new economy!

The question is- when will we as a community and individually decide to become a free agent and move past yesteryear?

Only then- will we begin to prosper again!

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

 Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells-The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and 3^rd party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.

President Obama visits The Rust Belt

Note: I generally abstain from political related blogs. I couldn’t resist with this one.

Last week, I had the misfortune of having both of my vehicles causing distress and breaking down several days apart. My car was already out of commission and my truck was the only option to drive.

On our journey to downtown Mansfield, Ohio; we suddenly heard a clanging sound. I figured my tail pipe had disconnected and was dragging on the ground. Upon reaching our destination on North Main Street we discovered it wasn’t the tail pipe, but the rusted muffler dragging on the pavement.

The ride up Main Street was quite nerve wracking on this particular day because the truck has a slight gas tank leak not far from the muffler. As we all know- sparks and gas are ignitable. Not a particular good problem to have.

After inspecting the situation, my wife entered the Squirrels Den to purchase some chocolate-covered buckeye candy. President Obama had visited the little chocolate shop nearly a week ago after giving a campaign speech on the town square.
  

The President spent a half-hour inside the Squirrels Den; chatting, posing for photos, and signing autographs while tasting and purchasing chocolates for the First Lady and their daughters.

The shop was still excited about their special visit and the owner, LeDonna Secrist and her staff had several stories and photos to share with us.

While my wife picked out the sweet stuff, I inquired to the owner if she had any string to temporary keep the muffler from dragging on the pavement. The owner produced a bag of bungee cords. I took a couple of cords and was able to secure the muffler for our ride home.

LeDonna refused to allow me to pay her for the cords, instead requesting “I pray for her” and return the favor by helping someone else out.

I want to publicly thank LeDonna Secrist for her kind act of graciousness.

During the chat regarding President Obama’s visit, the clerk noted many people giving negative comments. She encountered the same negative situation when she discussed seeing George W. Bush nearly eight years ago at the Renaissance Theater in Mansfield, Ohio.

She noted that she was always taught to respect the office regardless of the party tied to the helm.

I must agree with her. Hate is a terrible fear to spread. How often do you get to meet the man who represents the most powerful free nation in the world?

We should be praying for our leaders.

I understand many people are passionate towards their political party, America and their views. But there is a vast difference between hate and passion.  Let’s not confuse the two emotions.

I am surprised by the lack of respect Republicans and Democrats openly display towards each other in political advertisement and speeches.

The party process and news media have created an “us versus them” mentality which serves to divide Americans by keeping us distracted. It allows those in charge from dealing with the real issues that need to be addressed.

To me, the political party game has only given us the choice of the speed of robbing Peter to pay Paul and the negative results.

It’s the political system (Democrats and Republicans), I have lost faith in.

Politicians must understand they are elected to serve the people, instead of catering to lobbyists.

We should demand accountability, integrity and honesty from all elected officials.

Let’s stop the hate and focus on the opportunity to create change that really matters!

Until We Meet Again,
 Jim Carver

Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School “Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com

http://jimcarver.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer- Books and links on this website contain affiliate marketing sources between Jim Carver and 3^rd party companies. I only recommend products, brands and businesses that I strongly support. Photos used on this site are used courtesy of the original authors and in no way endorse The Rust Belt Chronicles or my work. Thank you.