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Development groups spent $23M last year to grow jobs

Area has ‘positive momentum’ on jobs, officials say

Construction continues Monday June 28 at the site of the new Caterpillar distribution center in Clayton. Caterpillar is one of the area bright spots on the economic horizon bringing jobs to the area in 2010 and in the future.

Lisa Powell/Staff photographer Construction continues Monday June 28 at the site of the new Caterpillar distribution center in Clayton. Caterpillar is one of the area bright spots on the economic horizon bringing jobs to the area in 2010 and in the future.

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What local governments spend on economic development

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By John Nolan, Staff Writer Updated 1:54 AM Sunday, July 4, 2010

DAYTON — You could almost field a major league baseball team for what the Dayton area spends on economic development.

A Dayton Daily News investigation found economic development groups in a four-county region spent nearly $23 million last year — not far behind the $34 million payroll of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, with a budget of $3.9 million, and the Dayton Development Coalition, with an annual budget of $3.6 million, are the biggest players, dwarfing any single government unit in staff and funds dedicated to economic development.

The salaries of their top executives, Phil Parker at the Dayton Chamber and Jim Leftwich at the coalition, also stand out. Each receive $200,000-plus annual base salaries plus benefits.

Both organizations are nonprofits with deep political ties. State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, is employed by the chamber’s foundation, while U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Centerville, has worked closely with the development coalition on its earmark requests.

Local development officials emphasize that economic development is a “team sport.” But that team is pretty far-flung. The Daily News found at least 52 local private and public groups employ the equivalent of more than 150 people for economic development.

They haven’t always worked together. A 2007 consultant’s report done for the city of Dayton concluded there was “an absence of clearly delineated roles and responsibilities” in the region’s approach to economic development.

Dayton’s problems are well-documented. Unemployment and foreclosures remain high. Last year Dayton was the focus of national attention when NCR Corp., its most visible and iconic company, turned its back on its hometown, taking 1,300 jobs and the area’s last Fortune 500 corporate headquarters to Georgia.

But local development officials say public and private entities are collaborating more and the region is holding its own in the competition with other areas and states for new business investment.

The development coalition says it has commitments for about 1,000 new jobs. Companies such as Caterpillar, CodeBlue and Cintas Corp. are bringing jobs in 2010 and coming years, and 1,100 new jobs are coming to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as part of the Department of Defense’s base realignment.

“It’s positive momentum,” said Leftwich. “That’s an indication of what we’re going to see in the future.”

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