Danhoff promotes growth in a recession
Clydescope's new director begins in rough economy
By BECKY BROOKS
Enterprise Editor
clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com
After being a charter board member of the Clydescope Economic Development Corporation, David Danhoff is just coming to the end of his first year as his executive director.
What a year to take on a position in economic development.
"I think the key during my first year since we've been in a recession from the onset - the goal has been not to lose any of our major industries," he said. "The bottom line was to stay in contact with all the industries."
Danhoff, who retired as the superintendent of Vanguard-Sentinel Career Centers before taking his current post, believes he has done what he can during the past year.
"We've done a pretty good job staying in contact," he said. Both he and his assistant work only part time for Clydescope EDC, which is based in the Clyde City Building.
In his first year, the Clydescope EDC made several changes besides hiring a new executive director. At its annual meeting, the membership voted to make membership as of 2009 contingent on monetary donation to the group not just mutual interest. Also at the meeting, the members voted to change the bylaws to allow all major decisions to now be made by the board rather than wait for a members vote at the annual meeting.
"Those have been positive moves and looked at over the last five or six years," commented Danhoff, who began on the Clydescope board in 1995-96 when he was superintendent of Clyde-Green Springs schools.
He remains optimistic that the economy will be turning around by 2010. With the support of Clyde City Council, City Manager Dan Weaver and local major businesses, Danhoff said the community can make it through the coming year and eventually see a better life in Clyde.
He pointed out that Clydescope was founded by people like Nancy Greenslade, formerly the board president for nine years, who always looked for a better life for those in the community.
In the year since Danhoff was tapped as the replacement for Richard Dagg, Clydescope's first director, has been one of ups and downs for the community.
Theo's Sports Bar and Grill opened last spring, accomplishing a long-time goal for Clydescope of securing another sit-down restaurant for the city.
Danhoff admitted that when Theo's closed is location at the Discount Drug Mart Plaza within six months of opening - "That really hurt."
"From the onset it just wasn't meant to succeed," he said.
But last month, the EDC director announced Legends Sports Bar and Grille will be reopening soon in the same location.
A bigger hit for the community came back in early February when the New Zealand-base corporation of Fisher & Paykel announced it was shutting down two manufacturing plant lines in Clyde by summer. The plan was to keep a motor line running with 26 employees and to lay off 60 others.
Danhoff kept stressing even after the announcement that efforts were being made to keep the dryer line from being moved to Mexico by summer.
On March 5 - F&P announced it would keep the dryer line in Clyde retaining some of the jobs it planned to cut.
For both Clydescope and the Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation - it was great news.
But the biggest plus in economic development came in February days after the initial bad news from Fisher & Paykel.
Whirlpool Corporation announced its decision to invest $175 million at its Clyde Division with the installation of two new washer lines by 2010. The investment is nearly double that made by the appliance corporation in Clyde a decade ago.
"That's just a monumental announcement for the City of Clyde," Danhoff said, noting it means the addition of 150 to 200 jobs at the local plant.
"Certainly another positive deal is with KF Ventures building an additional spec building for Whirlpool," he commented about a spin-off project.
Danhoff said he and the city are working with Jeff Durham, the new vice president at Whirlpool, Clyde Division.
"Once or twice a month, he will meet with me," the Clydescope official said. "Jeff Durham has been very open with his communications with us."
Despite the economy, Danhoff predicts good things ahead for the community. The city's plan to add fiber optics to its services will benefit local residents.
"That fiber could allow TV hookups.. allow phone and Internet hookup."
He added, "Coming down the road is the wind project."
The City of Clyde is also working with a corporation on the installation of a biomass paralysis plant to dispose of garbage and create electricity, he added.
"Those are huge projects."
In the meantime, Clydescope and Danhoff continue to work to fill gaps in the needs of the community.
"We're still going to be pursuing another restaurant or two... we would be remiss if we did not look at another grocery chain," he added.
During his first year, the new Clydescope director made a clear effort to interact with the city's small businesses as well.
"Another goal for me is to work closely with the BPA (Clyde Business & Professional Association).
Clydescope and the Clyde BPA joined funds to publish a list of 187 local businesses in a full-page advertisement in The Clyde Enterprise for 12 weeks.
"We've got a lot of positive feedback," Danhoff said about the campaign to let local people know they have local businesses to turn to for goods and services.
"They have all been very appreciative about receiving free advertising...especially the ones we featured," he added.
"Many of them have said people have used (the ad) to call their businesses."
Danhoff added the campaign filled a need. "A lot of small businesses don't have the capacity to do a lot of advertising."
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