DeWine meets local leaders over breakfast in Salem

SALEM -- Gov. Mike DeWine and wife Fran returned to Salem Wednesday morning, sharing breakfast with local leaders and learning about economic development efforts and what's needed to further the cause.

"I think Salem is not only doing well, but has great potential," he said.

The DeWines are no strangers to Salem, making numerous stops in the city and Columbiana County over the years, whether walking in the grande parade, attending campaign events or in Fran's case, reading to preschoolers last fall.

"Fran and I feel very much at home here," the governor said.

Part campaign stop and part listening tour, the latest visit began at Heggy's, a downtown Salem institution since 1983 described as a typical small town diner where regulars talk politics at the roundtable with a cup of coffee and a plate of bacon and eggs.

The conversations ranged from chit chat about the Cleveland Indians changing into the Cleveland Guardians and the hard-to-resist candy and nuts at Heggy's to more serious topics such as downtown revitalization projects and the need for funding.

A short ride later, the DeWines toured the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center on Pennsylvania Avenue, hearing from Executive Director Julie Needs about the training center and the need for more shovel-ready industrial space for companies wanting to expand or relocate to Salem. "Small cities in Ohio have a lot of value to add to the state and there's a lot of opportunity in our small cities," Needs said.

All those present felt honored that DeWine took the time to come to the SOD Center and recognize the importance of economic development in a small community.

"He heard us," she said, adding "That's not an opportunity you get every day."

"He was extremely receptive to some of the economic development ideas that we have in the works," Councilman Jake Gano said, referring to the downtown and industrial development.

Gano had only met DeWine one other time, but said "he seemed very invested in Ohio and very interested in our area and very passionate."

During her brief presentation, Needs explained how Salem is 39 percent industrial, which is a lot for a town Salem's size. When asked by the governor about the need that can't be filled, she said industrial space. Most companies want a building now, with demands ranging from small to large, and a need for small manufacturing space, too.

DeWine said a pending program will put more emphasis on assisting smaller communities. He also said he supports a pending bill for expansion of the historic preservation tax credit. He's a proponent when it comes to downtown preservation, noting that the state has legacy cities with a lot of older buildings.

"A lot of communities like Salem are already working on it. We want to give them some help," he said.

When it comes to economic development and getting companies to locate in a city, DeWine said "how the community looks matters."

Joe Hovorka, a resident who returned to his hometown of Salem with his wife and two children, has been investing in the downtown to redevelop some of the old buildings. He owns seven buildings, with six in the downtown, and said expansion of the historic preservation tax credit program would be helpful to Salem.

"Attention is a good thing when you get to the state level," Gano said about the governor's visit.

Christopher Sell, who owns and operates Heggy's, along with his brothers Ryan and Patrick, said he was happy to host the governor and first lady. He said the last couple years were a challenge, but they've got a good team of employees in place right now and appreciate both their customers and employees. His father, Michael, opened the Salem location and also operated the Heggy's in Alliance, taking over for his parents Jack and Evelyn who worked for the original Ben Heggy in the early days in the 1940s.

The breakfast table included Gano, Councilwoman Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey, Councilman Dennis Plegge, Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman David Johnson, county Recorder and Perry Township Trustee Jim Armeni, Bob Sebo, city Service/Safety Director Joe Cappuzzello and county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino. City Treasurer Tod Mumpire and former city councilman Greg Oesch were also there, along with some regulars like Gano's dad, Dave, Austin French, Dick Wilson and Robert Houshour. Mike Plegge and Barbara Csik, seated in a booth by the door, received a greeting from the governor as he went out.

The DeWines didn't leave empty-handed. Sell and longtime employee Tricia French filled up a Heggy's mug with lots of candy for them to take home.

The DeWines left the SOD Center with a huge basket filled with items from Salem businesses, including coffee, tea, mugs and pastries from LiB's Market, gift items from Reach for the Stars, books from nature+nurture, wine glasses and wine from Liebe Wein, soda from Kast Iron Soda Works and T-shirts from Your Best Self and GC Murphy Bicycle Company.

Johnson said no other figure in the state of Ohio has been as attentive or shown as much interest in Columbiana County as DeWine.

"We are delighted to have the governor back in Salem," he said.

mgreier@salemnews.net