Geauga County is Open for Business

April 12, 2018 by Amy Patterson

Geauga County has a new person at the helm of its recently created Department of Development — a combination of the Geauga County Building Department and the Department of Community and Economic Development.

David J. Favorite — formerly executive vice-president of Property Management at DDR Corp. in Beachwood and in leadership at Forest City Commercial Management in Cleveland — will serve as the executive director of the development department, which aims to create a more convenient business- and public-focused agency that will result in an increase in economic development activity throughout the county, according to a March press release.

“Immediate priorities for the department of development include supporting local businesses with their growth and expansion plans, business retention, facilitating new building permit requests and sourcing new business for the county,” the statement said.

Favorite’s role was created to coordinate these activities between the two pre-existing county departments, as well as act as a public face for the county when dealing with businesses.

The department has also launched a business outreach program to meet with the leadership of existing businesses. The goal is to solidify relationships between existing businesses and the Geauga County Commissioners with the assistance of Tracy Jemison and the Geauga Growth Partnership.

Commissioner Skip Claypool said Favorite’s outreach to local businesses is a more efficient use of taxpayer dollars than partnering with an outside agency — such as the Northeast Ohio Consortium Council of Governments — to provide economic and workforce development.

Commissioners previously met with NOC COG to discuss the costs of partnering with that agency, but decided instead to pursue an in-house alternative for economic development.

Claypool said the new department will work with the planning commission and Favorite will be called on to help the county create an overall work ethic to tie together planning efforts and clarify the county’s developmental mission.

“(Favorite’s) background and expertise lends itself to be able to help to coordinate the various planning activities. You’ve got disjointed silos right now. We’re trying to bring that all together,” Claypool said.

Favorite’s immediate plans include what he called “downloading” institutional knowledge from county employees in the building and economic development departments. He has already been working closely with Anita Stocker, director of community and economic development.

Favorite said Stocker has successfully worked with the state in the past, and he has plans to reach out at the state level to learn more about programs and grants available through their Development Services Agency.

He said working with local communities is another immediate goal and he looks forward to meeting with Chardon officials as they pursue new economic development goals under the leadership of Nancy McArthur, who was named chair of the city’s new economic development committee in February.

The new joint department under Favorite also has a mandate from commissioners to “ensure the public will find the department of development to be proactive and cooperative with their building plans and their plans for new economic development in general.”

Favorite hopes businesses will see the new department and his role as an opportunity to reach out and connect with a government that is eager to welcome new and strengthen existing businesses.

The Geauga County Department of Development is located in the county offices complex, 470 Center Street, Building #4, in Chardon, and can be reached at 216-279-1795.