Category Archives: news

State of the City Address : 2008 Review & Projections

Posted on January 9, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By James W. Percival
City Manager
Xenia, Ohio

As everyone is aware the national economy is not doing well, and the local and regional economy have experienced some major troubles in the past few months. The DHL closing in Wilmington and the closing of the Truck and Bus Plant in Moraine have received tremendous coverage in not just the local, but the national media. We are blessed in the City of Xenia to have a very diverse economy. One major component of the Xenia economy is the Service Industry. This helps to
provide a strong base and maintain the stability of the economy here in Xenia. We are also blessed to have a strong industrial and manufacturing base here in town. We have many small and midsized
businesses in Xenia that provide quality employment opportunities to our Citizens.

Next year we will also see the beginning of the Cornerstone Research project that promises to provide many opportunities to our Citizens. We, as a Community, need to continue to support our local businesses and industrial Citizens to help them provide a base for our local economy.

Many times in the past our Community has faced economic hardships. Our predecessors have worked through difficult times and our community has always risen to the occasion and come through with flying colors; the current issues that we face will not be different.

We have seen many positive enhancements to our community in the past year. The business and property owners in the downtown have ALL improved their buildings this past year. I cannot count the number of times in the past few months people have stopped me to express their appreciation for the improvement in the downtown. We thank all of the folks that helped in this effort. The City of Xenia could not make the improvements—this was a true partnership. To continue this partnership into the coming year, the City will be offering a Façade loan program that will provide resources to those property owners in the downtown area that would like to improve their buildings. This effort will help continue the momentum that has been created. The City is also continuing with the streetscape enhancement program that is adding to the attractiveness of the town.

The Community Development Department has helped to administer the CHIP program in the past year. Through this program we have been able to provide resources to homeowners in town that without this assistance would not have been able to improve their properties.

The Community Development Department has helped to administer the CHIP program in the past year. Through this program we have been able to provide resources to homeowners in town that without this assistance would not have been able to improve their properties. Hopefully next year, there will be additional resources available for homeowners so that we can continue to improve our neighborhoods. As a City we will continue to pursue these resources from the State and Federal Governments to aid our local residents.

Our Public Service Department has faced significant challenges in the past year brought on by Mother Nature. In March we had to deal with a Blizzard, in the spring our employees at the Water and Wastewater plants were dealing with significant rain events that taxed the capacity of our treatment plants, and this past September we all dealt with the effects of the wind storm. Through it all these employees provided the best service that we could under the circumstances. Many times Citizens complimented the City based on how efficiently we were able to remove the debris from the streets and sidewalks. This past year we also made significant improvements to Shawnee and Spring Hill Parks. Next year we are going to finish replacing the retaining wall around the pond at Shawnee Park. This project has been needed for quite some time and should stabilize the area around the pavilion. This park is one of the Jewels of our community and we need to make sure that all of our Citizens can enjoy the park for generations to come.

In the past year our Safety Departments have continued to provide a great service to the Community. The members of our Police and Fire Divisions do not always have the easiest duties to perform, but they are professional and do everything they can to keep Xenia a safe and healthy community in which to live, work, and raise a family. The members of these departments are on the job 24 hours a day to insure that we as Citizens can enjoy our City and our neighborhoods to the highest extent.

Our Finance Department has continued to insure that we maintain the highest level of fiscal integrity as we expend the tax-payer dollars. This past year our Finance Office was awarded the Government Finance Officers’ Association (GFOA) award of distinction for financial reporting for the twenty-fifth straight year. This dedicated group of individuals continuously works to improve the business side of the City of Xenia operations.

The City of Xenia Law Department has also had a very good year. Our Law Director and his staff are constantly reviewing contracts and other documents to make sure that we as a City are in the best possible legal position. The legal staff has also worked to update many ordinances of the City of Xenia, to bring them into compliance with State Law, or simply to update them based on current situations.

As we look forward to next year, we realize that there may be some difficult times ahead. As your City Staff, we will continue to provide the highest level of service possible so that each of our Citizens can enjoy the wonderful things we have to offer here in Xenia. Working with our current businesses and new businesses, we will continue to pursue every opportunity to create new and better jobs here in town so that we can increase employment and other opportunities for our
Citizens. We will continue to work in both the downtown and in all areas of the Community to improve the aesthetics of the community. Next year we will, with the help of State Grants, continue to pave the Jamestown Connector, thereby creating a new recreational opportunity for our Citizens and for all Citizens in Greene County.

Finally I would like to thank the Mayor Phyllis Pennewitt and our City Council: President Pat Felton, Vice President Jeanne Mills, and Councilmen John Caupp, Dale Louderback, Bill Miller and Dennis Propes. This group dedicates countless hours to the Community. While they do not all always agree on each item, they are all dedicated to the improvement of our Community and our Citizens, and we are indebted to them for what they do to improve our community!

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Posted in government services, news, politics, Xenia

Sherrod Brown goes missing in action

Posted on January 6, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By John Mitchel

RE: “Hobson always put jobs first during 18-year tenure,” by Sherrod Brown, Dayton Daily News, December 27, 2008. U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown for as long as I can remember was a voice from the wilderness that spoke the truth on the North American Free Trade Agreement. He even had the courage of conviction to disagree on the issue with fellow Democrat Bill Clinton. But now that Brown and other NAFTA opponents are proven right by the “giant sucking sound” of jobs gone offshore, I’m disappointed he would try to rehabilitate the tarnished image of lame-duck Congressman, Dave Hobson. For Senator Brown to deal in glowing absolutes on Hobson’s pitiful record on job growth in the 7th Congressional District is unbecoming to the junior Senator from Ohio.

However Hobson has improved the job prospects for one sector of our economy, namely his special interest campaign contributors. Take for example his advocacy in steering $1.9 million in un-bid, taxpayer funded contracts toward the Dayton Development Coalition (DDC) which in turn noncompetitively awarded much of the work to The Greentree Group, a Beavercreek support contractor and Paul Magliochetti and Associates (PMA Group), a Washington lobbyist. Federal Election Commission records show that Greentree, PMA and DDC employees donated tens of thousands of dollars to “Hobson for Congress” before, during and after the 2003 sweetheart deal between Greene County Republicans and the DDC. It’s tragic that Senator Brown would offer a parting platitude to a politician who was part of the problem instead of one who recognized a failed policy and acted to correct it.

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Ohio Manufacturer Reponds to Automakers Bail-Out Pleas

Posted on January 5, 2009 by | Leave a comment

The following is an excerpt of a letter sent by General Motor’s CEO to employers and parts suppliers, which is followed by a response from an Ohio manufacturer.

Dear Employees & Suppliers,

Congress and the current Administration will soon determine whether to provide immediate support to the domestic auto industry to help it through one of the most difficult economic times in our nation’s history. Your elected officials must hear from all of us now on why this support is critical to our continuing the progress we began prior to the global financial crisis. As an employee or supplier, you have a lot at stake and continue to be one of our most effective and passionate voices. I know GM can count on you to have your voice heard.

Thank you for your urgent action and ongoing support.

Troy Clarke

President General Motors North America

The following response is from Gregory Knox, President of Knox Machinery Company located in Franklin, Ohio.

Gentlemen:

In response to your request to contact legislators and ask for a bailout for the Big Three automakers please consider the following, and please pass my thoughts on to Troy Clark, President of General Motors North America.

Politicians and Management of the Big 3 are both infected with the same entitlement mentality that has spread like cancerous germs in UAW halls for the last countless decades, and whose plague is now sweeping this nation, awaiting our new “messiah”, Pres-elect Obama, to wave his magic wand and make all our problems go away, while at the same time allowing our once great nation to keep “living the dream”… Believe me folks, The dream is over!

This dream where we can ignore the consumer for years while management myopically focuses on its personal rewards packages at the same time that our factories have been filled with the worlds most overpaid, arrogant, ignorant and laziest entitlement minded “laborers” without paying the price for these atrocities…this dream where you still think the masses will line up to buy our products for ever and ever.

Don’t even think about telling me I’m wrong. Don’t accuse me of not knowing of what I speak. I have called on Ford, GM, Chrysler, TRW, Delphi, Kelsey Hayes, American Axle and countless other automotive OEM’s throughout the Midwest during the past 30 years and what I’ve seen over those years in these union shops can only be described as disgusting.

Troy Clarke, President of General Motors North America, states: “There is widespread sentiment throughout this country, and our government, and especially via the news media, that the current crisis is completely the result of bad management which it certainly is not.”

You’re right Mr. Clarke, it’s not JUST management…how about the electricians who walk around the plants like lords in feudal times, making people wait on them for countless hours while they drag ass…so they can come in on the weekend and make double and triple time…for a job they easily could have done within their normal 40 hour work week. How about the line workers who threaten newbies with all kinds of scare tactics…for putting out too many parts on a shift…and for being too productive.

(We certainly must not expose those lazy bums who have been getting overpaid for decades for their horrific underproduction, must we?!?)

Do you folks really not know about this stuff?!? How about this great sentiment abridged from Mr. Clarke’s sad plea: “over the last few years …we have closed the quality and efficiency gaps with our competitors.” What the hell has Detroit been doing for the last 40 years?!? Did we really JUST wake up to the gaps in quality and efficiency between us and them? The K car vs. the Accord? The Pinto vs. the Civic?!? Do I need to go on? What a joke!

We are living through the inevitable outcome of the actions of the United States auto industry for decades. It’s time to pay for your sins, Detroit.

I attended an economic summit last week where brilliant economist, Alan Beaulieu, from the Institute of Trend Research, surprised the crowd when he said he would not have given the banks a penny of “bailout money”. “Yes, he said, this would cause short term problems,” but despite what people like politicians and corporate magnates would have us believe, the sun would in fact rise the next day… and the following very important thing would happen…where there had been greedy and sloppy banks, new efficient ones would pop up…that is how a free market system works…it does work…if we would only let it work…”

But for some nondescript reason we are now deciding that the rest of the world is rig ht and that capitalism doesn’t work – that we need the government to step in and “save us”…Save us my ass, Hell – we’re nationalizing…and unfortunately too many of our once fine nation’s citizens don’t even have a clue that this is what is really happening…But, they sure can tell you the stats on their favorite sports teams…yeah – THAT’S really important, isn’t it…

Does it ever occur to ANYONE that the “competition” has been producing vehicles, EXTREMELY PROFITABLY, for decades in this country?… How can that be??? Let ‘s see… Fuel efficient… Listening to customers… Investing in the proper tooling and automation for the long haul…

Not being too complacent or arrogant to listen to Dr. W. Edwards Deming four decades ago when he taught that by adopting appropriate principles of management, organizations could increase quality and simultaneously reduce costs. Ever increased productivity through quality and intelligent planning… Treating vendors like strategic partners, rather than like “the enemy”… Efficient front and back offices… Non union environment…

Again, I could go on and on, but I really wouldn’t be telling anyone anything they really don’t already know down deep in their hearts.

I have six children, so I am not unfamiliar with the concept of wanting someone to bail you out of a mess that you have gotten yourself into – my children do this on a weekly, if not daily basis, as I did when I was their age. I do for them what my parents did for me (one of their greatest gifts, by the way) – I make them stand on their own two feet and accept the consequences of their actions and work through it. Radical concept, huh… Am I there for them in the wings? Of course – but only until such time as they need to be fully on their own as adults.

I don’t want to oversimplify a complex situation, but there certainly are unmistakable parallels here between the proper role of parenting and government. Detroit and the United States need to pay for their sins. Bad news people – it’s coming whether we like it or not. The newly elected Messiah really doesn’t have a magic wand big enough to “make it all go away.” I laughed as I heard Obama “reeling it back in” almost immediately after the final vote count was tallied…”we really might not do it in a year…or in four…” Where the Hell was that kind of talk when he was RUNNING for office.

Stop trying to put off the inevitable folks … That house in Florida really isn’t worth $750,000… People who jump across a border really don’t deserve free health care benefits… That job driving that forklift for the Big 3 really isn’t worth $85,000 a year… We really shouldn’t allow Wal-Mart to stock their shelves with products acquired from a country that unfairly manipulates their currency and has the most atrocious human rights infractions on the face of the globe…

That couple whose combined income is less than $50,000 really shouldn’t be living in that $485,000 home… Let the market correct itself folks – it will. Yes it will be painful, but it’s gonna’ be painful either way, and the bright side of my proposal is that on the other side of it all, is a nation that appreciates what it has…and doesn’t live beyond its means…and gets back to basics…and redevelops the patriotic work ethic that made it the greatest nation in the history of the world…and probably turns back to God.

Sorry – don’t cut my head off, I’m just the messenger sharing with you the “bad news”. I hope you take it to heart.

Gregory J. Knox, President

Knox Machinery, Inc.

Franklin, Ohio 45005

Thanks Gregory Knox for your zealous and honest love for America and the ideals that worked until bureaucrats and narcissistic special interest agendas screwed it up.

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The Great Wall of Xenia

Posted on January 3, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By Alan King

A firewall. Not so complicated, you would think. It separates one building from another or one section of a space from another to protect the people on one side from a fire on the other side. Good idea. But in the case of the new theater space for Xenia’s fledgling Area Community Theater, it has turned into a colossal roadblock. As many of you may know, X*ACT recently purchased the old Buckminn’s Harley Davidson building at 45 E. Second St. in order to create a downtown arts venue. They plan to produce plays, musicals, community arts events, gallery shows, art classes, theater workshops, and many other events to help Xenia grow as a creative community.

Prior to moving to Second St., X*ACT rented a small 40 seat loft space on S. Detroit St. and also put on community theater productions at such diverse locations as the Xenia Municipal Court chambers, the Greene Memorial Hospital auditorium, and several local churches. These venues were adequate for the small productions that they could accommodate, and they proved that there is an audience in the Xenia area for amateur theater and a pool of talented local actors willing to put in the time and work required to make great shows happen. All that was needed was a larger permanent theater space.

As a result of the generous support of John and Connie Smith, owners of Buckminn’s Harley Davidson, and the hard work of the citizen directors of X*ACT and other community leaders, down payment money was raised and the building was acquired in 2007 and planning was begun to create a modern theater space for our local thespians.

The first thing that was needed for X*ACT to survive and thrive was a steady stream of income to pay the utilities and the mortgage on the new building. Given the location and the existing layout of the building, the Second Act Thrift Store seemed like a logical move. As a nonprofit organization, X*ACT was in a favorable position to accept good secondhand merchandise, staff the store with volunteers and turn one person’s trash into the community’s treasures.

Second Act has been operating for well over a year now and has met its mandate of providing a steady stream of income as well as a good source of stage props and costumes for various X*ACT productions. It has also presented a bit of a problem for the Greene County building inspectors who have been working with X*ACT to turn the rear half of the building into theater space. In order to combine a commercial space with a public gathering space, it has turned out to be necessary to construct a firewall between the spaces.

To make a long story short, plans have now been approved and with help from Security National Bank, construction of the Great Wall of Xenia has now begun in earnest. But the price tag, which was originally estimated to be in the $30,000 range, has ballooned to over $75,000 in order to meet building code requirements. And X*ACT, like many other nonprofit organizations is facing a falloff in donations due to the current economic downturn. So they are turning to the Xenia area community for help. They are asking for sponsors, donors, and angels of any stripe to step up and give whatever they can to get the Great Wall built.

If you have always wanted to have a theater named after your mother, if you would like to have the stage dedicated to your father, if you would find a special thrill in having your name on a brass plaque in the theater lobby or on a theater seat, let them hear from you. If you want to sponsor a few 2X6’s in the Great Wall, if you want to donate the cost of a fire door, if your company wants to donate a hundred gallons of paint, they need your help. If you want to sponsor theater workshops for children, if you have good used furniture to donate, if you are willing to work a few hours in the Thrift Store each month, let them know. Stop in a and buy a winter coat or a blender. In short, no donation or offer of help is too small or too large.

A community theater reflects the vitality of its locale. It raises the tone of the city. It projects a sense of an intelligent and creative community to potential businesses and home buyers who are thinking about moving to our home town. One of the greatest things about Xenia is the commitment of our citizens to maintain and improve our city. Be a part of something good for Xenia. Support X*ACT’s Great Wall building project. For more information visit the Second Act Thrift Store, their website at www.XeniaAct.org or phone Executive Director Orion Monroe at (937) 372-0516

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Posted in art, events, news, theater, Xenia

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“Pay-to-play” politics thriving in Miami Valley

Posted on January 2, 2009 by | Leave a comment

By John Mitchel

RE: ‘Pay-to-play’ alarm should ring here, too, DDN, December 13, 2008. The Dayton Daily News nailed it with their comparison of Ohio’s scandals to that of Illinois. Non-competitively awarded contracts as quid pro quo for special favors, campaign contributions and political patronage have been pervasive in Columbus for decades, no matter which party had control. However, the DDN editorial staff did not have to go 60 miles east on I-70 to uncover fraud, waste, abuse and corruption. There’s an abundance of homegrown politicians that are perfectly willing to spread taxpayer wealth around in exchange for the means to secure and keep political power. Take for example the $1.9 million 2003 BRAC Initiative Agreement between the Greene County Commission, Dayton Development Coalition, Congressman Dave Hobson and his pre-anointed successor, Steve Austria.

I followed the money for nearly a decade and reached the inescapable conclusion that local, state and federal politicians right here in the Miami Valley are trading taxpayer dollars and patronage jobs for campaign cash and special favors. I continue to stake my reputation on these serious allegations, yet no one has come forward to defend themselves. In fact, elected officials from Greene County to Columbus, not to mention unelected bureaucrats and the media, have aided and abetted the cover-up.

Every election cycle Democrats and Republicans debate the same issues at the margins, but nothing changes. Until voters face the fact that corrupt, self-interested politicians are the one and only cause for our woes, economic or otherwise, we will continue to slide deeper into the abyss.

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Posted in economy, Greene County, news, politics

F.R.E.E.

Posted on December 27, 2008 by | 1 comment

By Andy Myers

As the saying goes, “nothing worthwhile in life is free.” But on the other hand, the information I’m sharing with you today, just may be worth it’s weight in gold and silver, or as many of us like to refer to as “sound money.” F.R.E.E. stands for Federal Reserve Education Effort.
We aim to take the mystery and intimidation out of learning basic economics so the American people are no longer at the mercy of the Federal Reserves manipulation of “funny money.” Every day that passes, we are one day closer to economic collapse. The time to educate is NOW!

Despite silent and misleading causes of our financial mess, every day it becomes more apparent that the #1 issue in our country is the economy and the falling dollar. Who is to blame for this? Who is printing all the money that drives down the value of our dollar? Who controls the interest rates upon which the fate of the banks, credit cards, loans, mortgages, and lives depend? Are these officials elected by the people? How are they held accountable for their actions? Who is gaining from their inflationary policies? How long has this been going on? These are very important questions to ask yourself.

One need not be an economist to understand that Fed is neither federal, nor do they have any reserves. Our dollars are no longer backed by gold or silver. It is a “fiat” currency, and every economy that has used fiat currency in the past has ultimately collapsed.

We interact with money every day of our lives. Understanding the American financial system is KEY to gaining true freedom and prosperity. Please go to www.abolishthefed.net to learn more. Also don’t miss the FREE showing of “Dollars and Sense” by John F. McManus, President of the John Birch Society Thursday January 29th at the Xenia Library. Your children and grand children will thank you for it someday.

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Posted in economy, events, news, politics

Hurricane Ike survivors welcome donated Christmas decorations

Posted on December 20, 2008 by | Leave a comment

When Hurricane Ike swept across parts of the Gulf Coast in September, it destroyed many possessions, including Christmas decorations. Soon after, Jill Krone arrived with a disaster relief team and decided she wanted Ike survivors to enjoy some holiday cheer—as best they could. She began to solicit donations of Christmas ornaments and other decorations to give families. It was something, she figured, no one else would think to do. With the help of her church, Emory United Methodist in North Texas, word spread. “People instantly understood the meaning of what was lost,” says Krone. The church gave up counting when they passed 18,000 ornaments. In the end, Krone figures close to 30,000 items were donated. Go here for the full story.

Source: United Methodist News Service, December 19, 2008.

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Posted in Christmas, events, news

Ohio Dept. of Agriculture raids organic farmer, Buckeye Institute files charges against ODA

Posted on December 19, 2008 by | 2 comments

The Buckeye Institute’s 1851 Center for Constitutional Law today took legal action against the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the Lorain County Health Department for violating the constitutional rights of John and Jacqueline Stowers of LaGrange, Ohio. The Stowers operate an organic food cooperative called Manna Storehouse. ODA and Lorain County Health Department agents forcefully raided their home and unlawfully seized the family’s personal food supply, cell phones and personal computers. The legal center seeks to halt future similar raids. The complaint was filed in Lorain County Court of Common Pleas.

“The use of these police state tactics on a peaceful family is simply unacceptable,” Buckeye Institute President David Hansen said. “Officers rushed into the Stowers’ home with guns drawn and held the family – including ten young children – captive for six hours. This outrageous case of bureaucratic overreach must be addressed.”

The Buckeye Institute argues the right to buy food directly from local farmers; distribute locally-grown food to neighbors; and pool resources to purchase food in bulk are rights that do not require a license. In addition, the right of peaceful citizens to be free from paramilitary police raids, searches and seizures is guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Section 14, Article 1 of the Ohio Constitution.

“The Stowers’ constitutional rights were violated over grass-fed cattle, pastured chickens and pesticide-free produce,” Buckeye Institute 1851 Center of Constitutional Law Director Maurice Thompson said. “Ohioans do not need a government permission slip to run a family farm and co-op, and should not be subjected to raids when they do not have one. This legal action will ensure the ODA understands and respects Ohioans’ rights.”

On the morning of December 1, 2008, law enforcement officers forcefully entered the Stowers’ residence, without first announcing they were police or stating the purpose of the visit. With guns drawn, officers swiftly and immediately moved to the upstairs of the home, finding ten children in the middle of a home-schooling lesson. Officers then moved Jacqueline Stowers and her children to their living room where they were held for more than six hours. Such raids are beyond the scope of the purely administrative authority delegated to ODA and county health departments.

In enforcing licensure laws, these agencies are only permitted to contract for routine enforcement services. Forceful raids and sweeping searches and seizures are not routine, and exceed the authority granted to ODA and county health departments.

The Buckeye Institute seeks an injunction against similar future raids, and a declaration that such licensure laws are unconstitutional as applied the Stowers and individuals like them. There has never been a complaint filed against Manna Storehouse or the Stowers related to the quality or healthfulness of the food distributed through the co-op.

The Buckeye Institute’s legal center will defend the Stowers against any criminal charges related to the raid. A copy of the complaint is available at http://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/stowers.pdf.

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But what is NAIS?

Posted on December 19, 2008 by | Leave a comment

The USDA’s proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS) was originally designed to give the big beef producers help in getting export markets which required disease controls. The idea is that every single livestock animal in the United States will be identified and tagged. All livestock animal movements will be tracked, logged and reported to the government. The benefit is to the big factory farms who probably do need this type of regulation. They get to do single ID’s for large groups of animals. Small farmers, pet owners and homesteaders will have to tag and track every single animal.

There are no exceptions – even small farms that sell direct to local consumers will be required to pay the fees and file all the paper work on all their animals. Even horse, llama and other pet owners will be required to participate in NAIS. Homesteaders who raise their own meat and grandma with her one egg hen will also have to register their homes as ‘farm premises’ and obtain a Premise ID, tag all their animals and submit all the paperwork and fees. Absurd? Yes – There are no exceptions under the current NAIS plan. The USDA has slipped this plan in the back door without any legislation. This is going to be very expensive and guess who is going to pay for it in higher food prices… You!

Source: NoNAIS.com

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Fitch lowers Ohio’s rating, but its a great time to buy a business

Posted on December 18, 2008 by | Leave a comment

Fitch Rating lowered its financial outlook of Ohio from stable to negative. Fitch said the negative outlook was based on the long-term decline of Ohio’s economic performance, exacerbated by the national recession, and the likelihood of continued economic erosion.

Factors contributing to Fitch’s negative outlook include the decline in manufacturing, a slowing service sector, and the severe economic downturn affecting the housing market, auto assembly plants, plus the state’s negative economic and revenue forecasts.

“Since the last recession, employment growth had been limited, rising a total of 0.5% from 2004 to 2007, compared to U.S. growth of 5.9% over the same period. October 2008 employment is down 0.3% year-over-year, compared to 0.9% losses for the U.S. overall. Personal income, though growing, continues to underperform comparable national figures: personal income rose 4.7% in Ohio in 2007, versus 6% nationally; second quarter 2008 personal income rose 4.2%, versus 5.2% nationally,” according the Fitch report.
In spite of the bad news, Fitch rates Ohio’s bonds at AA+. For Greene County, it gets even better. Fitch rating of the county is AAA.

Fitch’s rating of Greene County as a good investment helps explain why writers for business journals like Entrepreneur say now is a good time to buy a business.

“In the past few recessions, franchises fared well–even thrived–as ex-corporate workers sought more autonomy and personal reward than their previous jobs offered. But this downturn feels markedly different, and prospective franchisees like you are understandably cautious about rushing into a long-term investment, according to Janean Chun.

She says franchisers are responding by reducing franchise fees, reducing or eliminating mandatory marketing expenses, and lowering the costs of products supplied.

What is true of franchises may be relevant of other types of businesses.

Countering the current negative outlook is the continued increase of personal income reported by both Fitch and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Another promising trend is the retail sales. U.S. Census Bureau reports 3rd quarter retail sales increased 0.5% over 3rd quarter sales last year. The increase of e-commerce sales was 5.7%.

Being part of Greene County, Xenia may also benefit from these positive trends. That’s the hope.

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Posted in business, economy, Greene County, news, Xenia

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