Trumbull is a primarily rural county. Many of its 220 thousand people live outside the population centers of Warren and Niles, which even together ...number only about 60 thousand.
Economically, Trumbull County towns mirror Ohio cities like Toledo and Cleveland -- dwindling populations, the loss of some key businesses, and high unemployment.
[Mayor Bob Marchese, Warren]
"The problems are the same; they're just on a smaller scale."
Bob Marchese is Warren's city council president, and is pushing county leaders toward new ideas about running 21st century governments. He says they've taken a cue - and advice - from the group "The Fund for Our Economic Future", which has been promoting the concept of regional cooperation across Northeast Ohio
But though county-wide cooperation is appealing to Marchese, he remembers Trumbull County's previous Council of Governments.... He says those meetings just "fizzled out"... about a decade ago.
Now, with `regionalism' the new buzzword in larger communities, his feeling is - 'why not us'?
[Marchese]
"The more we communicate, talk those issues through, the stronger the area is going to become."
Tony Paglia is Vice President of Government Affairs for the Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving Trumbull AND Mahoning Counties.
[Tony Paglia]
"We have a lot stacked against us, trying to bring business into this area. We think changing the way we do business and local government is maybe a way we can project a better image; and that type thinking is catching on."
Paglia's group is spearheading the conference, with indications of strong attendance. Bob Marchese says "it's now or never."
[Marchese]
"All we want to do again is get it started - if it fails again, then shame on us."
Rick Jackson, 90.3.
