In Allen County and Lima, Ohio, some residents are experiencing an economic upswing. There’s shrinking employment, signs of construction, and an increase in local investment and high-end shops and restaurants.
For many workers in the area however, wages are stagnant, and individuals don’t have the necessary skills to find new opportunities to get hired, as the Lima News reports. This increases stress on people who may already be struggling to pay for rent, food, and other bills, highlighting diverging economic futures for the community. To talk with community members directly and see what they think could be the causes and solutions to this divide, local journalists teamed up and hosted Your Voice Ohio: Vibrant Lima.
On Thursday, September 27, 2018, at the University of Northwestern Ohio, residents met with members of the media and explored these four questions:
- What would Lima look like if it was thriving for everyone in the community?
- What’s one thing you would improve or change in Lima to make it more vibrant?
- What assets, resources, and strengths exist in Lima?
- What actions might we take to make Lima more vibrant?
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To view all participant responses, ideas, and hopes for the future of Lima, download the event report.