Dear
Editor:
Ditto
and thank you for Aug. 4’s editorial titled “Marion area offers companies
great place to go, grow.” It is heartening to see our community’s
newspaper recognizing the many attributes that make Marion County an excellent
place to grow a business, earn a living and raise a family.
As
you point out in your editorial, the Marion area continues to build on its
many strengths, reinventing itself as an attractive option for today’s new
technology companies. But while new plants, new schools, new houses and new
stores sprout in our community, it’s important that we keep our real
priorities in mind. The goal is not just to see how many new buildings we can
erect. Rather, it is to build a better quality of life for those of us who
live here.
I
was reminded of this as my daughter wound up her softball season with the
Baseball for Youth program. The lady running the scoreboard works for Marion
Industries, one of the new plants in the Dual Rail Industrial Park. Her job
allows her to remain in the community and volunteer her time so my daughter and
others can play ball.
Kelly’s
coach found a position at LTV/Copperweld after his job was eliminated at
another company. Had Pete not found work here, he would have moved somewhere
else and my daughter would have missed his patient instruction. That is what
economic development is really about – creation of opportunities for an
area’s people – and the resulting sense of community that enriches all of
our lives.
Thanks
again for your thoughtful editorial.
Dave
Claborn
President
Marion
CAN DO!