SitemapFounded in 1798, East Liverpool is one of the oldest communities in the Ohio Valley. In the late 1800s, the city experienced significant growth as it became a hub of pottery manufacturing, bringing success and prosperity. Although evidence of this vibrant part of East Liverpool’s history is on display at the Museum of Ceramics, and in the historic architecture throughout the community, only the American Mug and Stein Company remains. Today East Liverpool is a city with growth and sustainability on its radar, bringing a new vibrancy and working to attract and retain a younger demographic.
The installation of solar panels on all city property is evidence of this new direction, and Mayor Greg Bicker says this has created an opportunity to save money, while also providing power. He maintains, “We’ve just been looking at it as a way to cut our costs. Scout Solar came in and did a nice presentation for us, and said, this is no cost to the city. The end result is that we’ll be able to reduce our electric bills, which is perfect timing because electricity has gone up 30% here in our area. That way we can put that money into our infrastructure and improve the city with the savings that we incur.” Scout Solar has also purchased a decommissioned catholic school building to be used as dormitories for workers, as well as storage and office space.
Updated housing, and attracting new development is also a priority for Bicker, who acknowledges, “My number one initiative, and a big reason I ran for mayor to begin with, is our housing was a mess. It’s still in need of some repair, but we are recognizing that and finding ways to fix it.”
Partnering with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation has been a step in the right direction.
To read the full story from Business View Magazine, click here.