The Syracuse FOCUS group held a forum Thursday to listen to people’s ideas about improving the region’s economy. Even though the speakers said there are plenty of jobs, people at the meeting were skeptical. They believe that a lack of transportation to work and people’s negative opinions would harm Syracuse’s economy.
People said the negative opinions of Syracuse from outside of the region is one of the largest challenges Syracuse faces today. They believe that this negativity would drive companies and potential employees to work elsewhere. Charleen Smith Stehle, who has lived in Syracuse for more than 30 years, feared that this negativity would cause companies to leave as they had in the past.
“Syracuse was a very vital variety of companies,” Stehle said. “As time went on, many of these companies transferred their management. That was probably one of the saddest things that happened to Syracuse.”
Laura Miller, a speaker and general manager of Darco Manufacturing Inc., said Syracuse employees must prove they can compete with other regions. Miller and the other speakers said training workers to be quick and thorough with their job would help change negative opinions about Syracuse.
“The way that we compete nowadays is with speed and consistency throughout our process,” Miller said. “Those who are swift do the best and grow the fastest.”
People at the forum were also concerned about public transportation for people who rely on it to get to and from work. They felt it did not matter how many jobs there are, but how accessible they would become. The FOCUS group said they were planning on making improvements on transportation to help the unemployed find work. Miller said people need to get their foot in the doors of opportunity and let the community help them with transportation and support.
“The economy is so hot,” Miller said. “All kinds of doors are opening. We need to help people find those doors, and coach them along the way.”
The FOCUS group will meet again at 8:00 a.m at the Nancy Cantor Warehouse on Nov. 1.
