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Wheeling Committee on Retention Considers Cause of Flight

WHEELING — The city’s Committee on Retention will address the question of why exactly people tend to leave the Friendly City, and devise at least a few proposals to potentially reverse this trend.

The group held its first meeting Thursday with its members gathered in a circle. As with the Committee on Regional Industrial Development, Mayor Glenn Elliott appointed the collective in July to discuss and strategize means of tackling what he believes is a key issue in Wheeling. Ron Scott Jr. of Youth Services System said the clear problems are the lack of worthwhile jobs and affordable housing. However, he made a motion to consider matters beyond these, as to not trap the committee’s ongoing discussion to the obvious.

Will Turani, director of global operations for the Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP Global Operations Center on Main Street, agreed. He said it would be nice to approach something reasonably self-contained within this committee. Joelle Connors, spokeswoman for American Electric Power, said she’s attended many similar meetings driven by lively conversations, yet would prefer to see something truly implemented as a result of the committee’s actions.

“It would be nice to have a success,” Turani said. “It doesn’t have to be the greatest idea in the world, but something that’s successful.”

The committee gave attention to a younger demographic, but Elliott said the group shouldn’t limit itself to any particular age bracket. He said there’s likely plenty of opportunity to attract those who’ve moved away and may be ready to settle. He said if the road back to Wheeling were shown to them in a different light, it may make this easier.

West Virginia University student Blake Humphrey said it’s tough to define a specific catalyst which pushes people out, but he suggested surveying those known by the attending members to gather a clearer idea.

State Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, is co-chair of the committee.

He said West Virginia has the third-highest rate of youth flight in the country.

Fluharty said he’s enthused to work with this group because fights typically fought at the state level will be avoided. He said the committee is likely to craft an actual result.

The meeting ended with a turn toward Pittsburgh, a city once also cast as a dying locale.

Humphrey said Wheeling should view this now bustling city as a nearby asset and market the proximity.

“I think it’s the fastest growing city with millennials,” Fluharty said.

The committee will have six months to converse before making its formal recommendations to Wheeling City Council.

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