Civil Municipal - Oct 2023

162 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 10 of the largest chambers in northeast Ohio. We have 600-plus members. We have one of the largest Rotary Clubs in Northeast Ohio. We have a great City Club. All of these special entities help us do special things for our residents and our businesses in the community.” Talking of which, what types of new businesses does Strongsville hope to attract? How does it retain existing businesses? “We have a focus on companies that provide good, strong employment opportunities for residents not only of Strongsville but also of the region,” says Painter. “We have 20,000-plus people that commute to Strongsville every day for jobs, and our business parks around the area. We love companies that manufacture things.” The city is known for its strong manufacturing base, including distribution and logistics, but Painter acknowledges a post-COVID shift. Still, since Mayor Thomas Perciak was elected not 20 years ago, the city has enjoyed some Mall, is doing well and re-inventing itself and continuing to draw countless folks. “I think last year they drew eight million visitors to the area through the mall,” Painter reveals. “Another key part of our city is we have four thriving business parks that have a global reach now and continue to attract companies from across the world. That’s the financial backbone of our city, and because of that, we have a triple ‘A’ bond rating. That’s the highest bond rating that Moody’s will give out to a governmental entity.” Strongsville is one of only 15 municipalities in Ohio with such a bond rating. Painter adds that only 200 cities across the country share that rating, too. Named for early settler John Stoughton Strong, who arrived from the East more than 200 years ago, Strongsville is strong in more ways than one: financially stable and very well run. “We have great safety forces,” says Painter. “We have amazing civic groups too. We have one