Eadon retiring after 20 years in economic development
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (March 21, 2022) – A longtime economic development leader is calling it a career.
Harry Eadon is retiring at the end of the month. In 2002, he became the first president of the Port Authority, later known as The Economic Development and Finance Alliance. Three years ago, he became president of the Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation, which manages both the EDFA and county’s Community Improvement Corporation.
“It was a way really to kind of streamline the process and put much more focus on things like site development and lead development, lead generation, business retention and expansion visits, which we’ve really stepped up the pace on,” Eadon explains.
Eadon has been staying on as a consultant for the EDC after Marla Akridge took over as president on March 1st. She is originally from Morgan County, Ohio and has served in similar roles in Colorado, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
“So I think she’s going to bring a fresh perspective to economic development in the county and certainly comes at it with a wealth of experience,” Eadon says.
The EDC during Eadon’s tenure redeveloped the Reeves Mill Business Park in Dover, the former ODOT headquarters on West High Avenue in New Philadelphia and the old Arco site in Gnadenhutten. He says soon they will also be sending out a request for proposals from developers for the former Howden Buffalo property.
“The City of New Philadelphia has been very supportive of the EDFA in the cleanup of the site and the acquisition of the site as well as being very participative in the feasibility study that was done and completed about a month ago to determine exactly what the best use of the property is,” he says.
Eadon says looks forward to spending more time with his three grandchildren in retirement and boating with his wife.