Barberton mayor reflects on B&W’s exit 5 years ago
Barberton Mayor William Judge on Wednesday revealed new details about the city’s futile attempt five years ago to dissuade Babcock & Wilcox from leaving the place it had called home since 1906.
In his State of the City speech, Judge largely stuck to a nuts-and-bolts presentation of the current state of the Magic City, touching on infrastructure, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and downtown and economic development.
But in comments after the prepared speech, Judge shed some light on his administration’s unsuccessful effort to keep B&W in Barberton — an issue that remains a sore subject for the city.
When the company left Barberton for Akron, it took about 700 employees, Judge said, and about 20% of the city’s income tax collections — $1.8 million in 2017.
Background on the B&W exit from Barberton
“I wasn’t able to say a lot at the time because they were a publicly traded company,” Judge said. “You have to be very careful of what you say.”
The mayor said his administration made repeated — more than 20 — calls to company officials.
“They wouldn’t respond,” he said. “So what we did was, we mailed all their board of directors a package.”
The package contained information about the history of B&W in Barberton and an explanation of what the city could do for the company.
“This is what we think we can do for you based on the rumors that we’re hearing, because you won’t return our calls, you won’t talk to us,” he said.
That got the attention of directors, he said, and a group came to Barberton. But in face-to-face meetings, the directors refused to look at the prepared materials.
“They wouldn’t even open up the proposal,” Judge said.
At the time of the move, Leslie Kass, who was B&W’s chief executive officer, cited space reasons for the relocation.
“Our current facility [in Barberton] is too big for what we need, and honestly it’s really expensive to maintain,” Kass said.
Recovery from B&W loss
Since the departure of B&W, the main office building in the once-thriving complex has been leveled.
Of the buildings that remained, one sold to Eurofins, which brought 114 jobs, Judge said. Of the three other buildings, two are under lease. ABC Supply operates out of one and a Wadsworth manufacturer of polyurethane products out of the other.
“The third building ... the large building, probably the oldest building on the campus, we received notice that a company will be moving into town and occupying that space,” he said.
The rest of the former B&W campus offers other possibilities for the city.
“There’s obviously a large landscape there that we can develop with new buildings (with) new buildings and bring in new jobs to town,” he said.
Improvements in the city’s roads
The mayor talked about extensive road and other infrastructure projects in the city.
“In 2023, we had a huge investment in our roads, which included federal grant funding,” he said.
Those project included Norton Avenue from Barber Road to the corporate limits, West Hopocan Avenue, 4th Street Northwest, Snyder Avenue, Wooster Road North and West, and South Van Buren. The projects were primarily funded with 80% of the costs from grants.
The residential paving program also covers about 20 roads a year, Judge said.
Since his first administration, the mayor said, about $18.7 million in AMATS funding has been secured.
“These grants are competitive. You have to apply,” he said. “We don’t get every grant that we apply for. They’re competitive and we fight for every dollar that we can.”
Improvements in Barberton parks
Judge cited improvements to the city’s parks system, including new restrooms, a walking path, and a skate plaza.
He also noted a $1 million federal grant for the renovation of Lake Anna Park that he credited U.S. Rep. Emilia
Sykes, D-Akron, with helping to secure for the city.
The role of economic development
Judge called the economic development team in Barberton one of the best the area. He said their efforts were helping attract new businesses and jobs to the city.
“We also know that eight new businesses or the expansion of businesses in town will happen in 2024,” he said.
Importance of bringing optimism to the job of mayor
The mayor said the city has met significant challenges and he is confident about the state of the city.
“...Part of my (job) is to be optimistic,” he said. “I am optimistic about the future of our community.”
‘The large tract’ in the city
Judge said the city, along with the
Barberton Community Foundation and the Barberton City School District, were working together on the redevelopment of land at the intersection of Norton Avenue and Newell Street.
“This is the last large tract of developable land in the city,” he said.
Efforts in downtown Barberton
Judge said renewed interest in downtown activities like shopping have provided opportunities for the city’s downtown.
“if your downtown is vibrant, (if) it has shopping and restaurants (and) things for employees to do when they get out of work, they will make use of it,” he said.
“... We are making huge traction with the redefining of our downtown.”