Navigating Challenges and Embracing Tourism: How Mayor Don Anderson is Revitalizing Pomeroy on the Banks of the Ohio River
Pomeroy is situated on the banks of the Ohio River. It’s a picturesque town, with many storefronts facing the river, which makes it ideal for festivals and outdoor gatherings.
“It’s the only town that anybody knows of where there are no cross streets,” Mayor Don Anderson said.
Anderson is a lifelong resident of Pomeroy. He did leave Pomeroy for a short period of time to study environmental science at The Ohio State University and attend graduate school at Ohio University in the same subject. He got a job at American Electric Power and was able to stay in the area.
“People here like the area and like the river and enjoy Pomeroy very much,” Anderson said, adding that Pomeroy has a very small town atmosphere.
Despite the beauty of the town, Anderson said it's difficult for major developments to occur as it’s hard to find large enough areas of land on which to build those facilities. Because of that, Pomeroy’s economy needs tourism and loyal customers, he said.
Even with the coronavirus pandemic, Anderson said “all of the stores are doing quite well. A lot of the merchants have said that even last year with COVID was one of their best years.”
Anderson became the mayor of Pomeroy after the previous mayor resigned. He was city council president at the time.
After finishing out the previous mayor’s remaining term, Anderson decided to run for reelection because he had encouraged the previous council members to keep their seats or run for reelection.
“I talked them into running, and I didn’t think it was the right thing to do to say, ‘Good luck, see you later’,” Anderson said.
Pomeroy has faced revenue shortages and struggled to complete infrastructure projects, even with the assistance of grants. Many require matching funds from the city, which can be difficult for a small town such as Pomeroy.
Pomeroy’s population is slowly declining, and with it, the town’s income tax base. The remaining population is aging and going into retirement.
“We have to figure out how to maximize what revenue is available,” Anderson said. “We’re hoping to make it more of a place where people would want to come and live.”
One of Pomeroy’s recent achievements started a view years ago is a farmer’s market, which has already grown in size. The farmer’s market offers vouchers for older individuals and veterans, as well as donations of produce to food banks.
The farmer’s market is also in close proximity to many businesses to attract customers there, as well.
“We’re getting a lot of folks that come back. They visit the farmer’s market or a lot of people travel the river, and Pomeroy is kind of a destination for them,” Anderson said.
Pomeroy was a member of the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress before Anderson became mayor. He said he has been able to benefit from the surplus of ideas, such as potential grants, from the program supported by Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. He’s also had a steady stream of information about the state legislature.
“It’s the only town that anybody knows of where there are no cross streets,” Mayor Don Anderson said.
Anderson is a lifelong resident of Pomeroy. He did leave Pomeroy for a short period of time to study environmental science at The Ohio State University and attend graduate school at Ohio University in the same subject. He got a job at American Electric Power and was able to stay in the area.
“People here like the area and like the river and enjoy Pomeroy very much,” Anderson said, adding that Pomeroy has a very small town atmosphere.
Despite the beauty of the town, Anderson said it's difficult for major developments to occur as it’s hard to find large enough areas of land on which to build those facilities. Because of that, Pomeroy’s economy needs tourism and loyal customers, he said.
Even with the coronavirus pandemic, Anderson said “all of the stores are doing quite well. A lot of the merchants have said that even last year with COVID was one of their best years.”
Anderson became the mayor of Pomeroy after the previous mayor resigned. He was city council president at the time.
After finishing out the previous mayor’s remaining term, Anderson decided to run for reelection because he had encouraged the previous council members to keep their seats or run for reelection.
“I talked them into running, and I didn’t think it was the right thing to do to say, ‘Good luck, see you later’,” Anderson said.
Pomeroy has faced revenue shortages and struggled to complete infrastructure projects, even with the assistance of grants. Many require matching funds from the city, which can be difficult for a small town such as Pomeroy.
Pomeroy’s population is slowly declining, and with it, the town’s income tax base. The remaining population is aging and going into retirement.
“We have to figure out how to maximize what revenue is available,” Anderson said. “We’re hoping to make it more of a place where people would want to come and live.”
One of Pomeroy’s recent achievements started a view years ago is a farmer’s market, which has already grown in size. The farmer’s market offers vouchers for older individuals and veterans, as well as donations of produce to food banks.
The farmer’s market is also in close proximity to many businesses to attract customers there, as well.
“We’re getting a lot of folks that come back. They visit the farmer’s market or a lot of people travel the river, and Pomeroy is kind of a destination for them,” Anderson said.
Pomeroy was a member of the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress before Anderson became mayor. He said he has been able to benefit from the surplus of ideas, such as potential grants, from the program supported by Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. He’s also had a steady stream of information about the state legislature.
“It’s kind of given us a direction to go to at least to try to get dollars to do the things that we want to do,” Anderson said.