The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Economic development coordinator in the middle of flurry of growth
Avon is on a rapid growth track with new businesses coming to the area from all directions.
Over the last two years the city has seen a flurry of retail development welcoming Cabela’s on Chester Avenue to be joined by Melt Bar and Grilled along with Duluth Trading Co., Ashley’s Furniture and a Main Event Entertainment complex in 2018 in addition to Menard’s and Meijer grocery store in 2019.
Also, Cleveland Clinic Avon and new housing developments flanked by one of the best school systems in the state of Ohio have contributed to the city’s rapid growth and reputation as a great place to live.
Economic Development Coordinator Pam Fechter has been called one of the administration’s secret weapons. As the first point of contact for any commercial builds or expansion in the city, Fechter is on the front lines of Avon’s growth and strategic development plans while also serving as the city’s assistant planning coordinator.
“She knows everything that’s happening,” said one city hall official.
When Mayor Bryan Jensen announced the opening of the Melt Bar and Grilled franchise at 35546 Detroit Road, his Twitter traffic exploded, echoing the excitement people for what is happening in the city as it continues its development track.
“That one made him a rock star,” Fechter said. “Out of every other thing we had, his Twitter blew up. He even said he has not had this many hits except for once when he cancelled school than he did with the Melt.”
A resident of Avon Lake since 2004, Fechter is leading the efforts in bringing new businesses and commercial development to the city since joining the administration in 2014 under Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen. The new position was created to help promote Avon’s economic development to businesses and developers along getting the pieces in place with prospective projects.
Prior to relocating to the area, the Virginia-born Fechter was based in Dallas where she worked as a membership director for a chamber of commerce. Once in the area she spent six years with Team Lorain County, an area nonprofit organization focused on economic development in the area managing projects with multiple municipalities.
“It’s exciting. It really is exciting. It’s what I love about this. I have some voicemails now and who knows who will be on there and who knows who will walk in the door next,” Fechter said.
She emphasized that sometimes her role in working with developers and business can at times lead to some misunderstandings with Avon residents in how the city is going about things and she stressed she and the administration have the best interests of the city in mind.
As a decision-maker she looks to collaborate whenever possible in embracing a balanced growth approach along with multiple perspectives in evaluating the merits of each projects.
“Most of the decisions I make I don’t make on my own. I look at the angle from the engineer, from the law director, from the mayor and from utilities and then try to formulate what makes sense,” Fechter said.
Part of the fun for her is that she gets just as much satisfaction out of the city’s upcoming inclusive
playground project next to the Avon Aquatic Center as
new businesses in seeking to build a city with something for everyone.
“We are trying to evenly spread out all of our activities and slowly we are trying to take care of everything,
but it is fun,” she added.
Outside of the office Fechter keeps busy by raising her two boys aged 20 and 17 as well as renovating her Avon Lake cottage and working out.