Dayton State of the City address highlights protecting youth, job growth
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Dayton city leaders are looking ahead to 2025, addressing residents during their annual State of the City address.
During the address, leaders looked back on issues the city faced over the last year, before covering the plan to start fixing those issues and what lays ahead.
Creating a safer community was the cornerstone as Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr. spoke to residents on Wednesday night. Mayor Mims highlighted plans for economic development but focused on a new peace initiative to combat gun violence in the city — something that he says deserves undivided attention.
Community activists inspiring youth with Dayton's history: 'the City of Peace'
The main way Mims is looking to enact change is through a new peace campaign that launched at the end of January. It aims to protect young people in the city from gun violence and bolster Dayton's residents economically.
'I want to create a type of space in Dayton as if every person and child and every citizen were my own relative or my own child,' said Mims.
The city of Dayton saw a massive increase in youth gun violence in 2024, with over two dozen young people being killed over the course of the year.
City leaders say that policies directly addressing the violence are key, but that supporting residents and the city's economic growth is the best long-term solution.
One way is through raising the median income.
'We've been able to raise our median income by at least $11,000 in the last ten years,' said Mims. 'I want that to continue. I want to continue at a faster pace.'
Other initiatives are in place to make the city attractive for investors and create job growth.
Projects like On Main and incoming companies like the Sierra Nevada Corporation and Joby Aviation will bring hundreds of millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs to the Gem City — something Commissioner Chris Shaw is working specifically toward.
'We're excited about the opportunity for other high tech manufacturing companies willing to come to our area, staying in our area and building,' said Dayton City Commissioner Christopher Shaw. 'Those are ongoing, they never stop.'
Dayton is cleaning up downtown ahead of NATO assembly in May
2 NEWS spoke to residents who were in attendance Wednesday night, saying while these projects are ambitious, Dayton should not lose sight on the people who need help the most.
'How exactly are we going to save our neighborhoods?' asked one resident, who goes by Mama. 'Everything sounds good, but we have to have specifics. What specific steps are we going to take?'
Mayor Mims says the city plans on staying aggressive on policies combatting gun violence and protecting the city's youth.
The full rundown of plans highlighted during the address can be found on Dayton's website.
Dayton's next city commission meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
WWII soldier returned home 80 years later; public services soon
Previous coverage of scouts planting Memorial Day Ceremony flags. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A soldier who has been listed as Missing in Action for over 80 years will finally be laid to rest here in Dayton soon. WWII U.S. Army Pvt. James G. Loterbaugh, from Hocking (Athens), was M.I.A. since Dec. 1944. According to the VFW Department of Ohio, Loterbaugh's remains have been recovered, identified and returned to his family. A motorcade escort took him from Dayton International Airport to Routsong Funeral Home. 'Welcome home, Pvt. Loterbaugh. God bless,' wrote the VFW Department of Ohio. In the war, Loterbaugh served in Company C, the 774th Tank Battalion. In Dec. 1944, he was a crewmate on a M4 Sherman tank. On Dec. 11 his platoon became separated from the rest of the company during a battle in the Hürtgen Forest (Strass, Germany). By noon, the entire platoon was reported as Missing in Action. The Germans did not report Loterbaugh as a P.O.W. The following year, the War Department issued a presumptive finding of death. Loterbaugh was identified by DPAA from DNA and anthropological analysis. He was accounted for on Sept. 20, 2024. His name on the Walls of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery will now have a rosette to show he has been found. His public services will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2, at Routsong Funeral Home. (2100 E. Stroop Rd., Kettering.) A private, family-only service will be held on June 3. Loterbaugh will receive full military rites and burial at Dayton National Cemetery. To read Private James G. Loterbaugh's obituary, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
DeWine announces extended Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Families will be able to save even more money during Ohio's tax-free shopping period. Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly have once again expanded the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday to a full two weeks. Retail store opens in former Trotwood Big Lots The 2025 Sales Tax Holiday will run from Friday, Aug. 1 to Thursday, Aug. 14. This allows families to save money on school supplies and other general necessities. During this time period, shoppers can make qualifying purchases in-store and online without paying state sales tax. In 2024, the state of Ohio extended the three-day tax-free weekend to a full 10 days, and expanded to include a wider range of items up to $500, rather than be limited to just school supplies. 'Ohio's sales tax holiday is a practical way we can help working families keep more of their hard-earned dollars,' said Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Matt Huffman. 'Whether it's back-to-school shopping or everyday essentials, this is an opportunity for Ohioans to get more value for their money.' The tax exemption does not apply to services or to purchases of motor vehicles, watercraft, outboard motors, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products or any item containing marijuana. To learn more, visit the Ohio Department of Taxation's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
PART 1: Remember these restaurants, stores around Dayton?
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Over the last several decades, countless eateries and stores have entered and departed the Dayton region. is taking you down memory lane by showcasing some fan-favorite restaurants and retail giants that are either no longer operating in the area or are gone altogether. Three Arthur Treacher's locations currently operate in northeast Ohio. A majority of the area's remaining Blockbuster locations closed in 2012. A closure impacted all Border's locations in 2011. The last Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant location closed in 2004. Circuit City closed all locations in early 2009. All CompUSA locations closed in the 2010s. Cub Foods shut its last Dayton area store down in early 2013. All Elder-Beerman and Elder-Beerman Furniture Gallery locations closed in 2018. All Fashion Bug stores closed in 2013. In late 2015, Flower Factory commenced going-out-of-business sales. Fox and Hound operated several locations across the region until closing in the mid 2010s. Friendly's closed its last location in the area in the mid 2010s. All hhgregg stores closed in 2017. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, all Hollywood Video locations closed by summer 2010. All locations of Linens 'n Things closed in 2008. Hometown Buffet, formerly Old Country Buffet, closed its remaining area location on Lyons Road in 2011. The final area K-Mart location closed in 2017. The last area Lone Star Steakhouse location closed in 2018 in Middletown. All Phar-Mor stores closed in 2002. Quizno's had several locations in the Miami Valley, but closed its last remaining area location a number of years ago at Dayton International Airport . Nearly all remaining RadioShack stores closed down in 2015 in the area. Schlotzky's closed its doors for good at Cross Pointe Shopping Center in Centerville in 2018. Sears closed its locations at the Dayton Mall and Mall at Fairfield Commons in late 2018. The retailer had closed several other of its area locations in the months and years prior. All Stein Mart locations closed by October 2020 after the company filed for bankruptcy protection. After filing for bankruptcy protection, Toys R Us closed its brick-and-mortar stores in the Dayton area in 2018. Got a restaurant or store that you remember from the area? Send me an email here and your suggestion could appear in a future list. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
