LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith is part of the first national conversation about the Essential Economy.
Thanks to the work being done at the Lima Engine Plant, Smith was invited to join a panel discussion at the Ford Pro Accelerate conference in Detroit to talk about using technology to boost small- to mid-size businesses and communities.
The city has incorporated technology to help businesses navigate bureaucratic red tape and allow residents to address local problems. Smith will discuss how to leverage tools like AI and technology to assist communities like Lima.
“So particularly, you know, in our building department, we moved on to Online Permitting video inspections. You no longer have to come into an office to print your permit. You can track the progress of it in real time. In addition to that, next year, we're going to be using an AI tool that will use cameras to drive down our streets with to help grade and prioritize the paving of streets. And we also have a app that has been in existence, really for about seven years, called Connect Lima, where residents can go in and upload a complaint, track those in real time,” says Mayor Sharetta Smith, Lima.
Smith says that by using technology to track residents’ concerns, the city can plot issues on a map to identify similar problem areas that need attention.
Media Release from City of Lima
Mayor Sharetta Smith to Represent Lima at National Ford Pro Accelerate Panel
LIMA, OHIO - Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith will represent the City of Lima on a national stage next week at the Ford Pro Accelerate conference at Michigan Central Station in Detroit. Mayor Smith will appear on the panel “Propelling Productivity for Small and Midsize Businesses and Communities” on Tuesday, September 30, at 4:05 p.m.
The panel will bring together leaders from across industries to discuss solutions to the productivity challenges facing the Essential Economy — the $12 trillion backbone of America that includes construction, manufacturing, transportation, energy, utilities, agriculture, first response, skilled trades, and delivery.
Mayor Smith will join panelists Kevin Dunbar (GM, Ford Pro Intelligence), Karissa Kruse (President & CEO, Sonoma Wine Growers), David Livingston (Mayor of Haywood County, TN), Vincent Payen (SVP & GM of Pro Products, ServiceTitan), with KC Crain (President & CEO, Crain Communications) as moderator.
“The Essential Economy is the backbone of cities like Lima — where our residents are the workers keeping factories running, trucks moving, and communities strong,” states Mayor Sharetta Smith. “I’m proud to share how Lima is modernizing city services, supporting small businesses, and investing in the workforce of the future. Just as important, I look forward to learning from other communities and partners so that we can continue building a stronger, more resilient Lima.”
Mayor Smith will highlight Lima’s investments in modernization, including remote inspections, SmartGov online permitting, AI-powered street surveys, and the See, Click, Fix app that allows residents and businesses to report issues in real time. These initiatives are reducing red tape, building trust, and making Lima more attractive to small businesses, developers, and investors.
