“Working together, we can create a future,” Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director George Gearhart told about 25 people who came out to a business summit Thursday morning in Farrell.

The two-hour meeting was a chance for the city’s leaders, business owners and residents to talk about what can be done to improve the so-called “City of Champions.”

That’s how Ed Fosnaught knows Farrell.

A local government policy specialist for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, Fosnaught, an Ellwood City native, remembers Farrell’s “rich athletic tradition and community pride.”

But others see Farrell as Mercer County’s crime and drug-dealing hub.

“People in Mercer and Clark are afraid to come to Farrell,” Councilwoman Stephanie Sheffield said. “I get offended when people say ‘That’s where you can buy your drugs.’”

The challenge the city faces is changing that mindset, Farrell School Board Vice President Terry Harrison said.

Times have changed since the 1960s and 1970s, “when Farrell was vibrant.”

Now portions of the city are a federally-designated Weed-and-Seed area because of the drug and crime problems. Progress has been made on that front — but people’s negative perceptions about the city remain.

“One of the biggest hurdles is changing the mindset,” Harrison said.

Another is attracting businesses to the area.

It’s unrealistic to say “let’s build another steel mill,” Gearhart said.

Many who attended said they’d like to attract a franchised fast food restaurant to the city, but Mayor Olive McKeithan said she’s contacted a few and the city doesn’t have the population or vehicle traffic to support one.

Craig Fenton of Shenango Valley Ambulance service suggested the city revive a business association and work on compiling a directory of Farrell businesses.

“A lot of businesses don’t realize the resources businesses have in their own hometown,” Fenton said.