Dan Horrigan became Akron’s 62nd mayor Jan. 1, filling a chair occupied for 28 years by Don Plusquellic.

At his inauguration, Horrigan said he had a strong belief that “our city is on the verge of a renaissance” and that Akron is “poised to innovate and grow.”

A former school teacher, Horrigan entered politics in 1999, winning election to Akron City Council. After eight years in council he was appointed clerk of Summit County’s Common Pleas Courts, filling an unexpired term. He won election the next year and was re-elected in 2012.

Soon after he was declared Akron’s new mayor, Horrigan appointed a task force to help him map out a plan for the city’s future. One area of focus in the Blue Ribbon Task Force report issued in February was economic development.

In an interview with Crain’s Akron Business, Horrigan focused on his plans for economic development, laying out where his administration is headed. He focused on several key areas, among them how the city will attract new businesses. He also expanded on his thoughts about how Akron can be a city of innovation and about his concern for what he called the “skills gap,” the need for the city to help its residents train for the jobs of the future.

What follows is an edited transcript of that conversation.