WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, OHIO — The city’s economic strategies committee meeting was held prior to the city council meeting Wednesday evening, and economic development director Chelsie Baker gave her report to council.
In industrial business, Baker said there are many open projects right now, some being held up by materials or costs. Economic development is ongoing and businesses such as Walmart Distribution and Domtar Paper Co. were visited recently. It was noted that Domtar, on Lowes Boulevard, has about 52 employees, but they would like to hire 11 more. The business offers competitive wages, hire with a high school diploma and a positive attitude to work. The company will train applicants for the job, employees get weekends off and the company benefits are good, according to Baker. The economic development office is also trying to market the vacant McKesson building at the industrial park.
In downtown updates, Baker said business owners were motivated to make repairs and upgrades where needed. Various bankers were asked if they would be interested and helpful in assisting with the financing of downtown renovations, and the results were positive.
At the Langley building, 244 E. Court St., renovations are coming along nicely on the first floor and Jason Langley already has a prospective tenant for one side of the structure. Langley’s real estate office will be on the other side of the first floor. Langley hopes to rehab the second floor of the building, providing five apartments for living accommodations.
Baker said that events such as Farm to Fork and Art on the Square were well-attended and received by the public.
Regarding commercial properties in town, most of the renovations or rehab work is being held up because architectural drawings are not yet available from the office of Mark Heiny due to his extreme backlog, according to Baker. A council member asked if any architect, such as an out of town office, was eligible to provide requested drawings. The reply was yes, any licensed architect could be hired to do the necessary drawings to speed up the process.
During the update on Small Nation, a consulting firm that visited Washington Court House recently, they will have their downtown revitalization report completed in approximately six weeks. Baker said they were very positive about the tour and gave positive suggestions to the business owners they visited. One specific item that was discussed by the tour group was protruding or overhanging business signs on buildings. Due to the regulations by the Historic District Review Board, the current signage restrictions would have to be addressed by that board. Painting of certain buildings in town that need spruced up was also discussed.
