A move to establish a Toledo Region Economic Development District designation received a thumbs up from the Springfield Township trustees.
At the September 25 meeting, the trustees signed a letter of support for the proposal spearheaded by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments.
“We fully support TMACOG in its efforts to gain this designation, understanding that the entire region will benefit from an economic development district,” the trustees wrote. “As such, we send this letter of support for the formation of the Toledo Region Economic Development District, consisting of the counties of Lucas, Ottawa and Wood.”
To create the regional economic development district, TMACOG is applying to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the designation.
EDDs are multi-jurisdictional entities that lead public, private and nonprofit partners to work together to create and manage a “strategic blueprint” or “an economic development road map” for the region.
TMACOG is taking this step because entities within EDDs are eligible for grant funding and administrative support that they cannot currently According to TMACOG officials, a recent study from the Urban Institute conducted from 2010-21, 52 percent of the U.S. population live within an EDD, but those areas received 77 percent of total grants from the EDA.
“We are excited to offer this new resource for funding and partnership to support the economic success of northwest Ohio,” said Sandy Spang, TMACOG executive director.
“It is important to note that the creation of an EDD will not result in duplication of work currently being undertaken by local economic development partners in our region, rather it will provide them with new tools to support their projects,” she added.
There are now 400 in the U.S., and many are organized within councils of governments such as TMACOG. Peer organizations in Detroit, Columbus and Cleveland have either received or currently await the designation.
TMACOG’s executive committee and board of trustees have each approved the addition of an EDD into the organization’s bylaws, and will ask the full membership to take the same step in January at the General Assembly.
The designation of an EDD often takes a year following submission. While the application is being processed, TMACOG will meet with administrators and elected officials to agree on an organizational structure and funding mechanism for the new endeavor. Other Business In other business, the trustees:
•Reviewed the police report for August. The department pulled deputies from the township on six dates to respond to a domestic violence, hit-skip accident, assist a fire department, investigate a suspicious person and respond to a person down.
The community service officer fielded a number of concerns and disputes pertaining to dogs running loose, neighbor disputes and a power outage.
•Authorized Administrator Mike Hampton to submit the application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission transportation improvement programs.
•Heard from Mr. Hampton that Lucas County received a $4 million grant to construct a countywide, single-stream materials recovery facility.
The 60,000-square-foot structure will be built on a former landfill and is anticipated to process up to 35,000 tons of residential curbside recycling materials each year.
The project will reduce emissions and improve air quality since the county will be able to stop hauling recyclables 90 miles to a materials processing plant in Oberlin.
•Approved the employment of temporary workers through Express Employment for leaf collection season at a cost of $35,000. Leaf collection will begin October 30 and run for eight weeks.
•Heard from Andy Hohlbein, public services director, that storm sewer repair work was done on Harefoote. “We replaced 20 feet and patched the road,” he said.
•Approved the purchase of a heavy-duty trailer for public services from D&R Trailer Sales at a cost of $29,999.
The old trailer, which is in poor condition, will be sold as surplus at auction, Mr. Hohlbein said.
•Learned that vandalism at Lincoln Green Park resulted in a handicap swing being broken. Mr. Hohlbein said he has ordered a new one.
•Agreed not to request a hearing for a liquor license at Shorty’s Coney Island, 1801 North McCord Road.
•Accepted the estimated property tax amounts and rates as determined by the Lucas County budget commission for 2024.
The trustees also authorized the treasurer to request an advance of taxes collected as they become available.
•Paid bills from September 12 to 26 totaling $57,505. They also approved electronic bills from September 8 to 21 of $335,209, including a biweekly payroll of $285,638.
The next trustees meeting will be at 5 p.m., Monday, October 9, at the township meeting hall, 7617 Angola Road, and is open to the public. It also may be viewed via livestream at springfieldtownship.net.
~Jane Maiolo
