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Interest of property owners assessed for possible state grant

LISBON –Are enough downtown property owners willing to fix up their buildings if the village is able to secure a state grant to help pay half the cost?

Mayor Joseph Morenz wants to know, which is why he is bringing a consultant to town on April 23 to meet with property owners to explain the program and gauge whether there is enough interest to proceed.

“We have to see if we have enough building owners willing to participate to make it worth it,” he said.

Danielle Steinhauser, community development specialist with CT Consultants, is the featured speaker at the meeting to be held at 6 p.m. in village council chambers. Also attending will be county Development Director Tad Herold, council’s economic development committee and representatives from the Lisbon Historical Society, which would serve as the village’s non-profit partner in the project.

Also invited are those who own property in the downtown business district, some of whom Morenz is contacting himself.

Steinhauser is to talk about helping the village apply for a federal CDBG Downtown Revitalization grant through the Ohio Development Services Agency. Morenz said Lisbon may be eligible to seek up to $300,000 to fund various improvements to downtown buildings in the form of either a grant, low-interest loan or a combination of the two.

Morenz said the property owners would be required to contribute a dollar for dollar match for every grant and/or loan dollar received under program. For example, to secure a $25,000 grant and/or loan, the property owner has to contribute $25,000.

Morenz said before they can proceed with applying for the $300,000 they have to determine if enough property owners are willing to participate financially. The money can be spent on facade improvements and upgrades that address building code violations.

“Fortunately, I think we have some building owners who are willing to take part in this, but we also know there are some who will not take advantage of this,” he said.

Revitalizing the downtown business district has been Morenz’s top priority since taking office in 2016. This has included hiring the consulting firm of Town Center Associates to help craft a plan that included passing legislation beefing up the village’s building maintenance code. Council also has passed a new law fining property owners with vacant storefronts if they make no effort to find a tenant or sell the building.

Morenz said none of this will work unless property owners participate, which is why he is seeking grant money as part of those efforts. “I want a public/private partnership to get money for these property owners to help them fix up their buildings,” he said.

It will cost the village $10,000 for CT Consultants to prepare the grant application and handle its administration, which is an expenditure council would have to approve.

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