Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership gives development update to board Thursday
Commissioners also approve several budget adjustments
[Tiffin, OH Dec. 12, 2019] – Personnel from Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership gave presentations to the Seneca County Board of Commissioners Thursday morning.
TSEP employees were joined by Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services Business Services Consultant Carol Kern for the presentations.
TSEP President and CEO David Zak said Kern collaborates with TSEP, especially when it comes to workforce development initiatives.
Kern said she has been involved with several programs and initiatives aiming to grow and improve the area’s workforce. She said this has been accomplished by working with the 4CG (Four County Group), hosting hundreds of students for the fourth annual manufacturing showcase and posting information about work opportunities through the Jobs Seneca County Facebook page. Kern also said several videos featuring area employers have been created to showcase and bring awareness to local businesses.
TSEP Development Manager Audrey Flood, who was brought onto the team this year, discussed her three main areas of focus: entrepreneurship, community and rural development.
Flood said she has been to 19 of the 21 townships and villages in the county so far, and through those meetings she has been able to connect with many rural businesses and projects.
She said she has explained to rural elected officials how TSEP can assist in economic development in the rural areas of the county as well as asked for their feedback and priorities.
TSEP Development Manager Nick Dutro, who also joined the team this year, said his role is to help work on economic development projects while also handling media communications.
Dutro said he has worked on about 53 projects this year, including at least 27 that are still ongoing. He said the organization has distributed about 54 press releases which have led to about 154 stories written in the news media.
Downtown Tiffin Main Street Manager Amy Reinhart also presented to the board. She said downtown area businesses received recognition from Heritage Ohio this year.
The Ritz Theatre, was the winner of the Historic Theater of the Year Award and Tiffin Capital Investments LLC, was the winner of the Best Upper Floor Residential Rehabilitation Award for Court Street Lofts, 33 Court St. Reclaim It 127 also received honorable mention for the Main Street Business of the Year Award.
Reinhart said 13 new businesses located in downtown in 2019, besting marks of 11 and 12 over the past two years. She said about $3.5 million was invested in the downtown area this year.
Zak concluded the presentations with one of his own, thanking his team for all their hard work.
“I want you to hear about what this awesome team is doing,” he said. “I get inspired when I hear the team talking.”
Commissioner Shayne Thomas thanked TSEP for its successes.
“Excellence is one of your core values,” Thomas said. “I really appreciate the high quality and professionalism of everything that comes from your office. I’m really proud.”
During new business, the commissioners approved all adjustments from this week’s release.