North Central Electric, Seneca Regional Chamber attend Seneca County Commissioners’ meeting
By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
Representatives from North Central Electric Cooperative (NCE) attended the Oct. 31 Seneca County Commissioners meeting to discuss a partnership with the commissioners’ office that will benefit Seneca County EMS.
NCE President Ed VanHoose announced that NCE and the commissioners’ office have obtained funding through a USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program that will provide nearly $900,000 for the construction of EMS Station 5 in New Riegel.
The project will include the creation of a Revolving Loan Fund, which will spur economic development in the county.
“It’s just a total win all around,” VanHoose said.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso thanked the NCE team for their efforts.
“Hats off to North Central Electric and to you, Ed, for your vision,” Paradiso said.
Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Bryce Riggs, and Director of Marketing Marisa Huss attended the commissioners’ meeting to talk about the chamber’s 2024 Love Local campaign, which promotes local businesses across the county.
“Tomorrow (Nov. 1) kicks off the Love Local season,” Riggs said.
Although the Love Local campaign runs year-round, the holiday season sees an uptick of spending, and the chamber wants to encourage local residents to shop in the county.
Shopping local has a two-fold benefit. First, when local residents spend their money in the county, they are supporting their neighbors who are small business owners. Owning a small business can be risky and difficult, so small business owners depend on locals to invest in their success. In turn, those small businesses reinvest into the community by supporting local causes, like athletic team sponsorships.
Secondly, the Seneca County Commissioners’ budget is funded largely by sales tax. Money that is spent in the county benefits the county.
“For every $100 spent locally, $67 stays local,” Riggs said. “The more dollars we keep local, the more we can support EMS and other services.”
Throughout the Love Local season, the chamber will make daily social media posts to promote local businesses. This year, the chamber is putting a greater effort into promoting businesses across the entire county.
Huss announced that the chamber will host the new Love Local Lounge on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The lounge, which will be located in the chamber office, will include couches, a television, snacks, and swag, coupons and special offers from local businesses. The Love Local Lounge will also include hourly Chamber Cash giveaways and photo opps.
Seneca County Commissioner Tyler Shuff read a proclamation from the commissioners in honor of the Love Local Campaign. Love Locals posts can be viewed on the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
During their commissioners’ report, Commissioner Bill Frankart talked about attending the Seneca County Honor Bus sendoff on Oct. 25. The bus provided a free, two-night trip to Washington, D.C. for Seneca County veterans.
“What a great event. It gave people the opportunity for closure and for remembering,” Frankart said. “I can’t say enough about it.”
Frankart stopped by the Seneca County Board of Elections before the commissioners’ meeting and learned that, at that time, 23% of registered voters had already voted. The Board of Elections office, located at 71 S. Washington St., Suite 1101, in Tiffin, is open for voting on Thursday, Oct. 31 and Friday, Nov. 1, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 3, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. No voting is available on Monday, Nov. 4.
In other business, the commissioners approved eight supplemental appropriations and passed three resolutions, including a resolution setting Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. for the start of an online auction of county-owned surplus property, such as cabinets and bookcases. The auction can be found at www.wmsohio.com.