Officials from Heritage Ohio will be visiting Downtown Wadsworth next week to talk with Business and Property Owners about the Main Street program. Earlier this month, Wadsworth was accepted into Main Street, which encompasses some 30 communities in Ohio and 2,800 nationwide.
Members of Downtown Wadsworth Inc. spent some of their Tuesday morning meeting listening to a presentation made by Executive Director Jack Ollom about Main Street. Heritage Ohio officials will be in Wadsworth on May 28th and 29th to wander around the downtown area and to talk with city leaders about the program. “It’s important that these folks get honest answers so they put an assessment together for our downtown” said Ollom.
Among other topics covered at the meeting were Snow and Ice Control during winter and a Downtown Revitalization Grant process.
Wadsworth residents may not realize it, but Downtown businesses contract with a private concern through the city to keep parking areas and sidewalks salted and clear of snow. This past winter, the private snowplows were called into duty on 25 different occasions.
Harry Stark, assistant public service director for the city of Wadsworth, asked the 30 or so business or building owners who attended the meeting if they wanted to continue the snow and ice program for a second year. A large majority of those in the room said they wanted to continue the program with some modifications. Stark said “communication is key is making an effort like snow and ice control a success”.
If Downtown Wadsworth businesses want to spruce up their buildings, time is of the essence if they want to obtain a 50/50 matching grant through the State of Ohio’s Development Services Agency. The deadline for filing for a grant with the state of Ohio is June 26th.
Among the activities that funds could be available for include facade improvements, code compliance, window/door replacement, roof repairs and fire protection.
