Thumbs up for sales-tax holiday
Use of Preble County home from 19th century helps fund scholarships for needy students in Belize.
Supporters of Ohio’s first sales-tax holiday told reporter Mark Fisher last week that they’re rather pleased with how things went last weekend.
“Anecdotally, it sounds like consumers really took full advantage,” said Lora Miller, the council’s director of governmental affairs. “We plan to have the University of Cincinnati Economics Center study business tax receipts and provide us with an economic analysis of the holiday’s fiscal impact on the state’s coffers and on consumers’ wallets.”
Dave Duebber, general manager of the Dayton Mall, said the mall’s department stores and other clothing stores enjoyed strong sales over the three-day sales-tax holiday and were unanimous in their praise of the concept, even though there was some confusion about which items qualified for the exemption.
Ohio State goal
Ohio State University president Michael Drake stopped at the Dayton Daily News on Friday as part of his tour of the state to discuss college affordability.
Nationwide, today’s graduating students are strapped with college loans that range as high as six figures. The average college student graduated with $35,000 in college loans, according to Edvisors. If graduates aren’t hired in high-paying jobs right away, their college loans become one of their major expenses, leaving them little cash to buy vehicles, homes or other items that drive local economies.
As part of the solution, Drake said, the state’s largest university has frozen tuition for this year and created a $15 million fund for grants and scholarships to help reduce costs.
“I’ve told him (Urban Meyer) he must win one more game than last year,” Drake said with a laugh.
For those of you who are not college football junkies, the Buckeyes went 14-1 last year and were crowned national champions.
125 years and growing
Dayton-based Lorenz Corp. will mark its 125th year in the music publishing industry in September.
The company is in the part of the music publishing industry that doesn’t get all the glamour of popular Top 40 music. Lorenz publishes choir and classroom music — for instruments from keyboards to handbells.
The company was started in 1890 by Edmund S. Lorenz. It employs about 60 people at its location on East Third Street.
It’s an amazing story when you consider everything that the company has survived, including two World Wars, the Great Depression and the recent Great Recession. Rich Gillette is the Dayton Daily News business editor. Contact him at 937-225-0623 or rich.gillette@coxinc.com
A restored Preble County home built in the late 1800s that once served as a ladder factory will now cater to business travelers and help fund the scholarships for needy children in Belize.
Jerry and Jacki Gross have converted the Lewisburg home that also housed a carriage and wagon shop and a machine shop into the East North Water Street Guest House, a place where business travelers can rent individual rooms or the entire home for extended stays.
“We’re catering to the business industry in this area who have visiting executives or employees who want to stay in something other than a hotel,” Jacki Gross said. “Some people want that home feeling when they travel.”
There are several large companies near Lewisburg, including Henny Penny, Cargill, Payless Shoes and Lewisburg Container.
The home has a large kitchen that will be available to guests. Three guest rooms have their own bathrooms.
“It’s not a bed and breakfast. We won’t be staying in