Shelby tallies economic development successes, plans for new ones
The city of Shelby is counting economic development wins for 2022 and prospects for more in 2023 as the new year gets under way.
Economic development liaison Jessica Gribben provided the details in a yearend briefing to Shelby City Council.
“2022 has been an awesome year,” she said at the Dec. 19 presentation. “COVID felt like it lasted a really long time. I know there’s still some effects that we are living through today, but this felt like the most normal year I would say since all of that. 2022 was a lot of really good things.”
High on the list of accomplishments was the Main Street streetscape project in downtown Shelby, a beautification effort that enhanced the central business district.
“That was a painful process for a lot of our downtown businesses, but hopefully they will all reap the rewards of seeing that through phase one,” Gribben said in reference to road closures and detours and the like during the construction phase.
“When we completed it, we were super excited to open the street. I think no one was more excited than the mayor, Joe and myself and our small businesses,” Gribben said in reference to Shelby Mayor Steve Schag and city of Shelby project coordinator Joe Gies.
The downtown enhancement project has now taken its next step through the Black Fork Commons phase 2 project that Gribben described as fully underway.
“The park is in process, they’re down there working every day in the freezing cold,” she said. “And we of course had a groundbreaking for that.”
In early 2022, Gribben was instrumental in securing $500,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds allocated for the project through the Richland County Commission. In addition, Shelby City Council designated $250,000 for the project and then added another $100,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a total of $350,000, Shelby finance director Brian Crum has said.
“The funding aspect of that was challenging,” Gribben said. “Thanks to you guys for stepping up to the plate and putting the city of Shelby behind that project. That allowed us to get county funding as well. They saw that it was important to us, so it was important to them. So that was a nice win.”
As for some other “of our downtown wins” they included ribbon cuttings for new businesses such as Marigold Bakery, dog grooming returning to Shelby at Sarah’s Pooch Parlor, and the addition of Dove Candle Bar where patrons can go in and pick their own fragrance and make their own candles.
“So some fun destination places in downtown,” Gribben told council. “And then of course the VFW moved to our Main Street as well. We’ve seen a lot of activity from that.”
Shelby’s industrial base also is a strength that leaders are working to enhance.
“Industry is the backbone of this community,” Gribben said, noting work that is going on behind the scenes.
“The big news, of course, is at Lloyd Rebar, they’re expanding their footprint,” Gribben said. “You’ll see some legislation coming your way regarding that
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shortly. But they are going to basically double their footprint out of Technology Parkway.”
“That’ll add 10 new fulltime jobs over there, and that’s a contract with Intel,” she said in reference to Intel’s $20 billion semiconductor chip manufacturing center being built in Licking County east of Columbus.
“We are super excited about that,” Gribben said of the Shelby expansion of Lloyd Rebar, which its website notes provides concrete reinforcing steel services to Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
A second area expansion that’s receiving Jobsohio support is Custom Control Technologies.
“They are going to be expanding, growing here in Shelby,” Gribben told council. “That’s a really nice story. Local ownership was getting ready to retire and was ready to sell the company. And they actually sold to one of their largest customers, who actually was in North Carolina.”
So the intent was to sell it to this customer and move their company to North Carolina, Gribben reported.
“Since then, they hired someone, a local Shelby guy, who really wanted to keep it in Shelby,” she said. “He’s done a lot of work to build that pipeline of talent.”
“And then we got with them, and we were able to give them a really nice offer from Jobsohio,” Gribben added. “So they’re going to be growing right here, just outside of the city of Shelby, but it certainly makes an impact on Shelby. So they have 16 jobs, they are currently going to add nine more over the next three years.”
Together, the Lloyd Rebar and Custom Control Technologies expansions represent about $1 million in new payroll and plus $5 million in capital expenditures.
“A third company we’re going to be meeting with early next year will likely grow their footprint pretty significantly as well, right here in Shelby,” Gribben previewed.
This expansion “will likely break ground this spring adding jobs and additional capital expenditures,” her Powerpoint showed.
That company was not identified.
A fourth company, also currently unidentified, is looking to expand, as well, in the next couple of years. Additional details are to follow.
Another priority ahead is residential housing.
“There was a strategy session where we brought together developers, Realtors, everyone in the housing world, in the county,” Gribben summarized. “We wanted to pick their brains and see ‘How do we make this a good place to build housing? How do we build the kind of housing that we need? How do we encourage development in the right areas and the right places?’ and all that.”
She noted a housing study that is underway and that Shelby’s Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) is part of the discussions on the topic.
“CIC was looking at ‘How do we move the needle on some things here in Shelby,’” Gribben said. “And housing really seemed to be the next conversation. I really feel like we got ahead of the game on that. As the year played out, housing was coming up all over the place in economic development” including at the statewide level.
She anticipates Shelby’s housing study to be completed shortly and noted funding assistance provided at the county level.
“We knew we wanted something good for Shelby,” Gribben said. “If Shelby had to fund it all, it would’ve been cost-prohibitive. But being able to pull the rest
of the county in, and get everybody to contribute, now we’ve got a very robust study and strategy we’ll be able to take forward, and really make some good changes.”
The housing study represents a first phase.
“Certainly it’s important to know where we’re at, but really we need to know where we’re going, and we need to have a plan to get there,” Gribben said. “So all of the people who have been included with the housing and steering committee, which are countywide, have all committed to seeing it through in their own way. So some parts of that are going to be affordable housing and attainable housing, and there are certain groups that will work on that.”
“And there are some that are going to be working on development, and making sure we’re getting in front of the right people, and telling our stories so we can make sure development happens here,” she continued. “And then utilizing incentives, and coming up with new incentives, and thinking of creative ways to make sure that we’re taking care of who’s here, and (working to ensure) we are attractive to other people who want to be here. So that’s what’s next.”
And more is planned downtown, as well through a phase 3 to follow the streetscape and phase 2 at Black Fork Commons.
“The first two were really kind of nailed down, as far as what they would look like,” Gribben told council of the enhancement projects. “The third was a little bit nebulous because we were waiting on the school to figure out what’s going to happen to Central (school), figure out what’s happening with the (Skiles) football field. A lot of things were up in the air.”
Early in 2023, the Shelby Board of Education offices are set to move from the downtown location in the old Central school to the
existing offices of the “old middle school” that was partially demolished recently, schools Superintendent Tim Tarvin said in a letter posted on the district’s website.
“Following that move, Central Elementary will be razed, as well as the grandstands at Skiles Field...” Tarvin also wrote.
Gribben said to council about future downtown enhancement efforts: “So we will really need to dig into that and see ‘What does phase 3 encompass, how does it work, and where do you find money for it?’” she said.
Growing downtown Shelby’s business community is part of the plan, too.
“We have a beautiful downtown, and we have a beautiful park that’s going to be coming in the spring,” Gribben said of Black Fork Commons. “We need to infill with some additional businesses. We are seeing buildings start to change hands. We’re seeing local ownership in a lot of those cases, which is probably the best-case scenario for us. We’ve had some outof-town ownership that has not gone well.”
Shelby hopes to continue that trend of local ownership while “supporting the growth of successful local endeavors,” she said.
“Obviously, the big one that comes to mind, that’s fresh and new to everybody is Black Fork Brewing with brewing,” she said of the newly announced plan for the site of the old ice plant off Mansfield Avenue.
Overall, Shelby’s economic development efforts will continue to support local businesses, growth, and expansions, Gribben emphasized.
“There’s state resources out there,” she said. “If they’re going to give them somewhere, I want them to give them to Shelby. I will try to support every project that we have here, and find ways, different ways and different resources to bring to our local businesses so
they can continue to grow.”
All of this comes against the backdrop of an uncertain economy.
“You hear recession thrown around. And I think Ohio’s in a really good place right now,” Gribben said. “We’ve got probably the best (atmosphere) we’ve been in a long time as we’re facing an uncertain economy. We may ride this one out in a little better shape. So we just want to make sure Shelby’s right up there with that growth and supporting our businesses.”
A focus also is needed on a strategy for moving forward, she told council.
“As we are talking about our businesses growing, they’re looking for space,” Gribben said. “They’re looking for land that’s ready for them to go to, utilities that are in place, buildings that are available. And quite frankly it’s slim pickings. We need to be thinking, down the road, what makes sense for Shelby, so that we can continue to grow and have space for our businesses to grow right here, rather than somewhere else.”
Among other summary highlights shared by Gribben through her Powerpoint presentation:
• the 2022 facade improvement program served four projects valued at $27,515 in total investment including at Weber’s Bar, Kilgore & Herring CPA’S, and at 93 W Main St. The fourth is in the works. Overall, $52,000 in private investment is tallied since the program started.
• four companies/manufacturers are looking at growing their footprint
• Shelby economic development has assisted with training dollars to help local companies.
“We’ve been able to assist with training dollars to multiple companies, more training dollars are committed in Shelby than any other
municipality in the county,” her presentation detailed.
• Multiple letters of support for Jobsohio projects have been generated. Three Jobsohio offer letters for Shelby companies were received, and two accepted.
• Outreach to existing businesses
“We are engaged with our local manufacturers on an ongoing basis, keeping tabs on their needs (from the ambulance service, to bus stop issues),” Gribben detailed. “This allows us to be proactive on their needs and make sure that Shelby is the friendliest place to do business.”
Both City Councilman Nathan Martin and Mayor Schag praised Gribben at the conclusion of her presentation.
“I just wanted to offer a sentiment that you downplay greatly your role in helping us when you say you played a small part,” Martin said. “You certainly played a significant part, and we see that. I think I’ll speak for council in that regard. We definitely appreciate everything you’ve done for our city, and everything you continue to do for our city.”
“It is a great thing to see and continue to realize as we continue to push that we are the crown jewel of rural Ohio,” Martin added.
Mayor Schag noted Gribben’s recent statewide economic development award and the “constant activity” in her work area at Shelby City Hall that is a hub of business outreach efforts through phone calls, conferences, seminars, and going out and making contacts in the city, he said.
“So I couldn’t be more pleased with having Ms. Gribben here in the city of Shelby, and also helping northern Richland County in that economic development being the northern hub of activity,” Mayor Schag said. “She certainly brings a wonderful spirit of collaboration with the county, and we’ve been benefactors of that.”