Businesses affected by construction from the ongoing Main Street Improvement Project will get some financial help.
Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry told members of city council at Tuesday’s meeting that the local board of control approved $50,000 in small business grants to be doled out in $2,500 increments. The Downtown Improvement Advisory Board had recommended the grants.
To qualify, businesses must have suffered at least a 25% loss in the last 60 days compared to 2024. The Main Street Improvement Project got underway in February.
Paul Kemerling, owner of Relax, It’s Just Coffee, recently told the News Journal that a number of businesses are down 25% to 50% in sales, adding some owners don’t expect to survive until the completion of the 20-month project, which is scheduled for Oct. 31, 2026.
“When we get past this water main replacement piece, it will calm down a little bit,” Perry said. “We knew it would be the most intrusive part of the project.”
The mayor added if the small business grants are not enough, officials will have to revisit the issue.
The project involves converting Main Street to two-way traffic and sprucing up the streetscape. The construction has limited downtown parking.
Perry said she appreciated the efforts of Bob Bianchi and Blair McClenathan from the city’s engineering office for their help with the businesses.
Legislature may eliminate inside millage, could hurt Mansfield
In other economic news, Perry told council about an issue with the upcoming state budget that could devastate Mansfield and many other local governments.
House Bill 335, which was set to have its first hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, makes multiple changes in the property tax system, including the elimination of inside millage for local governments other than townships.
For Mansfield, Perry said that would mean the loss of $2.7 million.
“That is a catastrophic hit in what it would do to cities, counties and schools,” she said.
Perry was scheduled to testify Wednesday before the ways and means committee.
In her report to council, Finance Director Kelly Converse said eliminating inside millage would hurt the safety fund.
She offered other concerns, telling members that revenue in the water fund is down 38% from last year, while revenue in the sewer fund is off 41%.
“Those two funds are a huge concern,” Converse said.
She attributed the downturn to commercial accounts.
“I do have some good news,” Converse added, saying the city has settled on a payment processor, with legislation to come in July.
In his report, Safety-Service Director Keith Porch said police issued 88 citations between November and April to semi drivers coming through town.
He also said the fire department has received all of its EMS equipment, “which is unheard of.”
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Businesses affected by Main Street Improvement Project to get $2,500 grants
Reporting by Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
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