Officials gain $400,000 grant to improve district

Some of the work could begin as early as January.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- The city's central business district should start to look like a different place over the next 24 months.
City officials have been awarded a $400,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development, part of a statewide program to eliminate blight and improve the curb appeal of buildings in business districts.
City and county officials want to put the dollars to use in the downtown section of North Main Street, from the center of town to the railroad tracks; and also a small section of East Liberty Street.
Mayor Arthur Magee said the upgrades are a plus for the city, and gives credit to the city and county officials who worked to make it happen.
"We were very fortunate, but we were fortunate because our people worked very hard to get this done," he said. "This is going to pay off in large dividends by shining a large spotlight on the town."
Property owners in the target area submitted projects for funding to city and county officials several months ago. Those participating in the program will put up 50 percent of the money for their project, with the other 50 percent coming from the grant money.
28 participants
Michael Villano, city auditor, said 28 property owners are participating in the program. Some participants have submitted more than one project, resulting in 35 projects' being funded.
Villano said the grant was highly competitive. With the difficult selection process over, he said, the city now must follow the necessary steps to complete the work.
"We have been awarded the grant, so now we have to go through the administrative steps such as getting the grant agreement," he said. "After that happens we will be into the grant period."
Villano said some of the projects may be started as early as January -- giving officials time to determine in what order the projects will be completed. He said attempting to complete all of the projects at once could prove problematic. The city will have two years to complete all projects.
Seven Ohio communities -- others are Mingo Junction, Amherst, Oberlin, Maumee, Orrville and Van Wert -- were selected for funding. Villano said Hubbard put more of a financial boost to its beautification efforts than any of the other selected places.
"Out of the seven grants awarded, we had by far the most local financial leverage," he said. "The local contribution was $8.5 million."
Business district
A large portion of the $8.5 million for beautification of the business district can be attributed to a Walgreens store being built in the target area. Walgreens, Villano said, will not receive any of the grant money. Officials, however, included its project cost of about $4 million when applying for the grant because it is in the target area and being done during the grant period.
Villano said an older building, which once served as a drugstore on Main Street and is now home to Golden Glow Tanning Salon, will be restored to its original look under the program. The building was built in the 1920s.
Villano said Reardon's Sporting Goods on Main Street will also see a makeover of its fa & ccedil;ade in the coming months. Several other buildings in the Main Street area, he said, will get a new look.
The city, according to the Ohio Department of Development, will also demolish the plaza at the corner of Main and Liberty streets, install 12 parking spaces, repair more than 6,800 feet of sidewalk and complete streetscaping improvements in the same area.
"Next year will be a very interesting year in the city, "Villano said. "There will be a lot of activity here."
jgoodwin@vindy.com