Plain City officials recently expanded village staff in an effort to support current and future businesses.
The village recently hired Jason Stanford to a new position: economic development coordinator.
Stanford was most recently the development services manager at the Union County-Marysville Economic Development Partnership.
Village Administrator Haley Lupton said Stanford stood out among a pool of 18 applicants.
“We just feel like he’ll get a head start on all our of initiatives,” she said.
Despite a “good selection” of candidates, Lupton said she, Village Planner Taylor Brill and Executive Director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce David Kell – who each sat in on interviews – felt Stanford was the right fit for the job.
Lupton added that Stanford is an experienced leader with connections to the community. She noted that he is familiar with the village and was already involved with the Plain City Business Association.
During Monday’s council meeting, Stanford alluded to his familiarity with Plain City.
“You guys have a lot of opportunity here in Plain City,” he said during an introduction to council. “I’ve been watching from afar.”
Stanford said he worked in his position with Union County for 14 years, before starting his position in Plain City Friday.
According to his resume, in his previous position he assisted with Union County’s business recruitment and retention programs, workforce and career development initiatives, housing and mobility efforts, downtown revitalization efforts and studies of the county economy.
He also serves on a number of local committees and boards, including the Union County Housing Taskforce, Union County Parks and Trails Working Group and the Ohio Public Works Commission, District 11.
Prior to joining Union County’s staff in 2008, Stanford was the assistant director at the Belmont County Department of Development.
Stanford has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Affairs and Non-Profit Administration from Wright State University.
Lupton said Stanford will quickly get to work toward achieving goals set by council.
In the short term, she said village officials are focused on completing a business retention and expansion plan, along with putting a general economic development strategy in place.
Lupton said she also envisions Stanford working on a U.S. 42 corridor study, a façade improvement plan and exploring the creation of a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).
The village administrator noted that each project Stanford will take on is a new initiative.
“We’ve done some exploration, but we needed someone to take the lead,” Lupton said.
Stanford will begin reaching out to existing businesses in the near future, Lupton said, but invited community stakeholders to share their ideas with the village.
“We’re here and we’re reachable,” she said.
In other business:
– Council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would create a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) abatement agreement for 114 W. Main St.
More commonly known as the McCune Building, the property is owned by Rayce Robinson, Chris Miller and Chris Kerr.
In their application, the owners indicated that they plan to renovate and restore the “existing storefronts, apartments and commercial space.” They intend to invest $2 million in the project.
If approved, the CRA abatement agreement would result in a 100% tax exemption, regarding the property taxes of the assessed valuation of the redeveloped structure, for 12 years.
– Council scheduled a public hearing on Sept. 12 for a zoning text amendment that would add Professional Office as a Permitted Use in the RU (Rural) District.
– Council heard the first readings of two resolutions providing for the issuance and sale of unvoted general obligation notes, in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, for the purpose of paying for the Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion.