January 24, 201213 yr 91-turbine wind farm OK'd for Richland, Crawford counties 7:25 AM, Jan. 24, 2012 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The state board that certifies construction plans for new energy facilities has approved an agreement that authorizes a 91-turbine wind farm in north-central Ohio. Read More...
January 28, 201213 yr Wind farm delayed Jan. 27, 2012 SHELBY -- The company behind a north central Ohio wind farm says the project is moving forward, but not as fast as it hoped. Construction will be delayed at least a year from the original start date, the company confirmed Thursday. "The soonest we would start construction is 2013, and it could even extend to 2014," said Scott Hawken, senior project manager with Oregon-based alternative energy company Element Power. Read More... Pentagon plan could end C-27J program Written by Bryan Bullock News Journal MANSFIELD -- The Pentagon outlined plans Thursday to shrink the U.S. military, including a recommendation that could end an aircraft program at Mansfield Air National Guard Base. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said termination of the C-27J Spartan aircraft program could put roughly 350 full-time jobs and 1,000 part-time jobs in jeopardy and raise questions about the future of the base. "There's no question that we need to reduce our deficit. But we shouldn't do it on the backs of the hardworking men and women of the 179th Airlift Wing," Brown said. Read More... Cross posted in the Mansfield Development thread. 70 acres in industrial park are nearly business-ready Jan. 26, 2012 | Written by Linda Martz News Journal MANSFIELD -- Seventy more acres are being prepared in Reid Industrial Park so businesses can begin moving into the space this spring. The City Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a site plan that would allow businesses to buy or lease land in an area north of Crall Road and west of Airport North Road. It is adjacent to the 179th Ohio Air National Guard's 60-acre expansion project. The project, designed to build businesses on former farmland near Lahm Airport, is known as Phase III of Reid Industrial Park. Read More...
March 10, 201213 yr Cross posted in the Mansfield Preservation and Demolition thread Land bank considered Expert suggests forming one to deal with problem of empty homes Mar. 10, 2012 | Written by Linda Martz MANSFIELD -- A state expert on foreclosed housing issues Friday urged local officials to form a countywide land bank to deal with abandoned and foreclosed homes. Mayor Tim Theaker said afterward he and city community development officials have discussed how to do that in a form Richland County commissioners could support. "We're working on it," he said. Read More...
March 12, 201213 yr Local jobless rate up Mar. 12, 2012 | Written by Bryan Bullock MANSFIELD -- Richland County's unemployment rate climbed in January, echoing a statewide trend. Its rate was 10.1 percent that month, up 0.8 percent from December, according to seasonally unadjusted estimates released Friday by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The jobless rate in Mansfield increased 0.8 percent to 9.9 percent in January. City and county unemployment rates decreased or held steady the last six months of 2011. Read More...
June 20, 201212 yr Jobless rate at 4-year low Jun. 20, 2012 | Written by Kaitlin Durbin News Journal MANSFIELD -- Richland County's unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in four years, according to estimates by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The county's unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in May, down from 8.5 in April. The 0.6-percent drop marked the first time Richland County's unemployment rate fell below the national average -- 8.2 percent in May -- since before 2002. Despite the decline, the county's rate was still higher than the state average, which continued its 10-month decline with 7.3 percent in May. In Mansfield, the unemployment rate also edged down 0.5 percent in May, although it remained above the national and state averages. The rate has been falling since January. Read More... Mansfield set to lose $1M in 2013 6:17 AM, Jun. 20, 2012 | Written by Linda Martz News Journal MANSFIELD -- Mansfield Finance Director Linn Steward said the city can expect to lose about $1 million in revenue in 2013, due to reductions in local government funds returned from the state, and elimination of the estate tax. At a budget hearing to introduce a proposed tax budget for next year, Steward said the city will lose those funds because of decisions made at the state level, beyond the control of municipalities. Council is expected to approve the 2013 tax budget at its July 3 meeting. The proposed figures reviewed by council Tuesday estimated the general fund balance at the start of next year at $2.15 million, down from $2.58 million this year. Read More...
June 24, 201212 yr Security company may bring 100 jobs Jun. 23, 2012 | Written by Mark Caudill MANSFIELD -- A security company that recently opened a downtown satellite office plans to expand -- rapidly. PLS Protective Services launched an office in the Chase Bank building, 28 Park Avenue West, in late April with 10 employees. Chief Executive Officer Paul Smith said he hopes to offer up to 100 jobs by the end of the year. "Our niche is supplementing law enforcement in very minor things, like vandalism and noise," he said. Read More...
August 18, 201212 yr GM pact signed, work begins to bring 1,100 jobs 6:37 AM, Aug 17, 2012 | Written by Lou Whitmire ONTARIO -- The developer and Ontario City Council signed the development agreement Thursday for the former General Motors Stamping Plant. That final bit of paperwork taken care of at last night's council meeting, Brownfield Communities Development Company made its intentions clear in an energized Thursday press conference. "You have our commitment that our goal is to take this one large facility that was designed as a single-purpose entity and use our skills to turn it so it can be a facility that meets the needs of businesses that will themselves grow and attract other businesses," said Michael M. Adler, chairman and chief executive officer of the Adler Group. "Our goal is for you to see this location again be a thriving employment hub for your community. We take this responsibility very seriously, and we are committed to make it happen."
December 31, 201212 yr Top story of 2012: Sale of GM plant 10:49 PM, Dec 30, 2012 Written by Mark Caudill News Journal ONTARIO — The end of the year offered some of the brightest economic news the area has received in some time. The Brownfield Communities Development Co. announced Friday it had closed the sale on the former General Motors Mansfield-Ontario Stamping Plant. Local officials hope the sale will make way for the development company to bring more than 1,100 jobs to the community within five years. There are two tenants for the site, but they have not been identified. One of those tenants is supposed to create 850 full-time jobs, the other 280. READ MORE AT: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20121230/NEWS01/312300017/Top-story-2012-Sale-GM-plant "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
Create an account or sign in to comment