Richland County transfers $15,000 from contingency to boost economic development support

The Richland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $15,000 transfer from contingency to the Richland County Development Group to expand technical economic development support.

Ellen Hines, director of the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development, told commissioners the county’s existing $100,000 contract covers a range of services — economic development, community development, workforce development and leadership time — and the additional $15,000 would be used to add “technical expertise and growth in our economic development efforts.”

Commissioner Tony Vero pressed for specifics on what taxpayers would receive for the extra funds. Hines said the money would help the organization fill a gap while it finishes hiring an economic development project manager and would pay for specialized, hands-on expertise in areas such as redevelopment finance and site-control strategy. “This would help add on to that to help expand our technical expertise,” Hines said.

Senior clerk Stacy Kroll told the commissioners the contingency balance available was $120,000 and recommended the additional payment come out of that fund. Hines asked that the funds be made available within about a month so the group could start capacity-building now rather than wait until summer.

Commissioner Vero moved that the commissioners approve an additional $15,000 out of contingency to the Richland County Development Group “for economic development in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code.” The motion was approved unanimously in the recorded roll call, 3–0.

The board directed staff to process the payment through the County’s contract process. Hines said she would return to the commissioners in a few months with an update on how the added funds are being used.

Votes and formal language in this item were taken on the record; the motion referenced the Ohio Revised Code as the statutory authority for the contract flow and payment.