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Commissioners brainstorm small‑business support, broadband and property marketing
Summary
The board discussed a range of economic‑development options, including small grants or reimbursements for new small businesses, aiding ag‑tourism events, continuing broadband grant support, and marketing county property such as a parcel near the Hillsdale EMS station.
Miami County commissioners used the Oct. 15 study session to restart a broader economic‑development conversation that began at a prior meeting. Commissioners explored modest, targeted support for small businesses, continuing assistance for fiber/broadband grants, and marketing county‑owned property to attract private investment.
One commissioner proposed short, modest reimbursements—$500–$1,000—to help new small businesses with rent, utilities or licensing in their first months, coupled with simple eligibility criteria (LLC or tax ID, evidence of sales tax registration or employee counts). Several commissioners warned that administering many small grants would create staff burden and said the county preferred grants to revolving loans because loan programs can become difficult to collect and manage.
On ag tourism, members suggested reserving a small line item to help next year’s Spring Farm Tour (Pleasant Valley Road) and advised a farmer‑led nonprofit or separate entity manage collections and administration rather than the county handling ongoing program management. Commissioners also discussed whether the county should continue providing letters of support for broadband/fiber grant applicants after a staff departure; past practice included occasional ARPA‑funded match dollars or letters of recommendation.
Commissioners asked staff to consider engaging a local commercial real‑estate broker (Gary Hozak/Crown Realty was named) to market county property by the Hillsdale EMS station after an appraisal was completed. They discussed limited operating funds for economic development (figures such as around $150,000–$300,000 were mentioned) and acknowledged that significant incentives for large projects more commonly come through city participation or tax abatements.
The session closed with commissioners asking everyone to return to the next study session with concrete ideas and to discuss economic development further at the upcoming city–county meeting.
