The Scoop...December 5, 2011
Blass, Chairman of the Board of the Kibby Corners Development Corporation, explained that the Kibby Corners district runs along South Main Street from the Ottawa River to 4th Street. Millions of dollars worth of infrastructure improvements have been made to the area over the past couple years, including the Vine Street underpass, which is the largest single stimulus project in Ohio. KCDC is working with residents and business owners along the South Main Street corridor to come up with a zoning plan that would organize the district into residential, commercial, and light industrial. The board believes that with better planning, the district will be more open to development.
Cowan is President of the Ohio Energy & Advanced Manufacturing Center, which is in the planning stages of a 20,000 square foot technology center to be built at the corner of Main and 4th Streets. The center will bring together businesses with common goals. They can work together on technology and energy projects in the center’s lab and office space, which Cowan describes as neutral ground.
The center is being funded with 3.5 million dollars worth of grants. Construction is expected to begin in April.
In other business, Sergeant at Arms Jon Rockhold reported 78 members in attendance and one visiting Rotarian.
Karel Oxley handled fellowship, and thanked everyone for making last week’s Rotary Christmas Auction a success. It raised $16,400.
David Runk made a plea for more people to man kettles for the Salvation Army this Saturday, which is Rotary’s day to volunteer.
Dr. Thompson thanked all sponsors of the Rotary Blood Clinic. The fall clinic served 338 people and make $5,909.29 profit, which is up considerably from last year. Combined with the spring clinic, $19,029.26 was raised.
Esther Baldridge is still looking for volunteers and gifts for the Special Needs Christmas Party on December 17th.