Ries gives Council MSVW annual report

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

In addition to Mayor Don Farmer’s State of the City address, Van Wert City Council also heard an annual report from Main Street Van Wert Project Manager Adam Ries detailing that organization’s successes in the year just ended.

Ries noted that 13 downtown buildings saw improvements in 2014, while 38 downtown events and promotions were held last year.

Main Street Van Wert also gained 30 new supporting partners during 2014, bringing that number to 98 partners.

The downtown also netted one new business in 2014, along with a net of 11 new jobs and three new residential units.

Ries said there was a total of $156,000 spent on façade improvements downtown last year, with a total of $1.1 million in building improvements completed last year.

The organization also created a new online newsletter, conducted social media workshops, made business retention and expansion visits, conducted an “I Shop Downtown” campaign this past summer, as well as Heritage Ohio educational seminars.

Flags and banners were also added to brighten up the downtown area, while a Hidden Spaces upper floor building tour was held, and building renderings and assistance with Design Review applications were also provided.

Main Street Van Wert also expanded its social media reach, continued the Market on Main retail program and held a number of other business-related events in the downtown area.

Also Monday, City Council approved legislation authorizing distribution of the city’s hotel-motel tax, introduced a measure to approve permanent appropriations for 2015 and heard a report from City Law Director John Hatcher concerning Van Wert Municipal Court activities.