Groveport Messenger - September 5th, 2021

PAGE 6 - GROVEPORT MESSENGER - September 5, 2021
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Groveport to explore other ways
to nurture small business growth
By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
Groveport city officials decided to try a
different approach to a proposed small business
entrepreneurship program.
Now that some restaurants are on board
for the two new commercial buildings
planned for Groveport’s Main Street, city
officials had considered using the second
floors of the Wert’s Grove building, 480 Main
St., and the Rarey’s Port building, 674 Main
St., as “business incubators” to nurture new,
home grown businesses in an entrepreneurship
program.
However, at the Aug. 22 Groveport City
Council meeting, council postponed indefinitely
an ordinance to contract with
Cultivate to implement that program.
Groveport Economic Development
Director Jeff Green said the legislation was
postponed because, after some discussion,
city officials decided they need to get the buildings constructed
and tenants moved in before moving on to the
next stage.
In the mean time, Groveport City Councilman Ed
Dildine said the intent is to come back with “something
different” to create and grow small business in town
and that the city could use existing spaces, such as at
Town Hall, the Recreation Center, and other city
owned properties as places to offer an entrepreneurship
program.
When asked how the second floor spaces in the
Wert’s Grove and Rarey’s Port buildings will now be
used since they will not be currently used for the
entrepreneurship program, Green said, “Since the second
floors of both buildings must be government use
due to the financing structure of the funding for the
buildings, we are working to identify what uses would
best be suited for the second floors. The buildings are
being built as a shell and finishing the first floor for
the restaurant tenants is the primary objective.
There’s really no affect on the cost of construction
because we never planned for Miller Valentine to finish
these spaces anyway.”
Green said the city has received inquiries from
existing businesses interested in the second floor
spaces of the two new buildings, “but because of the
financing structure we have to treat the second floor
spaces as government use. We feel the entrepreneurship
center can fall under that use.”
Green said the goal is to continue working with
Cultivate on the entrepreneurship program, but only
offer a training and technical assistance program for
now.
“We’ll negotiate a new contract (with Cultivate),”
said Green. “Cultivate has had a great deal of success
in the region for several years. We have visited their
incubator in Grove City many times and have been
Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove
Workers are shown here on a steamy August day tackling the
job of getting the foundation ready for the new Rarey’s Port
building at 674 Main St. The Rarey’s Port and Wert’s Grove buildings
are known as The 1847 Main Project and the city of
Groveport is the developer for both sites.
really
impressed with the facility and the program and wanted
to replicate it here.”
When asked if the city has received any interest
from potential entrepreneurs about the program,
Green said, “Not yet because we haven’t started promoting
the program.”
City officials believe the entrepreneurship program
would boost small business growth in town rather than
just letting small businesses take root on their own.
“The city has offered several small business training
programs through the years,” said Green. “The programs
go through every aspect of starting a small business,
including the risks. Many people determine that
business ownership isn’t for them and others learn
there’s more to owning a small business than they
realize and they’re better equipped to succeed.”
About the 1847 Main project
The Rarey’s Port and Wert’s Grove buildings are
known as The 1847 Main Project and the city of
Groveport is the developer for both sites.
Construction has started on the 14,145 square foot
Rarey’s Port building with completion expected by late
March 2022. Construction of the 12,184 square foot
Wert’s Grove building has also begun with completion
expected by April 2022.
The two new buildings will be two-story brick,
mixed-use commercial buildings.
The cost to construct the two buildings is approximately
$7.6 million. It is funded by a combination of
non-tax revenue bonds and tax revenue bonds.
According to Groveport Finance Director Jason Carr,
non-tax revenue bonds equal taxable bonds and tax
revenue bonds equal tax-exempt bonds. He said the
project will be funded by general obligation bonds,
which are bonds from the bond market and are not
property tax bond issues that would be voted on by the
residents.
ird ursday
The city of Groveport will host Third Thursday, a
summer festival series featuring music, food trucks,
vendors, and more. The last Third Thursday will take
place on Sept. 16 with the “Fall Kickoff!” with hay
rides, photo backdrop, and free mini-pumpkins. Third
Thursday hours are 5-7:30 p.m. at Cruiser Park, 4677
Bixby Road.
For information contact jreeves@groveport.org.
Farmers’ Market
The Groveport Farmers’ Market will be held on
Tuesdays through Sept. 14 from 4-7 p.m. at Groveport
Madison Middle School Central, 751 Main St.