Lt. Governor Fisher Announces Director's Recognition Awards for Excellence in Housing and Community Development

"These communities, companies and organizations have consistently demonstrated a strong capacity to implement grant funds to create thriving programs for Ohio's residents," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Our award winners this year demonstrate best practices at the local level and we applaud their commitment to administer successful housing and community development programs."

The Awards are presented to organizations that demonstrate outstanding housing and community development efforts, such as managing an emergency shelter, improving infrastructure, and creating jobs. The award winners were selected by the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.

The 2008 Director's Awards for Excellence in Housing and Community Development were presented to the following recipients:

Village of Bradford received a $500,000 Water and Sanitary Sewer Program grant to install 14,400 linear feet of sewer line and 24 manholes. The $1 million project assisted 778 households, of which 83 percent were considered low and moderate income.

City of Delaware (Delaware County) helped two companies interested in working together to expand operations and create jobs by applying for and receiving two Ohio Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program grants. As a result, the city was awarded a $500,000 grant to assist Sky Climber, LLC and a $475,000 grant to assist V & P Hydraulic Products, LLC.

Sky Climber designs, manufactures and markets suspended access equipment for commercial and industrial applications. The company purchased 6.2 acres of land, on Pittsburgh Drive, and machinery and equipment; constructed a 45,000 square-foot building; and relocated operations from Georgia. The $2.7 million project created 41 jobs.

V & P Hydraulic Products manufactures custom welded mobile hydraulic cylinders for the mining, construction, fire fighting, nursery, and forklift industries. In order to meet customer demand, the company purchased 6.5 acres of land, on Pittsburgh Road, and machinery and equipment; constructed a 45,000 square-foot building; and relocated operations from another facility in the City of Delaware. The $4.8 million project created 25 jobs.

City of Orrville (Wayne County) was awarded two $400,000 Comprehensive Downtown Revitalization Tier Two Program grants. With the first grant, the city assisted 10 business owners with interior improvements and 21 business owners with facade improvements. The businesses are located in the community's central business district. In addition, the city completed streetscaping improvements in the same area. The grant leveraged more than $3.2 million of additional public and private funds.

With the second grant, the city will help 10 businesses complete building code and facade improvements; and install approximately 3,500 square feet of decorative bricks and other streetscape improvements, including curb cuts. The project is expected to leverage $2.2 million of public and private funds.

Miami County was honored for its successful efforts to improve infrastructure in the Village of Bradford. The county was awarded a $300,000 Neighborhood Revitalization grant, which was used to improve 2,607 linear feet of streets and install 1,850 linear feet of waterline, seven fire hydrants, 21 water valves, 2,590 linear feet of drainage pipe and 17 catch basins. The county also purchased fire protection equipment and 1.9 acres of land to establish a village park. The grant leveraged $748,000 of additional public and private funds.

YWCA of Canton (Stark County), which received a $565,400 Homeless Assistance Grant Program grant, was recognized for effectively operating an 86-bed emergency shelter serving homeless single women and women with children; and providing transitional housing and permanent supportive housing to households with incomes at or below 35 percent of the area median income. The emergency shelter program will assist 580 households consisting of 930 persons, the transitional housing program will assist 55 households consisting of 128 persons and the permanent supportive housing program will assist 13 households consisting of 17 persons.

The Office of Housing and Community Partnerships provides financial and technical assistance to units of local government and nonprofit organizations in Ohio for project activities which benefit low- and moderate-income citizens.

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