MECHANICSBURG — The Ohio Department of Development is chipping in with a large grant designed to help improve the look of downtown Mechanicsburg.
According to information from the ODD, the agency is providing the village with a $150,000 grant to renovate the Mechanicsburg Hardware Store, 29 South Main St. The building has been vacant for eight years.
Village officials did not return calls seeking comment.
Eileen Turner, a spokeswoman for the ODD, said the owner of the property will be required to provide an additional $150,000 to complete the project. The building will eventually be leased.
The funding comes through the ODD’s Discretionary Grant Program, which is administered by the agency’s Office of Housing and Community Partnerships. The program provides money for projects that might otherwise not qualify in other funding categories.
Turner said the grant program provides funding for about four projects a year on a competitive basis. Along with being feasible and having available matching funds, Turner said potential projects must also meet Community Development Block Grant standards.
In this case, she said that means turning a blighted building into something that can be put to productive use.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.
