WICC forgives $15,000 loan despite missed income-tax target
The Westerville Industry and Commerce Corporation forgave a $15,000 loan to Michael Capital at its Oct. 15 meeting despite the office renovation project falling short of its requirement to generate $45,000 in new income tax. The loan supported improvements at 279 and 285 N. State St.
Economic Development Administrator Rob Rishel recommended forgiveness, saying the renovations were completed and six new leases had been signed since the 2021 improvements. “It filled empty space to generate new income tax,” he said.
Trustees also reviewed four previously approved loans totaling $100,000 as part of the corporation’s 2026 lending update: $25,000 for BTTS Holdings, $30,000 for Darifill, $25,000 for Julian & Grube and $20,000 for Perry ProTech. Rishel said BTTS Holdings’ loan was approved in 2025, with tracking beginning in 2026.
Julian & Grube’s roof project had been completed, and Perry ProTech was in the permitting process for its new office, Rishel said. Staff was awaiting further progress on Darifill’s project.
Rishel also said Sensience had surpassed the requirements for its $150,000 loan, with forgiveness budgeted for 2027. Michael Capital’s loan was the only one forgiven at the Oct. 15 meeting.
Staff members aim to meet annually with each participating company to monitor progress and identify problems before loans reach their review deadlines, Rishel said. Overall, the loan portfolio is “performing exceptionally well,” he said.
Residents weigh South State Street’s future with beads, comment cards
About 30 residents weighed options for South State Street’s future using colored beads and comment cards during a two-hour open house at COhatch on Thursday, Oct. 15.
The Let’s Plan Westerville event featured 14 displays, organized around three themes: the street, the place, and the trail. About 10 city staff members answered questions and explained the exhibits.
Residents placed beads in clear containers beside photographs to mark the changes they favored. They could also leave written suggestions for the corridor, including ways to better connect the Ohio-to-Erie Trail with nearby destinations.
Other displays explored ways to make South State Street a place to stop rather than pass through. The analysis found that parking occupies 31% of the corridor’s land, while 54 owners control 94 parcels, underscoring the challenge of reshaping the corridor.
Residents reviewed development examples that would bring storefronts closer to sidewalks and create more places to gather. The displays also explored how new businesses and housing could fit alongside nearby neighborhoods.
The trail displays examined the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, which passes behind businesses and properties along portions of the corridor. About 4.5 miles of the statewide trail run through Westerville, attracting an estimated 68,000 users annually, according to the displays.
Possible improvements included clearer access points, better signs, safer crossings, and gathering areas where walkers and cyclists could stop or visit nearby businesses. The boards also suggested making the South State Street trail crossing more recognizable and more clearly linked to the corridor.
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