July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Restaurant to get EDIT help
Portland City Council
The city of Portland is going to lend a hand to a future business.
Members of a local board have voted to give Jim and Vicky Lochtefeld a $120,000 grant from Portland's Economic Development Income Tax funds to fund infrastructure for a restaurant planned in front of the Holiday Inn Express on West Votaw Street.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley confirmed the new location Monday. The project had been previously announced for a location further to the west.
Both the Portland EDIT Advisory Committee and the Portland City Council met on Monday. The advisory committee recommended that the council approve the grant, which it did in a 6-1 vote.
Council member Kent McClung cast the lone dissenting vote. After the council meeting, he declined to comment on why he voted against the matter.
As part of the grant, the business must open within nine months and remain open for at least three years. If the restaurant does not open within nine months, the full amount of the grant must be repaid to the city. The only exception would be if some sort of natural disaster strikes and damages the building, preventing the opening, Bradley said.
If the restaurant is open for only one year, 75 percent of the grant must be repaid to the city. If it closes after two years, 50 percent must be refunded, and 25 percent will have to be repaid if the restaurant closes after three years. After that, the EDIT funds don't have to be repaid.
Before council members voted, Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said, "This is another piece of the puzzle for developing Portland's future."
The restaurant is expected to employ about 25 people and open in September.
Bradley said after the EDIT meeting that the Lochtefelds have settled on a location in front of the hotel. He said the property purchase is expected to be finalized in the next two weeks. Originally, the project was set to be built just west of Fastenal. Vicky Lochtefeld, who did not attend either meeting on Monday, said earlier this month that the restaurant would be built in another location because of several obstacles.
In other business Monday, council members voted to spend $5,184 in EDIT funds for several meetings to be held to create a 10-year plan for the city and county's future.
Bradley said a company associated with the National Civic League will be paid $48,000 to hold 12 to 15 meetings this year, to compile results and create a final report. The public will be involved in the meetings.
The Indiana Association of United Ways, The Portland Foundation, Jay County EDIT, and the town of Bryant, the city of Dunkirk, Pennville and Redkey have pledged funds for the project.
The goal is to determine the county's needs for the future. Aspects that will be evaluated could include access to medical care and the educational system, Bradley said.
Also Monday, council members:
•Approved a five-year tax abatement for Pennville Custom Cabinets, 600 E. Votaw St., on the purchase of a new molder.
The cost of the machine is $65,000 and will create one additional job with a pay of $10 per hour.
Bradley said the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee recently met and recommended that the council approve the request. A tax abatement phases in property taxes on new investments over a period of several years.
•Took no action on a Portland man's request to have an additional streetlight installed either in front of 204 Pittsburg Ave. or behind 1204 S. Boundary Pike.
Dennis Mason Jr. asked for the light to be installed to curb future vandalisms and thefts.
On Monday, council president Bill Gibson said he spoke to the construction crew working on the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project. The crew told him that a light is expected to be erected at the corner of Boundary Pike and Reed Street. Gibson suggested that the council wait to take action on the matter until the street reconstruction project is completed. McClung agreed.
•Learned that the city's new fire truck will be delivered on April 30, and should be available for public viewing that day by 10 a.m.[[In-content Ad]]
Members of a local board have voted to give Jim and Vicky Lochtefeld a $120,000 grant from Portland's Economic Development Income Tax funds to fund infrastructure for a restaurant planned in front of the Holiday Inn Express on West Votaw Street.
Jay County Development Corporation executive director Bill Bradley confirmed the new location Monday. The project had been previously announced for a location further to the west.
Both the Portland EDIT Advisory Committee and the Portland City Council met on Monday. The advisory committee recommended that the council approve the grant, which it did in a 6-1 vote.
Council member Kent McClung cast the lone dissenting vote. After the council meeting, he declined to comment on why he voted against the matter.
As part of the grant, the business must open within nine months and remain open for at least three years. If the restaurant does not open within nine months, the full amount of the grant must be repaid to the city. The only exception would be if some sort of natural disaster strikes and damages the building, preventing the opening, Bradley said.
If the restaurant is open for only one year, 75 percent of the grant must be repaid to the city. If it closes after two years, 50 percent must be refunded, and 25 percent will have to be repaid if the restaurant closes after three years. After that, the EDIT funds don't have to be repaid.
Before council members voted, Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, said, "This is another piece of the puzzle for developing Portland's future."
The restaurant is expected to employ about 25 people and open in September.
Bradley said after the EDIT meeting that the Lochtefelds have settled on a location in front of the hotel. He said the property purchase is expected to be finalized in the next two weeks. Originally, the project was set to be built just west of Fastenal. Vicky Lochtefeld, who did not attend either meeting on Monday, said earlier this month that the restaurant would be built in another location because of several obstacles.
In other business Monday, council members voted to spend $5,184 in EDIT funds for several meetings to be held to create a 10-year plan for the city and county's future.
Bradley said a company associated with the National Civic League will be paid $48,000 to hold 12 to 15 meetings this year, to compile results and create a final report. The public will be involved in the meetings.
The Indiana Association of United Ways, The Portland Foundation, Jay County EDIT, and the town of Bryant, the city of Dunkirk, Pennville and Redkey have pledged funds for the project.
The goal is to determine the county's needs for the future. Aspects that will be evaluated could include access to medical care and the educational system, Bradley said.
Also Monday, council members:
•Approved a five-year tax abatement for Pennville Custom Cabinets, 600 E. Votaw St., on the purchase of a new molder.
The cost of the machine is $65,000 and will create one additional job with a pay of $10 per hour.
Bradley said the Portland Tax Abatement Advisory Committee recently met and recommended that the council approve the request. A tax abatement phases in property taxes on new investments over a period of several years.
•Took no action on a Portland man's request to have an additional streetlight installed either in front of 204 Pittsburg Ave. or behind 1204 S. Boundary Pike.
Dennis Mason Jr. asked for the light to be installed to curb future vandalisms and thefts.
On Monday, council president Bill Gibson said he spoke to the construction crew working on the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project. The crew told him that a light is expected to be erected at the corner of Boundary Pike and Reed Street. Gibson suggested that the council wait to take action on the matter until the street reconstruction project is completed. McClung agreed.
•Learned that the city's new fire truck will be delivered on April 30, and should be available for public viewing that day by 10 a.m.[[In-content Ad]]
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