MANSFIELD, Ohio–Richland Community Development Group held its second annual Economic Excellence Awards Tuesday evening at the Mansfield Holiday Inn and Suites. Awards were presented to businesses, individuals and organizations that have had significant impact on the growth and development of the local economy.
“The purpose of the awards are to really recognize folks that are digging in personally or through their jobs or with their companies to make this a better place,” said RCDG Executive Director Bridget McDaniel.
Awards were divided into the following categories: Partnership, Business Excellence, Economic Impact, Distinguished Performance and Investing in Our Future. The Richland Young Professionals (RYP) also presented two awards, including the Community Hero Award and Entrepreneurial Award.
Partnership Award winners: Richland Source, The Mansfield News Journal, Lind Media, IHeartMedia, Sun Graphics, Inc., Mid-State Multimedia, The Shelby Globe and The Bellville Star
Business Excellence Award winners: ArcelorMittal, The Blueberry Patch and Elzy Milling and Trade
Economic Impact Award winners: STARTEK and Mechanics Bank
Investing in Our Future Award winners: School Specialty and Rebecca Owens, Catholic Charities Mansfield site manager
Distinguished Performance Award winners: Richland County Treasurer Bart Hamilton and Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks
RYP Community Hero Award winner: Cody Albert, Shelby Bicycle Days co-chair
RYP Entrepreneurial Award winner: Phoenix Brewing Company
When accepting the Entrepreneurial Award, Steve Zigmund, co-owner of the Phoenix Brewing Company, commented, “We’re the new kids on the block, but we feel like downtown Mansfield is a family.” He said they’re excited to see the area grow, hoping that the next “new kids” will have great success, too.
Deborah Schenk, president and CEO of Mechanics Bank, shared in her acceptance speech what the bank’s growth and expansion in the community represents, noting, “Certainly, I think it’s an indication of our appreciation to all of those who have made our 129-year history possible… But I also think there’s a lot more to the message that I hope it sends to the community. It’s a statement by our board of directors, by our employees, by our shareholders that we believe in the future of our community, too. In fact, I don’t think it would be an overstatement to say maybe, just maybe, the best is yet to come.”
As part of the ceremony, McDaniel discussed RCDG’s accomplishments in 2014 and their future goals.
“In the past year, we had 12 different site visits that we worked with people from outside the community to come in and look at Richland County,” she said.
“We’ve also worked to grow Richland County businesses,” she added. “In 2014, we had five different projects that we were able to bring in $800,000 worth of incentives to make sure our businesses grew in Richland County … Those projects alone will result in $11 million in additional payroll in Richland County. They will also create 506 jobs, some of which have already been created, and they will actually entail $59 million in capital investments in the county.”
RCDG, she said, is working to redefine, cultivate, develop and grow Richland County.
In order to move the county forward, they will continue to partner with various organizations, businesses, elected officials and community leaders. “There are so many people in this community that really want to help us move forward,” she said. “We just try to be in the background and add a little bit of assistance, be a little bit of catalyst to those efforts.”
Looking ahead to the future, she said, “We will continue to work hard with your help and your assistance to improve the economic vitality of our community. Because you and I know it’s a great place to live.”
The ceremony also featured a keynote address by Richland County Commissioner and RCDG Strategic Plan Chair Marilyn John. John reviewed the RCDG strategic plan, noting, “We don’t want this to be a plan that sits on a shelf and collects dust. We want this to be a plan of action.”
The five areas of action they’re currently working on, she said, include talent development, a business-friendly regulatory system, further development of downtown, neighborhood development and the Campus District development.
“These five areas have been meeting already, and most of the groups are formed, but they are looking for additional help,” she said.
Though change is hard, she said, “Change is a good thing for all of us. It helps us to embrace the future and it helps us to move forward.”
Editor’s Note: For a complete list of award winners, see the article above.
