Generational money. Transformative opportunities. Cooperative efforts.
A year ago, those were the challenges for and opportunities offered to Richland County leaders as planning began to invest nearly $45 million in federal money coming to the community through the American Rescue Plan Act.
We have seen some great decisions, including funds for countywide broadband expansion, needed permanent infrastructure improvements in Mansfield and an affordable housing study that will produce long-term benefits for everyone.
And we stand and applaud a decision made last week when Richland County commissioners, the City of Shelby, the Shelby Community Improvement Corporation, the Shelby Foundation and private donors came together to put the finishing touches on funding for Black Fork Commons Plaza project.
It was an example of vision, cooperation, and planning that will benefit the residents of northern Richland County for decades.
It’s the second phase of a three-phase plan aimed at building consistency in Shelby’s downtown public space and transforming the center of the city into an active place for entertainment and gathering.
The $500,000 awarded by county commissioners provided the impetus to ensure a project that will benefit Shelby residents for many years to come, a fact noted by Mayor Steven Schag.
“This has been a perfect example of what cooperation and collaboration looks like,” he said.
Jessica Gribben, the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development liaison to the City of Shelby and northern Richland County, said it’s a huge deal.
“It’s part of a three-phase project that’s really going to be transformative to Shelby’s downtown. It’s important for the people who live in Shelby. It’s important for people whom we want to attract to Shelby and to businesses who call Shelby home,” she said.
In other words, it meets all the criteria discussed when ARPA was announced. Generational funding allowing for transformative opportunities through cooperative efforts.
What comes next?
As we prepare for the second year of ARPA funding arrivals, it’s time to remind all local elected leaders exactly what is at stake here.
Namely, this money is not free. It’s taxpayer money, yes, but the tax to generate it was far more costly than what shows up on a W-2.
In fact, ARPA comes with an unimaginable price tag.
Nearly one million Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began two years ago, including nearly 38,000 Ohio residents. More than 113,000 of the state’s residents have been hospitalized with the virus.
Richland Public Health has attributed 489 local deaths to COVID-19 as of Feb. 25, with more than 1,500 hospitalizations.
And those are just the direct impacts on the physical health of the community.
Every resident of Richland County knows all too well that we’ve paid unseen mental, emotional and societal costs that led to the existence of ARPA money.
It would thus be unconscionable if local elected leaders don’t squeeze every dollar of value from these ARPA funds.
We understand there were immediate needs that needed to be met. We have seen many short-term financial decisions in the last year to help stabilize local needs. Those were smart and necessary actions to stabilize operations damaged by the pandemic.
As the second round of millions arrive in local coffers this spring, leaders in the City of Mansfield and Richland County have a profound opportunity to use this generational money for transformative purposes.
When you are retired and out of office in years to come, what will be the legacy of the funds you invest?
What buildings will you construct to benefit the community? Where will they be located and what will be their purpose?
What permanent improvements will you have made? How will you learn from the leadership and foresight shown by the CIC in Shelby?
In short, you have more huge decisions to make in the next year or two. We, and 121,154 county residents, implore you to see — and think — big picture.
