The coronavirus has made its mark on 2020 in a wide variety of ways and will certainly write its way into the annals of Bellefontaine’s history, on an otherwise noteworthy year for the city that is marking its 200th anniversary.
This spring, the pandemic led to widespread shutdowns of business and industry and stay-at-home orders. Throughout the summer, many favorite festivals, parades and other events, including the City of Bellefontaine’s Bicentennial Celebration that was planned for this weekend, were canceled out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of residents.
While the city’s downtown block party event featuring live music, a dozen food trucks, actors playing local historic figures and a laser light show will have to wait until 2021, Bellefontaine has already bounced back from staggering unemployment figures this spring and the city is poised for many positive new economic developments in the next five to 10 years, Logan County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Ben Vollrath related this week.
“Everything tied to automotive is now back to full-strength,” he said. “Now the auto manufacturers are actually working overtime, including weekends, to keep up with demand.
“Most of our other manufacturers are back to good levels as well and are optimistic about how things are going.”
Vollrath also offered praise for various city businesses, such as restaurants and local retailers, who have found innovative ways to weather COVID-19 and are “doing everything they can to put the customer first, to make them feel safe,” he said. “They want their customers to feel comfortable coming out shopping and dining.”
In addition, the chamber president and CEO noted that several businesses have not been deterred by the pandemic and have opened in the last several months, including The Olive Tree, 121 W. Chillicothe Ave.; Skin Sanctuary Boutique Spa, 105 W. Columbus Ave.; The Syndicate, 213 S. Main St.; and Factory Connection, located at the Kroger Plaza at 2111 S. Main St.
Another opportunity that Vollrath said he is looking forward to for the community is the expanding the fiber optic connectivity of Bellefontaine this year and in the next two years for residential customers through Peak Fiber, offered through between the Bellefontaine Finance and Development Authority, the chamber and local businesses.
“Having this reliable fiber optic Internet service is a significant need in our community as our population expands,” the chamber president said. “When people move here, they expect to be able to tap into it. It’s like water, they expect to be able to just turn it on.
“With so many families having to go virtual for school and for their jobs right now, this makes the need for reliable Internet even more vital. People don’t want to face the constraints of using their Internet only at certain times of the day because they can’t stay connected when demand is high. We want to set folks up to be successful in this day and age.”
Peak Fiber recently connected its first customers in the Allison Road area, and will continue to focus on that location for this year, where fiber optic is already in the ground.
Once the concept is proven to be viable, the service will be expanded during 2021 and 2022 to homes in other Bellefontaine neighborhoods. The next neighborhood to receive fiber will be prioritized based on sign-ups that are available online at https://peakfiber.crowdfiber.com/.
Also looking ahead to the future, Vollrath mentioned that in addition to the natural growth the city has seen in its south retail district and the recent investment and revitalization of businesses in the downtown area, he also forsees growth along the U.S. 33 corridor, including with the new travel plaza that will be built at the State Route 540 exit next year.
Additionally, there are opportunities for new businesses and even corporate offices at the U.S. 33 and U.S. 68 exchange, where Mary Rutan Hospital’s new Urgent Care center has paved the way.
“Oftentimes, businesses don’t want to be the first to open in a given area, but they want to follow the lead of others. I see these spots as prime locations, with high visibility along the highway.
“For the city’s future, I see a real convergence between the industrial growth, additional housing that is being installed, to the busy and active downtown retail district and the arts and culture showcased downtown, including at the newly restored Holland Theatre.”