The Bellefontaine Finance and Development Authority (BFDA) and the Logan County Port Authority (LCPA) were officially joined into one combined entity on Thursday, Nov. 12, under the new name, Bellefontaine-Logan County Finance and Development Authority (BLCFDA).
“This is a huge step in providing more unified and efficient economic development tools to businesses in Logan County” said Ben Vollrath, president of the Logan County Chamber and of the BLCFDA. “Our local elected officials have led the way in making this joinder possible and setting an example for what partnership and collaboration can accomplish in our community.”
The port authority provides competitive rate bond financing and can offer sales tax exemptions on construction materials for businesses that are growing their footprint in Logan County, Vollrath explained.
The combined port authority will maintain the existing portfolio of projects previously approved under the separate organizations. These include bond financing issued for the Midwest Express Inc. building expansion in 2018, the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center renovation and expansion issued in 2019, and the PeakFiber residential fiber project issued in January 2020.
The BLCFDA Board is comprised of seven members, three appointed by the city, three appointed by the county, and the seventh being the chair of the Logan County Community Improvement Corporation.
Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler appointed Tom Simon, Terry Stolly, and Doug Zimmerman as the city representatives.
The Logan County Commissioners appointed Melony Baker, Don Hays, and Connor Kinsey as the county representatives.
Rick Gildow is the chair of the CIC and will serve as the seventh board member.
The BLCFDA will meet on the last Wednesday of even months at 1:30 pm at the Logan County Chamber office located at 100 S. Main St. Bellefontaine, Ohio.
For more information on the Bellefontaine-Logan County Finance and Development Authority, contact Ben Vollrath at (937) 599-5121 or by email at bvollrath.