By 1812Blockouse
Before you read this post, take a few moments and think of how you would answer this question:
How would you describe Richland County in one to three words?
Put another way, what few words capture the essence of this place, from culture to economy to opportunity?
Now consider whether any of the following 15 words or sets of words apply: More…
Economy, Featured, Richland County Life, Studies and Reports
By 1812Blockhouse
Social media was buzzing on Friday about an apparent Thursday announcement by Lifetouch concerning a planned February 4 closure of its Church Directories Division.
This closure, in turn, would lead to a reduction in employment at its Ontario and/or Galion locations, according to the announcement.
Founded just outside Galion in the 1960s, the Division was originally named United Church Directories, and was started by Nelson Jones and Del Bellew. In its heyday, the company created some 10,000 pictorial directories a year for churches across the country. More…
All About Richland, All Things Business
By 1812Blockhouse
Late last week, October’s county unemployment figures for Ohio were released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services which showed that Ohio in general, and Richland County in particular, are holding steady with relatively low – and matching — rates.
Both the state and the county clocked in with a 5.2% rate in terms of non-seasonally adjusted numbers.
In Richland County, some 2,800 individuals were considered unemployed in October, based on a total available work force of 53,300 and 50,500 employed. More…
By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal
The fragile gains the poorest Ohioans made over the decade since the Great Recession have been wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic, a leading food bank official said Thursday. She added that if Congress doesn’t act soon to help that population, the situation will become much worse.
Thursday was national Hunger Action Day and Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks, said the facilities continue to see record demand.
“We’re just hearing from more people that what they thought was going to be a temporary layoff is now a permanent layoff,” she said, adding that for many Ohioans, that’s driving insecurities about food, housing and the ability to meet other basic needs. More…
By Marty Schladen, Ohio Capital Journal
It can be hard for those of us who are comfortable to see.
But a top Ohio food bank official issued a stark warning Wednesday: Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans already face food insecurity and if Congress doesn’t act soon, the pain might become impossible for the rest of Ohioans to ignore.
“I don’t think that by and large people realize that there is a very thin line between community and chaos,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks. “When you can’t feed yourself and you can’t feed your family and there’s no help or hope available, people are going to do what they have to.” More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Over the last twelve months, a number of divergent factors have combined to change the face of shopping in the city of Ontario, north central Ohio’s largest retail center.
In some cases, local stores and restaurants have fallen victim to chain-wide bankruptcies and closures; in others, there are signs of renewal, with some new faces joining the retail mix.
The so-called “retail apocalypse,” the closing of retailers facing dwindling sales in the face of the growth of ecommerce, has now been joined by the fact that many retailers were considered “nonessential” and therefore shuttered for weeks at the beginning of Ohio’s COVID-19 response. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Another national chain is closing multiple locations in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings. One of those locations shutting its doors is at 663 Richland Mall.
Ascena, the New Jersey-based parent company of chains including Lane Bryant, Ann Taylor, and more, has announced closure of 1,600 of its 2,800 current stores. More…
(The Center Square)
Ohio concluded the 2020 fiscal year with General Revenue Fund tax revenues of $1.1 billion, or 4.6 percent, below estimates, a clear indication of the impact the COVID-19 restrictions have had on the state.
Tax revenues in June were $50.5 million, or 2.2 percent, below estimate. However, state officials noted that revenues were better than a month earlier when they were 13 percent below expectations.
To balance its budget, state officials implemented several cost-cutting measures, including reducing state agency budgets. State officials also shifted Medicaid expenses using the enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which Congress authorized with the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. More…
By: Maggie Prosser, Ohio Capital Journal
A survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that more than 500,000 Ohioans were unable to pay rent last month because of financial insecurity amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The bureau’s Household Pulse Survey studies COVID-19’s impact on social and economic factors like employment, finances, food insecurity, housing, health and schooling. The latest poll indicated 12 million Americas did not pay last month’s rent and nearly 7.5 million have no confidence they will be able to pay next month; in Ohio, more than 360,000 renters say they will be unable to pay next month. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
]The sound of games and the smell of pizza will be a thing of the past at Richland Mall, as the local Chuck E Cheese operation is closing its doors.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a filing this past week. In doing so, it identified some 45 stores nationwide that it does not intend to reopen. These represent almost ten percent of the chain’s 550 stores. More…
From U-Haul Moving & Storage of Mansfield
U-Haul® will soon be presenting an impressive self-storage facility in Mansfield thanks to the recent acquisition of the former Big Lots® and Value City Furniture® at 1140 Park Avenue West.
U-Haul Moving & Storage of Mansfield is currently offering truck and trailer sharing, towing equipment and moving supplies from a temporary showroom at this location. U-Haul acquired the 9.35-acre property on February 26. More…
By: 1812Blockhouse
Retailer GNC has announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and will close a significant number of stores.
This is taking place as the company pursues the sale of its business.
According to a press release, GNC shared that “With the support of its lenders and key stakeholders, the Company expects to confirm a standalone plan of reorganization or consummate a sale that will enable the business to exit from this process in the fall of this year.” More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
In early May, we shared the news that the JCPenney Company was possibly closing up to one-quarter of its stores across the country in face of ongoing challenges and the impact of COVID-19.
This past week, the first stage in that process began with the announced closure of 154 JCPenney locations. The location at Richland Mall was not among them.
A release shared by the company on Thursday stated that the choice of which stores to close came “Following a comprehensive evaluation of its retail footprint and a careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the company.” More…
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff; Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development
Across Ohio, business of almost all types are beginning to reopen with patron and guest safety in mind. With this relaunch, the traditional call to “shop local” takes on added significance.
Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development is making sure that Richland Countians are aware of businesses reopening. To that end, the month of June has been named Richland County STRONG month. More…
Economy, Featured, Public Health, Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development
By: 1812Blockhouse Staff
The numbers were expected, however seeing them in black and white is unsettling.
On Wednesday, unemployment rates for Ohio’s counties and metropolitan areas were released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
On May 24, we shared information about Ohio’s overall unemployment rate, which stood at 16.8%. Some 823,700 fewer Ohioans had non-agricultural positions in April than in the previous month. More…
