Business Loans For Downtown
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4760
Printed Date: Jan 25 2026 at 7:34pm
Topic: Business Loans For Downtown
Posted By: VietVet
Subject: Business Loans For Downtown
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 6:33am
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Today's Journal....
New business loan program supports downtown development MIDDLETOWN — Businesses interested in moving to downtown, or expanding, can get some assistance from First Financial Bank and Downtown Middletown Inc. The two organizations have partnered to offer a Micro Business Lending Program that will inject as much as $100,000 to help revitalize the city’s downtown district. The program is geared toward small businesses with revenues of up to $500,000 a year or with 10 or fewer employees. The maximum loan per borrower for the one-time loan is $10,000. “We want people to know we’re open for business,” said Patrick Kay, director of Downtown Middletown Inc., “and we want to see a bunch of activity down here.” First Financial Bank officials say the program is designed to spur local economic development, and specifically small businesses. “At First Financial, we’re committed to investing in the communities we serve,” said Jason Newport, First Financial Bank’s retail market manager. “This program will allow us to support local small business owners and help them position their company for greater success.” The loan is designed to help businesses expand or relocate to downtown, or assist a start-up business to open. The micro loan program is the second phase in Downtown Middletown Inc.’s initiative to create a vibrant downtown. Earlier this month, it was announced that downtown will see more than $650,000 worth of facade investments through a facade grant program managed by Downtown Middletown Inc. Eight businesses will receive a share of $50,000 from U.S. Housing and Urban Development funds. The third phase will establish the city’s downtown as a historic district, which will have additional tax benefits for business owners, Kay said. Downtown Middletown Inc.’s role in the micro loan program will vet potential applicants. If the projects would be a good fit for downtown, Kay said he’ll provide them with a loan application for the bank to process. Start-up business applicants should have a business plan and explanation of how the funds would be used. The loan program is just another tool for the city, said Denise Hamet, Middletown Economic Development director. “The funds provided by First Financial will help cover the gap that our small business sometimes have when trying to grow their business and also improve their facility,” she said. “As our small businesses grow, they create jobs, and there is additional economic development through increased demand for other support services.” SOME OBSERVATIONS: Doesn't Sir Lawrence Mulligan the Third work for First Financial? If so, couldn't we have reason to ask the question pertaining to the selection of the lending institution for this program and the suspicion that they may have been the only bank approached for this? Were any other banks asked to participate? Why is this program just now coming into play? They've been talking "business friendly" for years but Kohler has done everything he could to keep selected businesses out.....IE, ones that he didn't approve of. What about the money the city loaned Beau Verre? Was it paid back to the taxpayers? How about the city taxpayer money given to Verdin for the PAC? Not a loan but just a gift, right? Why do some people have to apply for a loan to run a business in this town and others are given monetary gifts? And what is this business of declaring the entire downtown as a historical district? Is this an attempt to bolster the S. Main St. area of town? When reading the story, it appears this business loan program only applies to the downtown area. What about the offer to new businesses in the other areas of town? If this town were truely business friendly, it would provide help to businesses in ALL areas of town. Why, after all these years, is there a full blown effort on an area of town that is out of the way, has police activity including prostitution, has nothing of interest to offer anyone in this town with the exception of the small segment of people drawn there for the arts and hasn't been a draw for shoppers for decades? To this day, with all the money spent and wasted downtown, the area is still 75% deserted and is not a hotbed of activity in attracting store occupancy. Where is the effort out east and why has all the activity been curtailed by I-75? Again, wrong focus, wrong logic. I-75 is where the business visability is, not 7 miles west of the town entrance. Mercy sakes! |
Replies:
Posted By: ktf1179
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 8:10am
 
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Posted By: 409
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 11:06am
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Vet.....With phrases like 'vet downtown applicants' and 'good fit for downtown', it sounds like Mr. Kay is getting well versed in KOHLERism's. Also sounds like the "Pawn King" of Nogales (Mr. P) won't be opening a satellite store downtown!!
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 11:21am
Exclusionary tactics are alive and well in downtown Middletown Ohio. I like how the city hires this Kay guy, pays him an over-inflated salary just to say flowery crap about the downtown. Probably could have gotten a monkey to hold some downtown "cheerleader" signs at Broad and Central and saved some taxpayer money in doing it. 10/4? Mike P.....I hope this doesn't throw a wrench in your plans on working with the downtown city partners on opening your pawn shop with the Nogales Mexico motif.  Let's pray Kohler and Kay approve your business plan.
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409 wrote:Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 1:31pm
| What I think is ironic is First Financial is commited to investing in the communities they serve. What is the closest office they have to the downtown area? Seems they pulled out of this area a long time ago. My question to anyone at First Financial - Why not support it by putting an office down there yourself? |
Posted By: Neil Barille
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 2:20pm
| Uh, hello, Bobbie. There is a First Financial branch in the building where the Community Foundation and United Way are. Across from the city building. Duh. |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Sep 13 2012 at 7:41pm
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Vet
Boogyman Boogyman Boogyman Everywhere a Boogyman |
Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Sep 14 2012 at 3:36am
Sorry, I am out of the pawn shop business here in Middletown. (Too much competition  )However, I do plan to go to the Economic Development Department for help (and a big wad of free taxpayers' dough) for my latest money-making scheme, which I plan to headquarter right here in beautiful downtown Middletown: A business to smuggle SUPER SIZE soft drinks into New York City!!! ------------- “Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012 |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Sep 14 2012 at 6:23am
29....rather childish, don't you think? Just asking questions that some may be thinking. With some of the back door, friends of the city back patting, citizen-excluded things they have done behind the backs of the people, you'll have to forgive my lack of trust in them. Ok, 29, let's approach this from another angle. I have a question for you since you seem to be the spokesperson for the defense of the city leaders and their activities toward the operation of this town.......you might even be one of the leaders which would explain your blind intellect. What do you find so positive about what is occuring in this town,(pick a subject-doesn't matter) that makes you want to support the city leaders and all of the decisions that we read about each day? I am puzzled by your eagerness to defend them on this forum. You and the rest of us on this forum are looking at the same things happening, yet, we are polar opposites as to the outcome. Why is there such a drastic difference between our viewpoints? Are you a city employee who will defend the leaders to preserve your job? Perhaps a personal friend of one of the leaders? One of the leaders? Just a sh-- stirrer? Why do you believe everything they say and do, especially with the track record (that even you can't defend) as evidence? I am interested in why you are so adamant about being positive in the midst of what seems to be one disaster after another. This is a discussion for understanding, not a name-calling session as we have had before. Talk to us and tell us why you see positives in the operation of this city. |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Sep 14 2012 at 6:31am
Mike...I'd like to be the first employee hired and would like to be a consultant or an "expert" making a six figure salary so that I can tell you what you already know when you ask me. Following the typical company, school district or government organization, could I be the Executive Vice Pres. or DIErector of something in your company? Maybe a DIErector of phone operations with a department of 2 people to manage, bringing home a kings ransom for pay?
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Posted By: wannaknow
Date Posted: Oct 02 2012 at 9:21pm
| Why has all the activity stopped on the east end? |
Posted By: swohio75
Date Posted: Oct 02 2012 at 9:34pm
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Neyer?
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Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: Oct 21 2012 at 9:34am
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Journal story....
New eateries play big role in downtown revitalization By Michael D. Pitman Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — As downtown Middletown transforms into an arts and education hub, more businesses are committing to the marquee intersection of Central Avenue and Broad Street. When it opens Dec. 1, Sugar Hi Cafe will join two other eateries who are becoming a big part of the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. The Mockingbird Cafe in the Pendleton Art Center will have its grand opening later this month, and Stained 1054 Bistro at BeauVerre is set to open in November. HERE'S OUR OLD BUDDY KAY AGAIN.... “Is it going to be competition? Absolutely not,” said Patrick Kay, Downtown Middletown Inc. executive director. “The more restaurants, the better.” By spring, downtown Middletown “will be a completely different happening place downtown,” he said. A "COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HAPPENING PLACE DOWNTOWN"
HE REPEATS... “I think by the spring of next year, you’re going to see a whole new downtown,” Kay said. WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A "WHOLE NEW DOWNTOWN" NOW FOR DECADES. HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT KAY, BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS....NOT WITH THE ARTS AND COFFEE SHOP THEME. JUST DON'T THINK IT WILL FIT HERE. WE'LL SEE. “One of the city’s biggest concerns is making sure new small business owners understand the pitfalls and what hurdles they’re going to have to overcome,” said Matt Eisenbraun, Middletown Economic Development program manager. “Getting free assistance helps immensely.” NOW, WHO IN THE HECK IS THIS MATT EISENBRAUN? WHERE DID HE COME FROM? DIDN'T KNOW THE CITY HIRED THIS GUY. WASN'T ANNOUNCED WAS IT? WHAT HAPPENED TO HAMET? THOUGHT SHE WAS THE ECON. DEV. MANAGER. 
The more similar businesses there are in an area, and the more times they can work together via cross promotion or collaboration the better it will be fore the downtown, Eisenbraun said. “It becomes more of a team mentality,” he said. “We can certainly use additional places for tourists to come in.” WOW, DYNAMIC AND INFORMATIVE! TOURISTS, EHH? Sugar Hi Cafe will open at 1100 Central Ave., the building that used to be a creole restaurant and pharmacy in previous lives. It will serve coffee, breakfast, lunch, smoothies and desserts. I AM CURIOUS AS TO HOW MANY "FRU FRU" PLACES (AKA ARTZY BISTROS) CAN CONGREGATE IN ONE AREA AND STILL BE SUCCESSFUL, GIVEN THE CLIMATE OF THIS TOWN AND KNOWING THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE LIVING HERE WON'T BE INTERESTED IN THIS TYPE OF MENU, I'M WONDERING HOW LONG THIS WILL LAST AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL WALK THROUGH THEIR DOORS ON A GIVEN DAY. THESE TYPES OF PLACES CAN'T ATTRACT ENOUGH CUSTOMERS TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN FOR LONG, CAN THEY? I WISH THEM WELL BUT IS THERE REALLY AN AUDIENCE FOR WHAT THEY ARE OFFERING? THE DOWNTOWN COULDN'T EVEN KEEP A MORE "MAIN LINE" EATING PLACE LIKE QUISNOS FOR LONG. HECK, QUISNOS MAY BE TOO UPSCALE FOR THIS TOWN'S WAGES, MUCH LESS SPECIALTY COFFEE SHOP ITEMS WHICH ARE USUALLY HIGHER. WHY ARE WE TRYING TO BE SO "DONNY TRUMP-NEW YORKISH" HERE? |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Oct 21 2012 at 7:49pm
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Vet, why are You so damn negative? You've got to be sh..ting me... Our own Middletown residents won't even go downtown for such. Since I've been here every food shop have gone out of business downtown. As far as Beauverra being downtown for to Ten Years. I;ve been her for 8 yrs now and they were at the corner of Elliott and Marie when I moved here. I ran a small business for 22 yrs before I became disabled, and the last thing I wanted to do was to point any of my customers to any of competitors. Now I understand restaurants congragating in one place such as I75 and 122. Which has 7 or 8 hotels surranding them. But Downtown doesn't have any of that and they will most likely close by 5pm every day. Once the Winter Snows hit during a bad winter that could very well wipe many of those new business down there. But I am sure the city will see to it the road of downtown are well plowed while the rest of us must suffer through the winter. I give these eateries 12- 18 months, then we will see how it goes. Pacman |
Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Oct 22 2012 at 2:11pm
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we need more coffee shops to bring the local economy back,dont get all you negative nelmers
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Posted By: LMAO
Date Posted: Oct 22 2012 at 4:10pm
| Doesnt Mayor Mullethead work for First Financial? |
Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Oct 22 2012 at 7:08pm
| Yes He Does |
Posted By: Middletown29
Date Posted: Oct 23 2012 at 5:51am
| Heard Mayor was part of setting up loan program. |
Posted By: LMAO
Date Posted: Oct 23 2012 at 11:04am
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Learn something new each day.Im in the process of selling my properties to get the hell out of this conrupt city.We have so called "LEADERS" that lie out right to the people and when caught they just cover up with another lie.Until the people OPEN there eyes it will continue and this city will be back in FORBES but this time it will say "CITY files for bankruptcy. |
Posted By: Vivian Moon
Date Posted: Oct 23 2012 at 11:18am
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The thing that everyone seems to be overlooking is the fact that many years ago these downtown buildings were filled with doctors, dentist and attorneys just to name a few. These were the people that filled the many eateries downtown during the lunch hour five days a week. Where are the professional people that will fill these establishments everyday now? |
Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: Oct 23 2012 at 12:41pm
Any where but downtown Middletown Iam afraid.
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