COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATIONS

CICs were authorized by legislation in 1967 under former Governor DiSalle.  In 1963, under Former Governor Rhodes, the Ohio Legislature created the Ohio Department of Development and the Ohio Development Finance Commission.

In 1965, House Bill 941 enacted language that addresses the provision of the Constitution that dealt with the designation of non-profits by local governments to serve as agents of the local government.  That amendment states that not-for-profit corporations designated by any of them (local government) . . . to acquire, construct, enlarge, improve, or equip AND to sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of property, structures, equipment and facilities.

A CIC is a non-profit corporation created and administered under ORC Sections 1702 and 1724, for the purposes of "advancing, encouraging, and promoting the industrial, economic, commercial, and civic development of a community or area".  The territory must be specific.

To form a CIC, requires the following:

1. Filing articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State.
2. Designating a Statutory Agent, a location, and a purpose.
3. Have the Attorney General review and approve the Articles of Incorporation.
4. Adopting a Code of Regulations.
5. Being governed by a Board of Directors and Officers.

The CIC may have any number of members provided that the CIC is designated by a county, township, or municipality AND at least 40% must be elected or appointed officials of the political subdivision.

The CIC has the power under ORC 1724.02 to:

1. Borrow money for any purpose of the CIC.
2. Provide loans to individuals or businesses.
3. Buy, lease, or sell real or personal property.
4. Acquire assets of an individual or business.
5. Charge fees to a political subdivision for services.
6. Enter into contracts with federal, state, and local governments.
7. Apply for and administer grants.

Funding for the CIC can come from any of the following (JC's main sources are in bold font):

1. County general funds.
2. County Economic Development property tax levy
3. Township general funds
4. Municipal general funds
5. Donations from Companies
6. Membership Dues
7. Grants
8. Proceeds for property sales
9. Contracts for services

A designated CIC becomes the agent of the political subdivision for the "industrial, commercial, and research development".

A CIC may sell land owned by a political subdivision for development without advertising and bidding.  The sale can be below fair market value, and the political subdivision may convey public property to a CIC without advertising or bidding.  There must be finding the transaction will promote welfare, stabilize the economy, provide employment, and assist in the development of industrial, commercial, distribution, or research facilities. (This is huge benefit for a municipality.)

The CIC must file an Annual Financial Report with the Auditor of State, be audited by the AOS and subject to Sunshine law and Public Records law with limited exceptions.

history of the jackson center cic

Jackson Center CIC filed their Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State in December 1989.  They held their first meeting in February of 1990.  They were designated as an agent for the Village that year.  Jackson Center was a leader in the county at forming and using the CIC as a tool for economic development.  Other communities have met with us to see how they too can utilize a CIC to their advantage and to assist them in developing new opportunities.

Here in Jackson Center, the required 40% of village officials is made up of the Village Administrator (or his designee) and a council member elected by the Council.  The other members are to be members of the Greater Jackson Center Area Community and nominated by the Greater Jackson Center Area Growth Association.

The current officers of the Jackson Center CIC are:

The Economic Development Director for the Village of Jackson Center attends all meetings to advise and consult without a vote on proceedings.

key accomplishments of the cic in jackson center

1. Worked with the Village for the demolition of the previous buildings across from the Village Office, construction of the new office building, the leasing of the offices, and the eventual sale of the building to Star Bank. (Later became Peoples Federal Savings and Loan and now is Farmers and Merchants Bank.)
2. Development of the West Industrial Park that allowed land to be purchased, developed, annexed, and sold so that Lacal Equipment & EMI Corp. were able to expand and remain in the Village.
3. Airstream Inc. Main Plant & Heritage Center – Village purchased the additional land, annexed, changed the Zoning, and gave to the CIC to sell to Airstream.  This allowed the Village to retain 1,200 jobs and approximately an additional $1,000,000 per year in income tax revenue.  Working with JC Economic Development Director, the Village and the CIC were able to obtain an additional 10 acres to expand the project from 40 to 50 acres.
4. Swapped 10 acres of unused land for the old Marathon building on West Pike Street.  We were able to clean up building per the EPA requirements, locate a business willing to move into the building, and sell it at a marginal cost. Village worked with new owner Sip & Stream Coffee to assist in making a drive-thru and the owners have extensively remodeled the building, both inside and out, into a beautiful casual space to meet, relax, and enjoy delicious beverage and food.
5. In 2020, the CIC used excess COVID funds to award grants to businesses affected by the pandemic. Funds allowed Split Decision Cafe' and Elder Theatre to receive funds that allowed them to remain open and pay expenses.
6. Obtained land for the Village for “Stormy Meadows Detention Basin” at the southwest corner of Hudson Lake subdivision.  The basin allows us to hold back 7.25 million gallons of storm water, mainly coming into the Village from surrounding farms that would normally flood through town to the Jackson Center Creek.
7. In 2025, the CIC worked with the JC Mayor to establish the Mayor’s/C.I.C. Economic Development Award and reward 7 businesses that had invested in their business in the recent past.  The award was a plaque for display and a monetary award from the CIC funds as a token of appreciation for their investment.  The seven businesses in 2025 were Curly’s Custom Meats, Sip & Stream Coffee, Airstream Club International (Formerly WBCCI), Speckman Automotive (NAPA Building), The Peoples Savings and Loan Company (Old US Bank building), Allenbaugh Insurance Agency, and JC Subway.  The award is planned to be an annual award to recognize those businesses investing in our community.
8. The most recent project is the conversion of the old Seventh Day Baptist Church, and the former Historical Society building, into a daycare facility.  Daycare is becoming a much-needed offering for our residents and businesses as there are fewer home-based sitters each year.  The building was purchased from the Historical Society giving them much needed funds to renovate the old Masonic Lodge (formerly Grace Lutheran Church) for their new home.  The former Historical Society building was sold to an investor, who rebuilt the floor, added siding, removed the bell tower that was falling down, and added new HVAC.  In 2025, The Village and the CIC bought the building back for the purpose of providing daycare.  The Village and the CIC applied to the county to receive some remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds from the pandemic for the purchase and renovation of the building into a daycare facility.  $100,000 was awarded for the project and the building is being remodeled with two new, handicap restrooms, new cabinets, a ramp entrance, a secure front entrance, and a kitchen area for providing lunches. There will be fencing and outdoor playground equipment added with ample room for expansion into the secondary building.  After a lengthy process, the Village’s location has been approved by the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA to operate a daycare in the building.  The YMCA wanted assurances of support and the CIC obtained pledges from Airstream and Plastipak for additional operating funds during the first three years of operation.  Airstream personnel are assisting in making the room dividers to also save on expenses. All of the Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed by all parties as of Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.  The YMCA and the Village will now be able to apply for state grants to assist in the project renovation and operation.  The hope is they can begin to advertise and accept applications by late summer for a fall opening.