Phoenix Project Makes Great Strides

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    FALL2008

    Phoenix Project Makes Great Strides

    The Phoenix Project, established in 2004, is a public-private partnership that is investing millions of

    dollars in redevelopment activities in the greater Fairview neighborhood, located in the city of Dayton.

    This urban neighborhood is home to Good Samaritan Hospital, one of the areas largest employers,

    and an institution that has served families in the greater Dayton area for over 75 years. Over the lastdecade, the neighborhood surrounding the hospital had begun to decline and the impact of predatory

    practices and high foreclosure rates destabilized the housing market. The hospital was very

    concerned about the impact these declines had on its ability to recruit and retain staff, obtain

    patients, and protect the safety of visitors to their facility. This concern was shared by leadership of

    the City of Dayton who believe strong neighborhoods are vital to the citys overall health and

    growth opportunities.

    The Phoenix Project is a partnership between Good Samaritan Hospital, the City

    of Dayton, residents of the Phoenix area and CityWide Development

    Corporation, all whom have a stake in the revitalization of the Fairview

    neighborhood. As project manager, CityWide Development is

    responsible for the implementation of the projects

    Strategic Plan, which includes acquiring property,

    building new housing and creating a new civic

    space, known as Fairview Commons.

    continued inside...

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    Fresh Face for aDayton Treasure

    Phoenix ProjectMakes Great

    Strides continued

    Jays Seafood restaurant has been an icon in Dayton since the 1960s. Jays is located at 225 East Sixth Street in the

    historic Oregon District, allowing for easy access from nearly anywhere in Dayton. Visitors to Jays

    enjoy the antique ambiance, superior service, and above all, the best seafood in the region. In

    fact, in order to ensure that the food is always of the highest quality, Jays has fresh fish and

    shellfish flown in four times a week from Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon;

    Florida; and Lake Erie.

    The restaurant was originally an 1862 grist mill, and since has undergone many

    transformations. Just recently, after years of withstanding weathering, Jays was

    ready for a fresh coat of paint. To help brighten the restaurant and maintain its

    place as a premier Dayton dining location, Jays worked with CityWide

    Development to secure the necessary financing to complete the painting project.

    Some people may not know it, but Jays Seafood was one of CityWides first ever

    loans back in the 1970s, said Brian Heitkamp, CityWide Economic Development Director.

    Having Jays as part of the Dayton business community is a tradition here, and CityWide is

    happy to help keep this local treasure looking its best.

    Jays Seafood is open Monday Thursday, 5 10pm; Friday and Saturday, 5 11pm; and Sunday

    5 9pm. During December, Jays also holds special holiday hours at lunchtime, from 11:30am 2pm

    daily. For more information on Jays Seafood restaurant, visit www.jays.com.

    Neighborhood Development Director George Snyder explains,

    Much of the work that has gone on so far focuses on the civic

    and social aspects of community development, things you cant

    necessarily see. Great strides have been made in reducing crime

    through community policing, strengthening neighborhood groups

    through community organizing and providing new opportunities

    for youth. Fairview has become a stable neighborhood filled with

    supportive residents.

    PROGRESS ON THE INTERIOR

    On the inside, many projects are beginning to take shape, including

    the construction that is soon to begin on Fairview Commons and the

    new Fairview PK-8 Dayton Public School. The school will be situated

    at the center of t he neighborhood and will be part of the Commons,

    which will serve as multi-use, park-like area for residents and will

    be connected by walkways to Good Samaritan, the City of Dayton

    Park and Pool and new housing.

    Along with the Commons, CityWide has been aggressively working to purchase

    dilapidated properties. These properties are being cleared to make way for the

    new school and the construction of new housing. There are also financial

    incentives to encourage existing residents to fix up their homes and for those

    looking to purchase a home in the area. Good Samaritan has also created a

    special benefit for their employees known as Home Choice to encourage

    their investment in the community.

    Recently, the Phoenix Project was awarded tax credits from the

    Ohio Housing Finance Agency. These funds will allow theproject to implement the first phase of its housing

    initiatives: the construction of 33 lease-purchase

    single family homes.These homes are designed to

    help working families achieve homeownership

    while building their personal assets.

    SALEM GATEWAY

    WELCOMES VISITORS

    One of the first visible signs of change created by

    the Phoenix Project is nearing completion at the

    intersection of Salem Avenue and Catalpa Drive, the

    south entrance of the Fairview neighborhood. The

    gateway was designed by Envisionworks and a team of

    residents representing the surrounding neighborhoods of Dayton View Triangle,

    Fairview and Sunnyview-Catalpa Park.

    The Gateway was officially dedicated on October 14th and should be completely

    finished by the end of the year. The three corners were longstanding community

    eyesores, but have now been transformed into a place of beauty.With wrought iron

    fencing, attractive brick columns,period lighting, and native trees and flowers, this

    new green space is a symbol of community revitalization.

    The Salem and Catalpa Gateway shows the community that they are truly entering

    an area that is improving, says Snyder. The goal is to change the

    perception of these neighborhoods and make the entire

    community more welcoming and attractive to visitors to theneighborhood and Good Samaritan Hospital.

    The Phoenix Project is a long-term effort to improve

    this northwest Dayton neighborhood. With a

    brand new school, the Fairview Commons and

    new housing opportunities, the neighborhood

    is well on its way to becoming a thriving part

    of the greater Dayton community.

    For more information on this project, or to

    inquire about loan options and incentives in

    the Phoenix area, contact George Snyder,

    Director of Neighborhood Development for

    CityWide Development at (937) 853-2535 or visit

    www.phoenixprojectdayton.org.

    The red areas indicate the areas of concentration of the Phoenix Project. The asterik marks the Gateway.

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    Blooming in Daytons Business CommunityMark Brueninghaus knows that flowers can say a lot when words just arent enough. Thats why he opened The

    Flower Shoppe in the Genesis neighborhood. Brueninghaus has over 20 years of experience in the floral industry

    and in 2003 he decided to follow his dream of opening his own floral boutique.

    As a growing Dayton business thriving on word-of-mouth referrals, The Flower Shoppe is known for its trendy,

    elegant, and creative floral designs. Services include fresh cut arrangements and blooming plants for a variety of

    occasions, with an emphasis in weddings and special events, as well as funerals, birthdays, home dcor, and more.

    Active in the Dayton community development scene, Brueninghaus is a member of the Rubicon Park Business

    Association, a group of business leaders focused on issues such as traffic, crime, and attracting new businesses

    within the Genesis neighborhood. This neighborhood revitalization project consists of partnerships between the

    University of Dayton (UD), Miami Valley Hospital, the City of Dayton, and CityWide Development Corporation, and it

    aims to spur redevelopment in the areas around UD and the hospital.

    Knowing CityWides commitment to the Genesis project and the availability of the Neighborhood Business

    Assistance Program (NBAP), Brueninghaus was able to secure a low-interest loan that allows him to fully acquire

    the Brown Street retail shop. Brueninghaus believes that his flowers bring style to all of his clients special

    occasions. And, his newly renovated retail space, made possible by the NBAP program, is evidence of his unique

    and stylish twist.

    As business continues to grow, Brueninghaus intends to upgrade at least two part-time positions to full-time,as well

    as add another part-time employee to handle increasing demand.The Flower Shoppe is located 1132 Brown Street.

    For more information on The Flower Shoppe, visit www.theflowershoppe.com or call (937) 224-7673.

    Business Incubator Propels Dayton into the FutureIn 2007, the Dayton City Commission approved a $1.4 million, four-year

    agreement with CityWide Development to create the for-profit Dayton Radio

    Frequency Identification (RFID) Convergence Center (DRCC). This business

    incubator will provide start-up assistance to RFID, sensor, and data management

    and mining technology businesses.

    The DRCC is part of a regional effort to secure Daytons place as an international

    leader in the emerging RFID industry, creating at least 100 jobs at an average

    salary of $80,000 just on its own. As one of Tech Towns Creative Technology

    Accelerator tenants, DRCC will be seeking up to 20

    companies to locate within the program at Tech

    Town and take advantage of the $6 million state-of-the-art facility.

    As a business incubator, the DRCC will host and

    support new RFID companies that may not yet have

    the financial or infrastructure capabilities to stand alone right away. The DRCC

    will offer resources such as lab space and access to engineers and other

    professionals, allowing companies to focus on their business and technologies

    as they grow. Once companies are ready to move on from the DRCC, they will

    have the opportunity to locate permanently in Dayton, potentially bringing

    hundreds more technology jobs to the regions economy.

    The RFID industry is an emerging technology field that has the ability to track

    nearly anything, including inventories, animals, and pharmaceuticals. RFID is

    poised to replace barcode technology in

    widespread commercial applications. The Dayton

    region, with the location and commercial andtechnical capital considered necessary to establish

    an industry hub, looks forward to being on the

    leading edge of future RFID advancements.

    Construction ofTech Towns

    Creative TechnologyAccelerator (CTA)is Underway!

    The construction of Daytons Tech Town has been much anticipated, and now visible

    progress can be seen.The developments first building, the CTA, recently celebrated an

    important milestone: all steel framing was completed, paving the way for floors, walls,

    ceilings, and stairwells to be put into place. According to Messer Construction, project

    manager at Tech Town, the exterior of the building should be framed and closed before

    winter, keeping the project on schedule for a mid-2009 opening. The project continues

    its movement into the future with support from partners including CityWide and the City

    of Dayton.

    The 45,000-square-foot CTA building is already 100%

    leased. Future occupants include the Institute for

    Development and Commercialization of Advanced

    Sensors Technology (IDCAST), Weston Solutions, Inc.,

    and the Dayton RFID Convergence Center (DRCC). Led

    by the University of Dayton, IDCAST will be the anchor

    tenant in the CTA. Pennsylvania-based Weston

    specializes in sustainable solutions for environmental

    restoration, property redevelopment, green building,

    and clean energy. Rounding out the CTA occupants is

    DRCC, an economic development organization that

    aims to attract and develop RFID-based businesses.

    The next steps in the Tech Town development involve

    the demolition and removal of the remaining structures

    on the property. Designers from The Architectural

    Group will also continue to develop models for the next phases of building. In addition,

    some landscaping will be installed as construction moves ahead. Finally, reservations

    are currently being taken for the CTAs companion building, with construction set to

    begin during summer 2009.

    Recently, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland visited the Tech Town site at the request of

    Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin. Governor Strickland was on hand to review the status of the

    project and to discuss the Citys request for $3.5 million towards the construction of the

    next building. The Governor enjoyed meeting the

    CityWide and City of Dayton team members and

    expressed his support in the continuance of Tech

    Towns expansion.

    Tech Town offers a unique technology support system

    that emanates from business, academic, and military

    uses. Businesses and local universities contribute

    even more to the research and development going on

    at the base. As a result of serving as collaboration

    facilitator, Tech Town further strengthens Dayton's

    role as a technology leader.

    For more information on Tech Town, please

    contact Norm Essman, Redevelopment Director, at

    (937) 853-2529 or [email protected].

    CityWide President Steve Budd welcomes OhioGovernor Ted Strickland to the Tech Town site.

    The CTA is the first of 10 buildings atTech Town and is expected to open mid-2009.

    Construction begins at the Tech Town site.

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    8NorthMainStreetDayton,Ohio45402www.citywidedev.com

    www.citywidedev.com

    The CityWideEconomicDevelopmentTeamSteven J. Budd,President

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2547

    Brian Heitkamp,Economic Development Director

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2533

    Caitlin Bortolotto,Business Development Officer

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2563

    John Krebs,Business Development Officer

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2561

    Steve Nutt,Strategic Development Director

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2539

    Janet A.White,Housing and Economic

    Development Services Director

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2541

    Carolyn Henn,Marketing Coordinator

    [email protected]

    (937) 853-2543

    www.citywidedev.com

    In the current economy, businesses are reporting that it is

    becoming more and more challenging to secure financing for

    projects and for growth. The economic development team at

    CityWide understands these challenges and is eager to provide

    alternative financing opportunities.

    Now, more than ever before, thinking outside the box can help

    get deals done. Partnering with CityWide allows for flexible

    financing structures that typically require less equity injection

    from the business and lower credit exposure for the senior

    lending institution.Lenders are finding that by working in tandem

    with CityWide, they can deepen their long-term relationships

    with current customers by using economic development dollars

    as a source of funds, creating a win-win for the lender and the

    borrower. To discuss gap financing structures to further a

    potential project, contact Brian Heitkamp, Caitlin

    Bortolotto, or John Krebs or visit our website at

    www.citywidedev.com/financing.cfm

    C I T Y W I D E D I R E C T

    L O A N P R O G R A M

    City of Dayton businesses can take advantage of the

    Direct Loan program for a variety of projects, including real

    estate acquisition, new construction, or renovation; business

    acquisition and mergers; machinery and equipment acquisition;

    and working capital.Benefits of the program include a low down

    payment, reduced interest cost, no prepayment premium, and

    quick turnaround time on the approval process.

    S B A 5 0 4 L O A N P R O G R A M

    Companies in the Dayton region can take advantage of great

    savings by leveraging the benefits of the SBA 504 program,

    a unique lending partnership between conventional lenders

    (e.g. banks and credit unions) and Certified Development

    Companies, like CityWide. Typically financing 40% of a project,

    the SBA 504 generally requires only 10% down payment of

    equity from a company or a business owner. Interest rates are

    fixed for either 10 or 20 years.

    N E I G H B O R H O O D B U S I N E S S

    A S S I S T A N C E P R O G R A M ( N B A P )

    The NBAP program is offered to City of Dayton businesses with

    annual revenues below $1,500,000. NBAP loans are able to fill

    gaps up to $50,000 with low fixed interest rates of 5% and as

    low as 3% in targeted corridors.This program can be utilized to

    finance real estate acquisition, new construction, and

    renovation; business acquisition and mergers; machinery and

    equipment acquisition; and working capital.

    E N T E R P R I S E O H I O

    I N V E S T M E N T C O M P A N Y ( E O I C )

    EOIC provides capital in wide array of creative

    lending alternatives to area businesses. It is our

    most flexible program, offering the potential to fill

    gaps in various scenarios that secure financing for

    projects and for growth. Loan structures could include

    mezzanine debt, subordinated debt, and the availability of

    equity capital.

    W E L L F I E L D P R O T E C T I O N

    F U N D L O A N P R O G R A M

    Companies located on the Well Field Protection Area are able to

    obtain loans that are forgivable or with 0% interest. Projects or

    businesses that reduce or abate risk to the groundwater supply

    via chemical inventory reduction or environmental remediation

    and protection would qualify.

    Tough Times? CityWide Can Help!