Tiffin, Seneca CARES programs distributed $1.2 million
TIFFIN, OHIO – Jan. 7, 2021 – On behalf of the City of Tiffin, Seneca County, and several townships and villages, the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) announced today that $1.2 million in CARES act funding was distributed to 186 businesses by the end of 2020. TSEP thanked the City of Tiffin; Seneca County; the villages of Bettsville and Green Springs; and Bloom, Clinton, Eden, Hopewell and Pleasant and townships for their contributions to the Tiffin CARES and Seneca CARES small business relief grant programs.
The programs made up to $10,000 in grant funding available to for- and non-profit businesses in Tiffin and rural Seneca County and had the goal of providing financial relief from loss of revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tiffin CARES program opened Sept. 30 and the Seneca County CARES program, open to all businesses in Seneca County including the cities of Fostoria and Tiffin, opened Oct. 28.
In total, the City of Tiffin contributed $574,000, and Seneca County contributed $390,000, with an additional $205,000 provided by Bloom, Clinton, Eden, Hopewell and Pleasant townships and the villages of Bettsville and Green Springs. Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership administered the programs on behalf of the City of Tiffin and Seneca County Board of Commissioners. The Fostoria Economic Development Corporation also had an additional program for Fostoria businesses funded by Seneca County.
TSEP reports that of the businesses that received funding, 81 businesses are in Tiffin and 105 are in rural Seneca County. Participating businesses reported an average of 45 percent decline in revenue when comparing a three-month or longer period from 2019 to 2020. Significantly, more than 700 people are employed at these small businesses.
Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz was pleased with the program, saying, “Although we know this doesn’t make up for all of the damage, we were glad to be able to do something to help our small businesses using the federal CARES money. I appreciate Tiffin City Council’s support for this important initiative.”
Seneca County Commissioner Mike Kerschner strongly supported the program. “I am glad we were able to help both non-profit and for-profit businesses throughout all of Seneca County during this difficult time. I appreciate the many townships and villages also contributing some of their federal funds to make a difference.”
About the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership
Started in 1983 as the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC), the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to driving positive economic, downtown, and community development in Tiffin and Seneca County, Ohio, which consistently ranks among the top communities nationally for economic development. Learn more about the great things going on in Tiffin and Seneca County at www.tiffinseneca.org.
