More grant requests on way for R&D park

LIMA - The city and nonprofit Ohio Energy and Advanced Manufacturing Center are gearing up for new state and federal grant submissions to help a planned research and development park, Mayor David Berger said Monday.

City Council approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and the center, a nonprofit group created this year to help steer the creation of the park, planned for the Job Ready Site-funded 14-acre piece of land at Main and Fourth streets.

The memorandum spells out the responsibilities of the center in planning for and attracting commercial, industrial and research-related uses of the multiple pipelines planned for the site coming from Global Energy's planned Lima Energy power plant.

Berger said he couldn't yet speak in detail about most of what's being planned for the center, but said the city and OEAMC will soon make technology-related grant submissions.

While going through state Third Frontier economic development competitions previously, the city learned from those doing the judging they wanted to see a nongovernmental group handling the site's development.

City government isn't in and of itself the best entity to move such a project forward, Berger said.

A separate nonprofit is better suited for relationship building with public and private research and development groups, Berger said.

Judy Cowan, who formerly served as the governor's regional economic development representative, is president of the OEAMC.