Small Business Committee - October 2025
Committee Members: Mayor Diana Nelson, chair. Council members Mark Haake and Joy Bennett
Permits via OpenGov
The transition to the new system lost a permit, and staff wasn’t aware. They were glad the requestor followed up.
We discussed adding language to encourage follow-up after specified intervals. Staff will look at where they can do that in the platform so people will be encouraged to follow up.
Warren County Small Business Development Center
Mike Stater is the director and came to update us on his work supporting small businesses.
SBDCs are still open for business, despite the government shutdown. However, the SBA is not open or issuing funds. This is delaying business sales.
Mike attended the Warren County DC fly-in, which happened the week of shutdown. They met with Senator Husted, Congressman Landsman, and Senator Moreno. None of them said much because negotiations were actively happening, and also both senators are new - less than a year.
SBDC fiscal year ended Sept 30. Mike gave an update on their metrics countywide.
$10 million in economic impact in 2024; $8.8 million in 2025. Reason - loans tougher to get approved for, perhaps people’s credit scores aren’t as good.
$81 million in economic impact since founding in 10-2013.
for every $1 invested in the SBDC, they receive more than $180 in economic impact. (REDI Cincinnati gets about $90 for every $1).
Top 3 banks: #3 People’s Bank ($517,000). #2 Eclipse Bank ($955,000). #1 Huntington Bank ($1.4 million) in partnership with Alloy Development)
Where did the activity happen? Not in Mason yet (some in the works). #5 Maineville. #4 Lebanon $511k. #3 Carlisle $607k. #2 Middletown $1.1M. #1 Morrow $1.2M.
Small Business Beautification Grant
Mark Haake asked Mike Stater to share the information he has on a Small Business Renovation Grant offered by the city of Lebanon. Our committee reviewed their process and discussed a way to implement something similar to support businesses interested in updating their buildings in light of the new Downtown Mile zoning update
Mike explained that he assists the city of Lebanon in selecting recipients. He at the SBDC meets with applicants, helps them put a business plan together, and then decides whether to endorse their application and validate the spend.
Miscellaneous
Mark Haake brought up his tunnel idea again, and I supported exploring the idea. (It’s a running joke but also some of us are halfway serious. Mark brought this up in his response to WLWT’s Mike Dardis at the candidate forum. Mike Dardis asked everyone what they’d do if they had a magic wand, and Mark described his tunnel to redirect north/south traffic under downtown.
