MANSFIELD — Infrastructure matters when it comes to attracting new businesses and industries, according to Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry.
That’s why her administration is planning a $750,000 land-use study north and west of Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, funded by a portion of the city’s American Rescue Plant Act funds.
The study was approved by City Council in November — and the city Board of Control on Friday awarded the contract for the work to EMH&T from Columbus.
EMH&T was the only company to respond to the city’s request for qualifications by the Nov. 8 deadline.
Most of the industrial park development has been south and west of the airport in the last few decades. The city supported that growth by constructing utilities and roads.
Perry, who led the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development before becoming mayor, said it’s time to begin planning infrastructure in other areas around the airport.
“In order to attract businesses in the future, this is an area that needs to be better developed along those (infrastructure) lines,” the mayor said. “At the end of the day, for businesses to come, you need those basic building blocks.
“They call it shovel-ready in the industry. We’ve had some great shovel-ready sites and we still have a few left, but we’re getting to the point where we need to make sure we’re building (new infrastructure),” Perry said.
The study, which must be complete by the end of 2026 to meet ARPA deadlines, will be done in two phases. City engineer Bob Bianchi has a team of 12 to 15 people prepared to begin work on the study.
Phase one will include a land-use study in the project area and will also include a 3D-model visualization. Phase one will define the recommended utility and infrastructure projects that will be designed in phase two.
Bianchi told lawmakers in November that he has learned growth opportunities shrink when communities don’t have utilities on-site at potential locations of new business.
“You can have the highway right next to it. You can have the best workforce available,” he said at the council meeting. “But if there’s not utilities and resources for them to do their business, you’re off the table.
“The goal here is how do we bring the best economic potential to what we think is the best area for future economic growth in the industrial area?” he said.
The project will extend water and sewer lines to the city’s north/northwest corner near the airport.
Bianchi said the project’s proposed waterline will loop, which allows the line to have a greater capacity.