LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Mercy Health-St. Rita's is working to support good health in an area of Lima that has been identified for improvement by the…
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Whaley held a campaign event at Vibe Coffee House and Café in downtown Lima. She gave a speech about her stance on issues important to Ohioans, took questions from attendees, and spoke to the voters individually after speaking. Whaley wanted to let voters know more about her plan for addressing economic challenges faced in Ohio.
And finally, we put the Community Enrichment spotlight on a downtown Lima business that has only been open a year but is making a big impact on the community. Here is this year's Rising Business of the Year Award winner. Vibe Coffee House and Café opened last year to educate the world through the global love of coffee. Owner Carlton McLellan traveled the world for his job as a senior diplomacy and international affairs professional, and he was drawn to coffee houses.
Speaking at the Chamber's “Real American Sunrise” event, he says it was the attraction of what Lima had to offer in the arts that attracted him to invest in the theatre. Places like ArtSpace, the Veterans Civic Center, and the symphony. He believes that this renewal of the downtown with so many social activity options will draw new industries and businesses to the area.
Vibe Coffee House and Café owner Carlton McLellan received the Ohio School Boards Association Business Honor Roll Award. The award is handed out to individuals who have shown a commitment to students at Lima City Schools. McLellan has extended his business space to the district for student projects such as the “DECA” marketplace and a safe place for students to spend time. He has also supported educational programs in the classroom such as the “Closing the Achievement Gap” program. It was something he wanted to do to give back.
Sparking creativity, conversation, and community, those are some of the traits that the two finalists for Emerging Business of the Year have.
The Marketplace will be full of homemade products that the students designed, developed, and manufactured themselves. Everything from clothes, food, candles, first aid kits, and more. It was their entrepreneurial project to see how well they can do in business.
Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith starting to make good on some of her campaign promises as she has one month under her belt, and she looks to hit the streets in the coming days, literally. “Walking the Wards” is a new initiative where she and her staff are taking the mayor’s office out to where the people are. They will be boots on the ground in Lima neighborhoods. Smith hopes to make those connections with the community in a casual setting rather than at council or in her office.