The Ohio Statewide Development Corporation (OSDC) recently presented Lancaster Wings, Inc. with the OSDC Project of the Year at their annual awards luncheon held at the McGowan Loft at Copious in the Brewery District in Columbus on January 26, 2016. Heartland Bank and the Citizens National Bank of Bluffton were honored as OSDC’s Banks of the Year for 2015.
Martin Golden, District Director for the US Small Business Administration Columbus District Office, and Daryl Hennessy, Chief of Business Services Division, Ohio Development Services Agency provided comments at the luncheon. Steven Schoeny, Director of the Columbus Department of Development was the featured luncheon speaker.
Martin Golden was appointed the SBA Columbus District Director in May 2013 and has demonstrated great energy and interest in meeting and educating the lending community about SBA programs and initiatives. He mentioned the large increase in SBA loan activity for 2015 that was seen in Ohio and across the United States. He emphasized the benefits that the SBA 504 program offers to businesses that are investing in real estate and equipment for expansion. Ohio Statewide Development Corporation (OSDC) is a Certified Development Company with SBA and offers long-term fixed rate loans for business real estate and equipment projects through the SBA 504 loan program. During 2015, over $4 billion in 504 loans to 5,600 businesses were made nationwide.
Daryl Hennessy has held a leadership role in the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) (formerly the Ohio Department of Development) since 2012. The Ohio Development Services Agency is committed to creating jobs and building strong communities, while ensuring accountability and transparency of taxpayer money and exceptional customer service. ODSA oversees the Ohio 166 Regional Loan Program that is available to businesses through OSDC for real estate and equipment loans up to $500,000.
Steve Schoeny spoke about Columbus’ focus on encouraging the development of neighborhoods and housing that will meet the demands of the city’s growing population of young professionals and older residents who are seeking smaller residential units located in areas that de-emphasize the need for cars to work, live and recreate. He indicated the new administration of Mayor Andrew Ginther will continue to invest in infrastructure and other forms of public support to ensure the redevelopment of areas that will provide opportunities across a wide range of income levels.
OSDC 2015 PROJECT OF THE YEAR
Lancaster Wings, Inc.
The OSDC 2015 Project of the Year was the New Philadelphia Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant owned by Lancaster Wings, Inc. Lancaster Wings, Inc. is a collection of Buffalo Wild Wings franchise restaurants, owned by Larry Tipton of Lancaster, Ohio, with seven located across Central Ohio and two additional restaurants in Arizona. The New Philadelphia “B-Dubs” is a newly constructed 6000 s.f. free-standing building that seats 356 and employs 150 people. Ohio Statewide Development Corporation in partnership with Standing Stone Bank provided long-term financing for the project.
The New Philadelphia BWW restaurant has experienced great success since opening in part due to the strong community focus Larry Tipton requires for all of his Lancaster Wings restaurants. The mission of Lancaster Wings, Inc. is to create a dining experience that is fun and affordable for everyone, while providing good jobs and giving back to the communities that keep its businesses strong. Ten percent of opening-day food sales at the new location were donated to the Greater Dover New Philadelphia Food Pantry.
OSDC has a long relationship with Lancaster Wings, Inc. having financed two BWW restaurants in Reynoldsburg and Canal Winchester, a Golden Corral in Lancaster and most recently the newly constructed BWW in New Philadelphia. Owner Larry Tipton is a proven entrepreneur who started his business career as a professional bluegrass/country musician, next as the owner/operator of the Desert Rose Music club, then as the owner of a variety of service businesses and finally finding his forte in the restaurant business. The “secret sauce” of Larry’s success is the continuous efforts made to localize each restaurant, hosting fundraisers and events that are both relevant and beneficial to each and every location.
OSDC 2015 LENDERS OF THE YEAR
OSDC 2015 Lenders of the Year were Robert Crow of Heartland Bank, Nicholas Blanchard of First-Knox Bank and Amy Sampson of PNC Bank. These awards are based on a variety of factors including the number of projects approved during the year, the complexity and “challenge factors” in transactions and the willingness of the individual to learn and work through the world of public finance.
Robert (Bob) Crow, Heartland Bank
Robert (Bob) Crow has worked in banking for twelve years and has been with Heartland Bank since 2006 where he is now a Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager. Bob works hard to provide his customers the financing that best fits their needs including maximizing the use of OSDC’s financing programs. He recently graduated from the Ohio Bankers’ League Bank Management School and is one of few lenders to earn the OSDC Banker of the Year award for a second time.
Nicholas Blanchard, First-Knox Bank
Nicholas (Nick) Blanchard grew up in banking with First-Knox, beginning as a teller, onto assistant branch manager and then branch manager and now as a commercial lender and bank officer. Banking must be in his blood! Nick has an extensive history of business, finance and bank training. He took it upon himself to learn about Ohio Statewide Development Corporation and the OSDC Loan Programs and has been successful at combining financing from First-Knox and OSDC to meet the needs of his customers.
Amy Sampson, PNC Bank
Amy Sampson is a Vice President with the SBA Finance Group at PNC Bank. In 1990, Amy started her career working in the Economic Development field for several organizations that provided public sector financing. This experience gave her a unique perspective in how to effectively combine private sector lending with public finance to meet the needs of small businesses. In 2005, she moved into the banking industry and has had great success in guiding PNC commercial lenders through the private/public lending process. Amy works extremely hard for her customers and knows how to reach the finish line on a project. She is a graduate of Central State University where she earned her Finance Degree and later a Masters in Business Administration.
OSDC 2015 BANKS OF THE YEAR
Bank of the Year, Citizens National Bank of Bluffton
Ohio Statewide Development Corporation (OSDC) has a long and successful history working with Citizens National Bank over the past 15 years, the largest project being a Springhill Suites Hotel that is currently under construction in Beavercreek, Ohio. The bank was started in Bluffton, Ohio in 1920 and today has eight locations serving 11 counties in West Central Ohio. Citizens recognizes the benefits to their customers when Bank financing is partnered with an OSDC Loan program. Some of these projects may not have gone forward without the combined financing and all would lack the long-term, lower rate, lower down payment financing that the Citizens/OSDC partnership provides.
Bank of the Year, Heartland Bank
Heartland Bank has long been a successful partner with OSDC and in 2015 worked with OSDC to obtain financing approval for a six different businesses representing a total projected investment of over $6 million. Tiney M. McComb formed Heartland BancCorp in 1988 and today his son, G. Scott McComb, is Chairman, Preident and CEO. Heartland has 13 locations in Central Ohio. The bank defines itself as a customer-oriented small business and retail bank with clients who share the belief that the Bank is an integral part of community growth and prosperity. Heartland has demonstrated that partnering with OSDC and its loan programs provides a quality financing package to their customers that provides long-term, lower rate, lower down payment financing.
About OSDC:
Ohio Statewide Development Corporation (OSDC) provides loans to small businesses that are growing and creating/retaining jobs throughout Ohio. OSDC is certified by the Small Business Administration and authorized by the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) provide small business loans under the SBA 504 and Ohio 166 loan programs.
OSDC works in partnership with area lenders to provide long‐term, fixed rate, low down payment financing for expanding small businesses.
For more information, please contact OSDC Executive Director Dianne Allen at 614.481.3214 or via email at dallen@osdc.net.