Business briefs: Mechanics Bank, Blossoms & Gifts, Columbia Gas, Firelands Electric

Mechanics Bank installs first EV charging station in Downtown Mansfield

Mechanics Bank has installed an EV (electric vehicle) charging station in its parking lot in downtown Mansfield next to the Mechanics Bank drive-thru. The charging station is now available to customers and members of the public as part of the bank’s commitment to supporting and encouraging downtown business and growth.

"We are committed to furthering growth downtown and in our larger community," said Mark Masters, president & CEO of Mechanics Bank. "An EV charging station is a natural extension of our commitment, encouraging visitors to spend time and learn about what Mansfield has to offer."

Mechanics Bank is Richland County’s only independent, community bank with nine locations in Richland County.

Galion business has new name and owners

The Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for the grand opening of Blossoms & Gifts at 215 S. Market Street, Galion (formerly Toni's Flowers). The owners are Ayesha Frazier and Ethan Ackerman.

Blossoms & Gifts, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, offers flower delivery to Galion and surrounding areas — including same-day floral delivery — as well as nationwide delivery through a network of florists.

For more information, call 419-468-7737 or visit blossomsandgifts.com.

Project aims to help monarch butterflies, other pollinators

COLUMBUS — Landowners and operators in designated counties throughout Ohio, including Richland County, will have the opportunity to offer cropland for enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Pollinator and Monarch practice entitled State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE).

The Ohio Pollinator and Monarch SAFE project was designed in collaboration with pollinator experts and other conservation partners to help enhance and restore habitat for ecologically and economically significant pollinator species.

The goal of this project is to increase the amount of appropriate habitat for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators in Ohio. The enrolled habitat, a mix of grasses and forbs, will provide important nectar sources as well as the required larval host plant species. Because of the significant decline in monarch numbers, both range-wide and in Ohio, the monarch butterfly is the focus of this project. However, other pollinator species are expected to benefit from implementation of this project.

To be eligible for the Ohio Pollinator and Monarch SAFE, the offered land must be owned or leased for at least one year prior to enrollment and must be physically and legally capable of being cropped in a normal manner. Land must also meet cropping history and other eligibility requirements. Producers will receive annual rental payments for the length of the contract and cost share assistance of up to 50% of the eligible practice cost to establish pollinator habitat.

For more information on Ohio's Pollinator and Monarch SAFE project, visit the Richland County FSA office.

Columbia Gas named most trusted brand second year in a row

COLUMBUS — Columbia Gas of Ohio has been awarded the Most Trusted Utility Brand Award for 2023 by Escalent following its 2023 Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement: Residential study. The award was given to only 42 brands across the country. Utilities named Most Trusted Brands are selected based on Brand Trust Index scores that performed at the top of the industry, achieved top scores within their respective segment or had a Brand Trust Index score within 20 points above the industry average.

Columbia Gas of Ohio received a Brand Trust score of 725, the second-highest score for a natural gas utility in the Midwest Region. This year marks the second consecutive year that Columbia Gas was named a Most Trusted Brand by Escalent.

New report finds Ohio ranks in top 10 states for solar jobs

Ohio ranks ninth in the nation for the total number of solar jobs, according to the 13th annual National Solar Jobs Census released by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). Solar jobs in Ohio grew 1% in 2022, adding 75 jobs for a total of 7,486 solar workers.

Nationwide, the U.S. solar energy workforce grew by 3.5% in 2022. There were a total of 263,883 solar workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, an increase of 8,846 jobs since 2021. The total includes those who spend the majority of their time on solar-related work. Clean energy storage jobs, including battery storage, grew 4.6% over 2021 and 28% since 2017.

About two-thirds of all solar jobs (171,558) were at installation and project development firms. Jobs in solar manufacturing totaled 33,473, but these jobs could rise significantly in 2023 and beyond if companies follow through on announcements for new domestic solar manufacturing facilities in the wake of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Firelands Electric Co-Op announces July 'A Team' winners

NEW LONDON — Firelands Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce the winners of the "A Team" drawing for the month of July.

Kaelyn Weaver attends Crestview Middle School and is the daughter of Dean and Becky Weaver. Baylee Schwab, daughter of Matt and Jodi Schwab, is a student at Seneca East Middle School. Kaylee Lauber is the daughter of Tyler and Annette Lauber and attends St. Joseph Catholic School. All three girls will be seventh graders in the fall.

Sponsored by Firelands Electric, the A Team recognizes students in grades 6-8 who had a minimum of three As on their most recent report card. Applicants must also reside in a home served by the co-op. Students who submit a qualifying report card are entered into a drawing held at the end of each grading period. Three winners are then randomly selected at each drawing to receive an Amazon gift card and be recognized in Ohio Cooperative Living magazine and on Firelands’ website and social media outlets.

Complete guidelines are available on the cooperative’s website at firelandsec.com/team. The next drawing will take place on Dec. 10. If you have any questions, contact Firelands Electric’s Member Services Department at 1-800-533-8658 or members@firelandsec.com.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: EV charging station, Galion ribbon cutting, Columbia Gas honor-solar