Growth was the key word for Coshocton County in 2023

Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune
·7 min read

COSHOCTON − The end of the year is often a time to reflect on what has come in the past year and what is promised for the next. When looking back on 2023 for Coshocton County and ahead at what 2024 might offer the best word to put on it might be growth.

If there was any silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 it might be small, rural communities like Coshocton receiving an influx of dollars from state and federal sources. Local entities have leveraged the funding well to not only fill in the gaps caused by the pandemic, but to pursue a variety of capital improvement projects. Government bodies and private investors are building new or renovating properties with several projects completed or underway in the past year.

The pandemic also made many realize the privilege of just being able to get out of the house to go shopping at a store or eat at a restaurant. The past year saw several new businesses open not only in Coshocton but the smaller villages of West Lafayette and Warsaw. Some existing businesses got new owners or new locations too.

None of that looks to slow down for 2024 as Coshocton County continues to revitalize and is poised for a period of prosperity not seen in about 20 years when several local factories closed. Local officials are optimistic not just about what the Intel plant in Licking County could mean for Coshocton, but what is happening inside the county itself.

Development projects

On the county level, the two most significant capital projects for 2023 was the creation of a new station for Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services and starting construction on the new Coshocton Justice Center for the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office.

Both had groundbreakings in 2022, but a majority of work was done this year. EMS is moving into the new building now and the new justice center, featuring a jail for 126 inmates, is scheduled to be done by October. Both received a significant amount of funding from state agencies.

Tom Crawford, general manager for the McWane Ductile plant in Coshocton, talks at a ribbon cutting for the McWane River Walk, funded by $500,000 from the company.
Tom Crawford, general manager for the McWane Ductile plant in Coshocton, talks at a ribbon cutting for the McWane River Walk, funded by $500,000 from the company.

Local private funding brought two other projects to life with a focus on recreation for residents. The McWane River Walk opened in October via a $500,000 donation from McWane Ductile. The river walk begins at the west end of Main Street, passes Skip's Landing and weaves along the Muskingum and Tuscarawas rivers to connect with the Lake Park Connector Path. It will also eventually connect with the proposed County Road 621 multi-use path scheduled for completion in 2025.

Marion Troyer throws a disc at a basket at the new Eagle Ridge Disc Golf Course, near Lake Park. The free park was created via volunteer efforts.
Marion Troyer throws a disc at a basket at the new Eagle Ridge Disc Golf Course, near Lake Park. The free park was created via volunteer efforts.

Eagle Ridge Disc Golf Course debuted in July at the site of the former Hilltop Golf Course. Local disc golf enthusiasts spearheaded the project and it was built through local grants and donations. The Professional Disc Golf Association approved course has already earned a reputation as one of the best in the state via positive social media reviews.

"Looking to the future, momentum is building. Private-public partnerships are building within the community and most communities could not change or move forward without public-private partnerships," said Commissioner Dane Shryock. "If you look at other communities, private corporations and citizens need to buy in and participate and they've been doing that."

Coshocton County Commissioners also repurposed the former Hopewell Industries building at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets. It's now home to the Coshocton Public Health District, the Coshocton County Coroner's Office and the Coshocton County Commissioners Meeting Room. An open house was held in May.

The meeting room can hold about 450 people. Shryock said they saw a need for a large meeting space in the county. It's free for Coshocton County agencies, government agencies and civic organizations with others being able to use it for a fee. It's been used about two to three times a week.

"It's been an exciting time to be a Coshocton resident. A lot of years of hard work by a lot of people have put us in a position where we can take advantage of the dollars that are coming from the state and federal government. The efforts of local leaders - whether that's the city, the county or the port authority - to apply for all these grant dollars to try and move this community forward; that doesn't happen without a lot of hard work," said Shryock. "I've got to tip my hat to all the people that have worked diligently in the last three to four years to get these projects up and running."

New businesses

Tyler McKee cuts the hair of Robert Hill at McKee's Mancave Barbershop, opened recently on Ohio 83 near Lake Park. McKee was formerly in law enforcement, but grew up watching his grandfather, John McKee, cut hair in Downtown Coshocton.
Tyler McKee cuts the hair of Robert Hill at McKee's Mancave Barbershop, opened recently on Ohio 83 near Lake Park. McKee was formerly in law enforcement, but grew up watching his grandfather, John McKee, cut hair in Downtown Coshocton.

Several new businesses opened in the local area over the past year. They included, but are not limited to, the LeRetilley Event Center, WeGotMeat.com meat processor, Heavenly Sweets Bakery, NorthPointe Wealth Management, Campbell's Creative Kitchen food trailer, Kelly Bratton law office, Studio Glow Day Spa, SoLace Brigade, Creek Side Cabins, McKee's Mancave Barbershop and Ashton's K-9 Classes dog training.

B Outdoors opened in Warsaw. Blooming Wildflower Pups grooming, Hecates Realm and Fred's Got Worms bait shop and Yippee Kayak kayak rental opened along the same strip in West Lafayette. Plus, the Brickstone Building in West Lafayette got new life with renovations and the opening of Bubbles and Barks Dog Grooming, Nails by Missy, Village Massotherapy and Palmbay Studio.

Jill Sheridan paints an armoire, a custom job from a customer. She owns Rust Décor with her husband.
Jill Sheridan paints an armoire, a custom job from a customer. She owns Rust Décor with her husband.

Some established businesses moved and expanded, this included Goodwill, Bexley Ann's Boutique, Brillhart's Body Shop, B. Radiant Wellness and Rust Décor. Good Boy Bakery and the Roscoe General Store expanded within its building. The Boathouse Tavern got a new owner in Jeffrey Peterson and Pam Chaney took over the Coshocton Antique Mall.

Amy Crown, executive director of the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce, said they had 50 new members join in 2023 with 30 of them being brand new businesses who worked with the chamber on ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremonies.

"As we reflect on this success, we eagerly anticipate the unfolding journey of success, innovation and community strength, propelling us with excitement into a promising 2024," Crown enthused. "Together, let's build on this momentum and welcome even more businesses and entrepreneurs to Coshocton, creating a future where possibilities know no bounds."

Other Coshocton County 2023 Highlights

● In March, Coshocton County Prosecutor Jason Given was appointed to judge of Coshocton County Juvenile and Probate Court to replace the retiring Van Blanchard II. Given will be running for his first full term this coming year.

● Genesis Coshocton Medical Center opened in April just off the intersection of U.S. 36 and Airport Road. The 60,000-square-foot, $50.8 million facility provides more than 200 jobs. It includes an emergency department with 10 beds, overnight patient observation unit with 10 beds, outpatient surgery center, imaging department, laboratory, pharmacy, cardiac diagnostics, respiratory therapy, a medical office building for specialists and physical, occupational and speech therapies.

● Mark Kowalski was named the new superintendent of Coshocton City Schools in April, replacing David Hire. He started in August. Kowalski was a former teacher in the district and was coming from being the superintendent for Liberty-Benton Local Schools in Hancock County.

● River View Local Schools closed Conesville and Keene elementary schools in May as part of district reconfiguration. At the start of the school year in September the district now has three building. The former Warsaw Elementary School is now River View Elementary with preschool to second grade. Third to sixth grade is at the former junior high, now River View Intermediate. Junior high students were moved into the high school. The move was done due to dwindling enrollment and to cut costs.

● Madison Miller of Coshocton was named Miss Ohio in June. She'll be competing for Miss America in January.

● In September, Coshocton County Commissioner Dane Shryock was named Coshoctonian at the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet. The retired police detective has been a commissioner for 18 years and will be on the ballot again this coming year.

● In October, Jack Patterson of West Lafayette was named to the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. The former mayor of West Lafayette is a member the Coshocton County Veterans Service Commission and has served at more than 1,000 military funerals with the Coshocton County Honor Guard.

● Mark Mills won a second term as mayor of the City of Coshocton in the November general election. Two villages in the county got new mayors as Jessie Tubbs was elected for West Lafayette Jennifer McFarland for Conesville. They take office in January.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: 2023: Coshocton County experienced growth in construction, businesses