Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
Amid the challenges we continue to face with COVID-19, we are still able to persevere in a number of ways.

I was happy yesterday to announce the creation of a new, “one stop shop” for event permits at this link , and that dates and times for children to be served lunch in five city parks have been scheduled through the summer.

Food will be provided from June 1 to Aug. 14 through a partnership we have with Children’s Hunger Alliance. More information about the 2020 City of Toledo Children Feeding Program is posted below.

Also yesterday, I highlighted some of the economic development strides Toledo has made, despite the pandemic. Those include:

  • Several major automotive employers in the city restarted operations on Monday, bringing thousands of employees back to work.
  • Amazon received its final approval last week from the Toledo Plan Commission for its project at the former Southwyck Shopping Center property. We intend to close on the sale of the property within the next few weeks and the company will begin construction shortly thereafter.
  • Work at the new Cleveland Cliffs facility in East Toledo is set to resume. The $700 million project is under construction and expected to be completed later this year. One hundred-thirty new jobs will be created as a result of this project, in addition to the hundreds of construction jobs that have been created to construct this new facility.
  • Another exciting project is moving toward completion in the Junction Neighborhood. In 2019, my administration was pleased to announce Brenntag was investing more than $15 million in a new operation on Campbell Street. The company will create 45 new jobs as a result of this project.
  • The new $50 million mixed-use Marina Lofts development in East Toledo is nearly complete. Seventy residents now call Marina Lofts home and a new restaurant called Old Bag of Nails Pub has officially opened.
Restaurants and bars across the city reopened this week for inside, sit-down business.

When you go to restaurants, you may see barriers, tables placed six feet apart, no self-serve areas, all employees wearing face coverings, and none of the extras like billiards, darts, dancing, and arcade games. Please be patient with servers.

Finally, here is another reminder: please complete the 2020 Census.
I said this last week, and I know it may be repetitive, but if you have not done so, please complete the 2020 Census . Tell your neighbors and family members.

Thanks, and have a peaceful, safe, and happy Memorial Day.
Free Summer Children Lunch Program
Food will be provided free to children from June 1 to Aug. 14 through a partnership with the Children’s Hunger Alliance for the City of Toledo’s Children Feeding Program. (While supplies last. No need to pre-register.)

Children’s Hunger Alliance staff will be at the following parks, Monday through Friday:
 
  • Wilson Park, 600 East Oakland St., Toledo, Ohio 43608, underneath open air shelter, 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
  • Navarre Park, 1001 White St., Toledo, Ohio 43605, pool house/parking lot, 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Savage Park, 650 Nebraska Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43604, underneath open air shelter, 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
  • Walbridge Park, 2761 Broadway, Toledo 43609, underneath open air shelter, 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
  • Ottawa Park, 2200 Kenwood Blvd., Toledo 43606, underneath open air shelter, 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
 
The City of Toledo Human Relations Commission will serve shelf-stable meals at Ottawa Park.

Founded in 1970, Children’s Hunger Alliance is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Ohio. Through their work, Children’s Hunger Alliance provides healthy meals and snacks to food-insecure children, advocates for legislation to improve the welfare of Ohio’s youngest citizens, and teaches nutrition and physical education to those they serve.
Economic Development
Businesses with five or fewer employees can apply for the emergency microenterprise recovery program through this Sunday, May 24.

The grant is designed to assist for-profit microenterprises to maintain or restart operations, and retain jobs by providing up to $5,000 for eligible operating expenses incurred between March 1 and June 30. More information can be found, and applications may be filed at toledo.oh.gov/emrgrant .
Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
Visit this page for the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Lucas County, including testing under "Community Testing."

The Lucas County COVID-19 Call Line Numbers are 419-251-4000 (English only) and 419-291-5355 (multilingual).
Find updated sector-specific operating requirements, including requirements for restaurants, and personal services here .

The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for consumer, retail, and services can be found at c oronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio .

The Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 website is Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov and the Ohio Department of Health hotline is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
Trash and Recycling Collection
Republic Services would like to remind everyone about the delay of refuse and recycling collection services following Memorial Day.

Collection services provided by Republic Services will be delayed by one day during the week of May 25 as we recognize the Memorial Day Holiday on Monday, May 25 .

Collections that normally occur on Monday will be picked up on Tuesday and will follow suit throughout the week. Friday collections will be serviced on Saturday.

We ask that residents please ensure that your materials are placed out for collection either the night before or by 6 a.m. to ensure all items are collected.

In addition, we also remind residents to please make sure you bag all trash before placing it into trash carts or containers. This reduces residual debris from blowing out of the truck during the collection process. That request is NOT necessary for recycling services. (All recycling materials should be placed in the blue carts unbagged.)
Mark Your Calendars
Virtual "Wednesdays With Wade"
Join us for another virtual "Wednesdays With Wade" with Mayor Kapszukiewicz.

It will be held at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 28 .

You may watch on the city Facebook Live, https://www.facebook.com/cityoftoledo/ , where it will be simulcast live from a Zoom meeting. You may post your questions for the mayor or city staff in the Facebook comments once it starts.
Virtual town hall series : Impact of COVID-19 on the Black Community.
Front Line Heroes Blood Drive
The American Red Cross is holding a very special blood drive to honor Front Line Heroes in our community. These brave men and women put themselves on the line day after day to keep us safe and care for us during this challenging time.

It is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 28 at UAW local 12, 2300 Ashland Ave. You can call 800-Red-Cross to make an appointment or go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code “heroes.”
Substantial Amendment to the 2015-2020 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the 2019-2020 Action Plan Virtual Public Hearing

The City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods is seeking comments on its Substantial Amendment to the 2015-2020 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and 2019-2020 Action Plan to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. More info at this link .

This is an amendment to the 2015-2020 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the 2019-2020 Action Plan to enable the city to receive $4,453,360 in COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and $2,249,248 in COVID-19 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

A virtual public hearing on the Substantial Amendment to the 2015-2020 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and the 2019-2020 Action Plan is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 28 at this link: https://toledo-oh-gov.zoom.us/j/99185317553 .
Public Hearings and Comment Period for Annual Action Plan

The City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods is seeking comments on its draft July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 One-Year Action Plan to be submitted to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The One-Year Action Plan is based on the HUD-approved Five-Year 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan submitted by the City of Toledo for housing, community, and economic development.

Public Hearings on the draft One-Year Action Plan are scheduled as follows:
By The Numbers
(year to date)
48,670 potholes filled
536,543 pounds of debris cleared from streets with street sweepers
901,558 pounds of debris cleared from alleys
93 water main breaks repaired
569,841 feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
7,244 feet of storm sewers cleaned
313 trees trimmed
927 illegal signs removed
3,133 building inspections completed
1,378 contractor licenses issued
2,200 fire runs
19,021 EMS runs
Toledo In The News
Toledo Solar starts solar panel production The Atlas Venture Group is leading a $30 million initiative to produce cadmium telluride (Cad-Tel) solar panels operating as Toledo Solar, Inc.

Marina Lofts tour provides a glimpse of East Toledo riverfront revitalization For almost 20 years,115 acres of East Toledo land sat still, looking at downtown. "Things just weren't connecting the way that they do in other successful cities," Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. What looked like a piece of prime riverfront property never actually was.

Westfield students celebrated with a graduation parade Staff and faculty of Westfield at Phoenix Academy took to their autos on Thursday, May 14, packed their vehicles with gifts and caravanned to the homes of the academy’s seniors to honor the class of 2020’s achievements.
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