Furniture Parkway getting extension

NORWALK — Furniture Parkway will be getting a facelift thanks to a nearly $1.9 million road construction and resurfacing grant secured by Janotta & Herner from the Ohio Department of Development. The roadwork will consist of the construction of 1,000 linear feet of an extension of Furniture Parkway, which will allow access to the proposed Sealcore LLC development site. Janotta & Herner plan to develop a new industrial park called Sealcore LLC on the south side of Furniture Parkway. Details on the project scope and possible tenants have not been released at press time. "The project is expected to create 25 new full-time-equivalent jobs," a news release from the Ohio Department of Development states. Also included in the roadwork is the widening and resurfacing of 1,800 linear feet of the existing Furniture Parkway, which will allow for improved access for heavy trucks to the Norwalk Furniture facility. The money for the grant came through a new program through the State of Ohio Department of Development called "All Ohio Future Fund." The program was designed to invest in site-readiness prior to construction, according to Huron County Growth Partnership executive director Sarah Ross. "The new, flexible All Ohio Future Fund allowed for the private property owner, JHI Properties, to be the applicant to the program with our, the City's, and the County's support," Ross said. With the last lot being occupied at the current industrial complex last year, the city has been interested in building a new complex, according to Norwalk Mayor Dave Light. "We have been looking forward for this project to get started," Light said. "Now that the studies are completed, the road is being prepared, the city is waiting to find out what the financing split will be." Ross reiterated the partnership's support for the project and their commitment to working with Light's office. "As program guidelines and requirements of this award become known, we will continue to work very closely with the administration," Ross said.