2020 will be remembered for many things. One of which is the cancellation of several Ada organizational meetings.

The Ada Area Chamber of Commerce and Ada Community Improvement Corp. (CIC) are among those feeling that pinch.

The chamber recently held its voting for 2021 board members via email. And, the CIC is doing the same thing.

Five CIC board members have terms expiring on Dec. 31. They are Jamie Hall, Brandt Miller, Eileen Peterman, Angela Polachek and Norm Rex. Those board members are on the ballot for terms in place for Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2022.

Members of CIC whose terms do not expire at the end of 2020 are Deb Curlis, Terry Keiser, Bryan Marshall, David Retterer and Fred Steiner.

Although CIC took no action in 2020, in the fall of 2019 it played a role in the land transfer from the Village of Ada to Ada Boyz, LCC.

Two 1992 Ada High School classmates, Troy Erickson and Billy Watterson, using the name Ada Boyz Holdings, LLC, intend to develop a distillery with a bar and restaurant and a greenhouse for growing hemp on a site in the Ada industrial park, bordering North Avenue.

The intended land purchase required action in two special Ada meetings. First, Ada council, passed an ordinance on Oct. 17, 2019, transferring the property to the Ada Community Improvement Corp. (CIC). Next, CIC on Oct. 23, 2019, passed a motion entering a real estate agreement with Ada Boyz Holdings, LLC.

The village legislation opens the door for Ada Boyz Holdings, LLC, to proceed with the purchase of approximately 10 acres in the industrial park, at a price of $7,217.54 per acre.

According to the Ohio Revised Code, community improvement corporations serve as economic development arms for the governmental body they serve.

In that way, a CIC advances, encourages and promotes industrial, economic, commercial and civic development in a community.