Kent · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kent public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
JEDD Board Appointments and Contract Review
The Franklin-Kent JEDD brings in income tax revenue shared with Franklin Township, and its board terms are expiring. Council will consider re-appointing two members and discuss why expanding the JEDD's business participation has been difficult.
KSU Town-Gown Relations and Enrollment
Kent State reports enrollment pressure from demographics and international visa issues, but touts a 51% graduation rate and strong downtown student engagement, including a successful Flash's First Friday drawing thousands of students downtown.
Economic development strategy for Kent
The city hired consultant Randall Gross to build a Kent-specific economic development strategy. Council pushed on downtown vibrancy, parking, river access after a downstream dam comes out, and a housing shortage that keeps young families from settling here.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car CRA agreement revision
The tax-break deal for renovating the long-vacant Longitano building at 1225 West Main was rewritten with fewer relocated jobs — 49 part-time and 1 full-time, payroll of $825,000 instead of $1.4 million — but council called it still a win for the West Main corridor.
Continued property tax exemptions for local employers
Council continued tax exemption agreements with Davey Tree, Mazda's KMPH Real Estate and Klaben Property Management under the enterprise zone and community reinvestment area programs.
Franklin Avenue Seasonal Closure Length
Main Street Kent surveyed its DORA participants and wants to shift the Franklin Street closure from May–October to Memorial Day–Labor Day. They'll present at next month's committee meeting — the closure itself isn't going away.
Celebrate Kent! 2026 event grants
$13,800 of the $15,000 annual downtown-events fund was distributed — every applicant was funded, including first-timer Kent State's Flashes First Friday. Staff will survey businesses on the events' economic impact.
Copen Machine acquisition and remediation of former Davey Drill site
Copen Machine is buying the long-vacant, contaminated industrial site at 200 W. Williams Street with help from a $450,000 forgivable city loan, committing to at least 25 new jobs and keeping 20 public parking spaces. Remediation overseen by the Ohio EPA will take at least three years before full reuse.
Bliss Ohio cannabis dispensary extended hours
The dual-use dispensary sought to match competitors' hours, with the biggest change being a few extra hours on Sundays. Police reported almost no problems since it opened, and council gave its blessing.