A finance center offering a variety of services could be an option for the former National City Bank building on Main Street in West Jefferson.
Joan Denes, an ownership partner in the old bank building, discussed the matter at the May 10 meeting of the West Jefferson Business Council, an affiliate of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce of which Denes is a member.
Denes said Western Credit Union may be willing to take over a portion of the building but is not interested in leasing or renting the entire building. She said she and her partners are “putting feelers out to various finance organizations’’ to see if they are interested in renting or leasing a portion of the building, as well.
Several business council members said West Jefferson and the county as a whole needs more credit and finance services. Some members suggested that such service providers now located in the Westland Mall in Columbus might be interested in relocating to West Jefferson.
“Even if it is not a finance service to create a finance center, we’re interested in all options to fill that prime location in our village,” Denes said.
In other matters, the business council reviewed plans for its second annual car show, schedule for Aug. 16. An area car club has agreed to help with organizing and running the show. The council’s car show committee is working on a logo design for advertising flyers.
“The committee is looking into incor-porating the show’s unique trophies in the flyers,” said Sean Hughes, Madison County Chamber of Commerce director. Trophies presented during the council’s first car show last year were designed and hand-painted locally.
“One of the main draws of a car show are the trophies that participants are eager to acquire and display. Our trophies are quite unique,’’ Hughes said.
Plans for a summer and fall farmers’ market are moving forward, said business council member Ray Martin. The farmers’ market committee has secured the parking lot in front of the former Cardinal grocery store for the weekly event that is expected to begin in mid-June and run through September.
Business council member Jerry Ramage said three or four anchor vendors have committed to the market but more vendors are needed to make this year’s market a success.
Local farmers and craftsmen who want a vendor space should call Ramage at 614-879-8717 or stop by his Nationwide Insurance office at 82 E. Main St. in West Jefferson between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
