Ohio Attorney General speaks in Toledo

Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz, left, Toledo Councilman Paula Hicks-Hudson, center, and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine tour properties on Mentor Drive in North Toledo. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER Enlarge | Photo Reprints

The marriage of law and business is one way to foster job growth and aid small businesses, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said during two speaking engagements in Toledo on Thursday.

Mr. DeWine said he has instructed attorneys in his department to do what they can to preserve small businesses in their legal dealings. The state should not be in the habit of forcing businesses to close their doors, especially in this turbulent economy, he added.

"We have the opportunity to bring some common sense to the table," Mr. DeWine said at the Toledo Area Small Business Association's annual luncheon at the Hilton Hotel Toledo on Glendale Avenue.

Small businesses are the engine for job creation, and that's why the state has a vast number of resources available to their owners, he said. But businesses that overlook state regulations often are hit with fines that can crush a small business or start-up.

To help businesses ensure they're in line with state law, the Ohio Attorney General's Office compiled Complying with Ohio Consumer Law: A Guide for Businesses. The booklet covers laws about advertising, door-to-door sales, and gift cards, among other topics. "We try to help small businesses avoid the pitfalls of state law," Mr. DeWine said, adding that the state also offers seminars on the same topics.

Carol Van Sickle, vice president of public affairs for the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, said she originally was perplexed by the idea of having the attorney general speak at the luncheon, but upon reflection, it made perfect sense. The Toledo Area Small Business Association is a division of the chamber.

"It was an enjoyable and easy way to hear the message," she said, adding that business owners now know where to turn if they have questions about complying with Ohio law.

Before the luncheon, Mr. DeWine toured a blighted neighborhood along Mentor Drive in North Toledo and announced the state will receive $335 million as part of a federal-state settlement with five of the country's largest mortgage services. The settlement will benefit people who lost homes or owe more on their mortgages than they're worth, he said. The state expects to receive its money about May 1.

About $75 million of that money will go toward tearing down vacant homes, and the state plans to offer a dollar-to-dollar match to local communities that have funds set aside for that purpose.

Lucas County Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz said about $2 million has been set aside to demolish abandoned homes. If the county receives the match, it could have $4 million at its disposal to raze properties, he added. That money would allow the county to clear about 800 vacant homes. The county has about 4,000 homes that need to be razed, the treasurer said.

Revitalizing neighborhoods and clearing blight are a few tools that allow businesses to move into a community and help established ones thrive, Mr. DeWine said.

"It helps communities, and therefore it helps businesses as well," he said.

Contact Kris Turner at: kturner@theblade.com or 419-724-6103.