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Staff report
The historic Masonic Lodge building at 22 W. Church St. in downtown Niles will be revitalized with assistance from a $750,000 JobsOhio Vibrant Communities Grant secured by Lake to River.
The $4.6 million redevelopment will transform the underutilized structure into the new headquarters for Cadence Care Network, a nonprofit organization providing behavioral health services for children and families.
The funding from JobsOhio's Vibrant Communities Grant Program marks the final critical investment needed to bring the long-planned project to life, helping to retain and create 180 jobs in downtown Niles and consolidate Cadence Care Network's multiple offices into one efficient location. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2027.
"The Vibrant Communities program is built around a community's collective goals, and Lake to River's part was activating the JobsOhio funding to advance those priorities," said Dani Robbins, Lake to River CEO. "It means jobs retained and created in Niles and a single, modern home for Cadence Care Network's services inside the Masonic Lodge."
JobsOhio Vibrant Communities Grants are meant to help revitalize downtowns and main streets through targeted investments in distressed, small and medium-sized cities across Ohio.
"The Masonic Lodge in Niles was once a condemned building being strongly considered for demolition," said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. "With strong partnership at the state and local level, the lodge will fill the historic building with an anchor tenant and a multipurpose space that will attract more jobs downtown."
The redevelopment will include significant renovations throughout the building, adding new office space and modern facilities to support Cadence Care Network's services. The project also includes a complete overhaul of a large, unused auditorium, which will be reconfigured for office use and community functions.