Lake to River Delivers Final Piece of Funding for Major Niles Redevelopment

NILES, Ohio [Sept. 24, 2026] - The historic Masonic Lodge building at 22 West Church Street 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.

"Restoring the Niles Masonic Lodge saves a historic building that has stood for more than a century," said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. "Although it fell into a state of disrepair, this building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, demonstrating the site's significance to this area. Preserving this building will also preserve an important part of Niles' past."

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.

"This project is about more than renovating a building. It's about taking a piece of Niles history that could have been lost and giving it a purpose again," said Dominic Gatta, developer and investor. "I've believed in this building and in downtown Niles from the beginning. Seeing Cadence Care Network make it their home, bringing jobs, people and activity back into this part of the city, is exactly the kind of outcome we hoped this investment could create."

This effort is the result of collaborative funding and community support. In addition to the JobsOhio grant, the project has secured state and federal historic tax credits, Appalachian Community Grant Program funding through Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, and local investment from the Niles Community Improvement Corporation.

"When Cadence Care Network moves its people into one building on Church Street, that is foot traffic and daytime activity where it has been quiet for years, and it tells every property owner nearby that investing here makes sense now," said Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz

"It's exciting to see a historic building like the Masonic Lodge given new life. This project is a great example of what we can accomplish when the state, JobsOhio and local partners work together to invest in our communities. This is an important step forward for downtown Niles, creating new opportunities and building on the momentum we're seeing across the Lake to River region," said State Rep. Nick Santucci (R-Niles), Majority Whip and chair of the Lake to River Caucus.

"This project brought state, county and local resources together to downtown Niles, and that kind of coordination is good for Trumbull County. Retaining and creating 180 jobs in Niles is a meaningful outcome for the county," said Tony Bernard, Trumbull County Commissioner.

Lake to River is a nonprofit economic development organization and the JobsOhio regional partner for Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

About Lake to River

Lake to River is the JobsOhio network partner for Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties, working to accelerate business growth and job creation through site development, business attraction, and workforce initiatives. For more information, visit laketoriverohio.org.

CONTACT:

Matt Englehart

JobsOhio

Office: 614-300-1152

[email protected]

or

Jim Houck

898 Marketing/Lake to River

Mobile: 330-554-5234

[email protected]