Lima may lose metropolitan status
By Sam Shriver - sshriver@limanews.com
Stratton: Economic incentives could be reduced
144 cities, including Lima, could lose their status as a metropolitan area.
Coleman
LIMA — Lima may lose its designation as a “Metropolitan” area, and with it, funding for a number of housing, transportation and Medicare reimbursement programs.
The Office of Management and Budget is considering a proposal that would make the core city in a metropolitan area have at least 100,000 people, doubling its previous requirement of 50,000. Lima’s population checks in at 72,852.
“Presently Lima/Allen County is considered a Tier 3 Metropolitan with a population between 50,000 and 200,000. Lima is considered a Metropolitan by the inclusion of the surrounding townships in Allen County,” said Dave Stratton, president/CEO of Allen Economic Development Group. “The consideration of a Third Tier Metropolitan changing to 100,000 or more would downgrade Lima to a Micropolitan status.”