Hard times and new ideas came to Elyria in the 2000s and 2010s. Companies like Bendix, and 3M moved their operations elsewhere during this time. To prepare for this, voters passed Issue 6 in March of 2016. Issue 6 increased the city's income tax by 0.5%. It was used to pay for police, parks, and fiber-optic Internet in the city. With the reconstruction of State Route 57 on the city's northwest side by Midway Mall, traffic flow has been improved. There has been some new economic development near Route 57 such as new hotels. There is hope a buyer will revitalize the area with plans having been presented. Revitalization efforts for Downtown Elyria continue through the effort of groups such as Invest Elyria, Main Street Elyria, and local citizens. The historic Lorain County Courthouse is being renovated to so it can be used again. Several old building are being reconstructed. A few new ones also being built. As of April 2017, there are plans for multiple small businesses and restaurants to open downtown. The city is showing signs of hope and revival as its residents try to restore the city to its peak days of the early to mid-1900s. In 2017, Elyria celebrated its 200th Birthday.