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Letter
from the Director
Dear Nikki
I
hope you enjoy the stories inside this edition of the AACED
newsletter. Just
as we are all excited to see Spring finally "break through"
the cold weather, the updates on the following pages will
explain how some interesting projects are blooming in a way
that will improve our overall economy well into the
future.
For
example, the Bioscience Consortium of Northeast Ohio, a
collaborative effort spearheaded by Ashland County business
and educational leaders, can now boast of a high-quality
bioscience Tech Prep program beginning at our Career Center in
the Fall, with 10 students already registered. This is only the
beginning of a well-rounded bioscience economy in this region,
built around programs like this and businesses such as WIL
Research, Inc.
Secondly, investors in AACED should find our next
Investors' Meeting (April 23rd, 11:45 at Sallie's)
to be very interesting and encouraging. An executive from the
Novatex North America, Inc. team will describe the community
and business partnership that will lead to Novatex's
successful opening in late Spring / early Summer. I am very proud of the
many stakeholders-government, contractors, non-profit
agencies, etc.-that quickly came together to make this unique
project a success.
I am confident that Novatex will continue Ashland's
great tradition of plastics-based production and offer great
employment opportunities for many years to come.
Finally, I hope you enjoy our profile of another
small-medium size manufacturer that is creatively competing
and growing. We
continue to highlight these firms because they will form the
backbone of Ashland County's future in terms of manufacturing
success and exporting of products outside of our
community. These
small, agile firms are beginning to work together for a shared
competitive advantage.
I am excited about sharing more on that initiative, as
it takes shape, in future newsletters.
AACED will remain very involved in these and other
projects that you'll hear about in the months ahead. We will take
leadership positions as necessary, or become an active partner
in new networks and structures created by our businesses,
educators, etc.
In any case, we believe in the power of these new
approaches to economic development and are committed to
elevating them to high levels of success. The common theme
you'll find in these examples, and most modern-day economic
development success stories, is that personal leadership is of
supreme importance.
Economic development is no longer just about buildings
and utility lines; it is about people, and AACED is proud to
work with the best people in the business!
Sincerely,
Evan Scurti Director | |
BioScience
Update
Continued Growth of the Bioscience Economic Sector in
the Ashland Area
Most Ashland County citizens are well aware of
the amazing growth and continued success of our "bioscience
star"-WIL Research, Inc.
What you may not be aware of is the collaborative
effort, of which WIL is a vital part, to strengthen the local
workforce by offering bioscience education. An Ashland area
consortium of educators, business leaders, and economic
development professionals began meeting in March of 2006 and
established a vision of a local bioscience economy,
highlighted by a ready workforce in a six-county area
surrounding Ashland County. Such a workforce would
not only help companies like WIL, but the new educational
programs would offer our citizens unparalleled opportunities
for professional and financial advancement.
Through a variety of funding sources, the consortium
has been able to evolve and accomplish the following
tasks:
- Hired Aquarian Technology
Systems' President Dave Baldwin to serve as a lead
facilitator and facilatator and process consultant. Under Dave's
guidance, the consortium has established partnerships with
various bioscience leaders in Northeast Ohio, which led to
the important decision of branding our effort the
"Bioscience Consortium of Northeast Ohio".
- Mike McDaniel, Superintendent of the Ashland
County-West Holmes Career Center, led the creation of the
Bioscience Tech program, which will begin to offer classes
in Fall 2007.
The program is unique in that while it follows the
traditional Tech Prep pathway, allowing high school credits
to transfer into college, it also offers non-traditional problem-based
learning utilizing the nationally-recognized Project
Lead the Way curriculum (http://www.pltw.org/index.html).
Including the Ashland program,
the bioscience portion of Project Lead the Way is only being
offered in 47 sites around the country! We should be very
proud that we are on the forefront of this new approach to
high school bioscience education.
- Hired a professional marketing
firm to help "sell" the program to students, parents, and
schools. Please
contact our office or the Career Center for a brochure
describing the program's components of medical, scientific
research, and agricultural instruction.
- A March 19th open
house, along with ongoing promotion by the consortium and
marketing firm, resulted in 12 students
currently registered for the Career Center program.
- Ashland University has extended an opportunity
to high school students to take a one credit hour
post-secondary Introduction to Toxicology Course during the
spring of 2008.
Interested students should see their school guidance
counselor.
- In a related effort, Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce
President to work for two weeks at WIL Research this
summer. These
types of business-education-community partnerships are
extremely important for success in the "knowledge
economy".
AACED is
proud to be a part of this effort, which is becoming a great
example of regional economic development. As you can see, we
have enjoyed important workforce/educational achievements, and
individuals like those mentioned above deserve much
praise. AACED
will become even more involved in future months as this entire
effort evolves into a comprehensive economic development
program. For
example, AACED will be taking more of a lead role on issues
such as available sites and buildings suitable for bioscience
companies, as well as financing options for our
entrepreneurs.
There are many facets to the success of modern economic
sectors, and this consortium process has allowed all
stakeholders to offer services that will help us build our
bioscience economy.
Please contact any of us to learn more or to become
involved in future
efforts.
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 Company Profile: Knowlton Machines
Knowlton
Machines, a small custom machining and welding shop that
concentrates on specialty parts and repairs has been a part of
the Ashland community since 1991. This small Ashland
treasure is owned by James Knowlton, and operated with
assistance from his daughter, Tammy Frontz. They are a company
that has the ability to maintain a wide range of customers
from engineers to food manufacturers. Besides being an Ashland
Area Chamber member, this shop has never done any
advertising. They
rely on the quality of their work and their customers to do
the advertising for them. They ensure
high-quality work by, "getting it done as quickly and
economically as possible," says Tammy. However, with their
best year ever last year, and this year looking even better it
appears that their success story is just beginning. But their real success
comes from survival.
Knowlton
Machines started with only three employees. This small shop
has managed to succeed when "the big guys in Cleveland" could
not. When Dalton
Foundry closed, the shop was hurt badly. However, they managed
to pick up another large customer and never even had to lay
anyone off.
According to owner James Knowlton, losing Dalton
Foundry, changed the way they had to do business. Dalton was low-tech
parts. The loss
forced them to expand and get more technical, now they have
more variety and are able to do several different parts. They acquired a new
SNC mill, which allows them to engrave on parts. This machine has been
a great addition to their other capabilities. With help of this
machine and a quality group of employees, Knowlton Machines
hopes to continue to grow. Their success has been
in their ability to adapt to change and continue to progress
as a company.
This kind of success is important to a small
company. They
have plans in the future to expand their production capability
to enhance their ability to serve clients.
For more information
please contact Tammy Frontz at 419-281-6802 or
tammy@knowltonmachine.com.
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Ohio Tool Works Earns an Award
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