Ohio Electric Control, Inc. (OEC), established in 1978 and now led by President Bob McMullen and his staff, will soon make its much-anticipated transition into the Ashland Business Park. The manufacturer of electric control panels and many other components for the pump industry has experienced great success in recent years at their Cleveland Avenue location. As production space became limited, expansion into the Ashland Park was the perfect solution. The 8.8 acre site (see the location and overall City business development plan in the aerial left) will also accommodate a recent acquisition of OEC-Precision Design, which was located on Clark Avenue in Ashland. OEC purchased this company in September of 2005 and has renamed it Precision Design II. The firm will continue to provide high quality products and services including design engineering of printed circuit boards, custom software programming, machine automation, and custom control panels.

AACED and the City of Ashland are very proud to tell the OEC story. Accommodating the growth of homegrown family firms is an important reason for the City's investment in its Business Park. These firms not only offer great jobs to local citizens, but they are often very active in the community. For example, Bob McMullen's late father and OEC founder Jack was instrumental in forming the Ashland County Small Manufacturers' Council. Current OEC leadership remains active in this group that offers opportunities for local firms to share best practices and hear from industry experts. Strengthening these Ashland roots and helping them grow new wealth for our area will always be a focus of AACED. Congratulations, Ohio Electric Control!

The North Central State College and the Richland County Workforce Investment Advisory Board (WIA) received a $1.9 million dollar training grant in 2005 from the Ohio Department of Development for its Region 6 area. Region 6 is a 9 county area that includes Ashland County.

The training is targeted toward advanced manufacturing skills. The goal is to retrain current workers to improve their skills and qualify them for advancement. The only two requirements for potential candidates are that they show a birth certificate and that if they are a male, age 18-25, they have registered with the Selective Service. Certain training can qualify for 100% grant funding. This training can be done through a local company, or an individual can apply. Training can be done on site, at NC State or the training can be subcontracted with a 3rd party such as the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center. The funding is awarded on a first come first serve basis.

Please call Don Plotts for additional information at 419-755-4758.

To organize training through the Ashland County- West Holmes Career Center, please contact Bob Grundy at 419-606-8210.

Business Appreciation Week will kick off September 9th with the Ashland County Manufacturing is Alive Showcase. Manufacturers make up a large portion of the Ashland County Economy. The events will demonstrate that these businesses are indeed 'alive and well' and will give the public a chance to learn about employment opportunities and the vitality of one the economy's greatest driving forces. The event will include a fair at Ashland University's Ridenour room in the Richard E. and Sandra J. Dauch College of Business and Economics building beginning at 9 am and ending at 3 pm. Manufacturers will display their products, information on their plant, and meet with the public to discuss their employment needs for the future. The public will also be given a chance to tour some local plants and learn about their operations and the day-to-day work of a manufacturer in Ashland. The tours will also begin at 9 am on Saturday, the doors will be open to the following companies: Kitchen Bath & Design Center, Inc, American Augers, Ohio Electric Control, Inc., Ohio Tool Works Corp., Bor-It Manufacturing Co., Inc, and Ashland Express Warehouse.

If you would like more information regarding the events of the Ashland County Manufacturing is Alive Showcase, please contact Robert Stimpert at the Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative at (419) 289-5295 or email at rstimper@ashland.edu.

Mayor Strine's Golden Oak Award Ceremony will also take place during the week. The Mayor of Ashland gives this award to individuals or organizations that have made great strides in improving the economic climate, quality of life and/or pride in Ashland. The award recognizes the foresight, diligence and unselfishness of individuals or organizations that contribute to new growth and strengthen the roots and/or improve the overall community of Ashland. Other events of the week include, a networking event in the Northern part of the county, a Manufacturer's Round Table discussion, the publication of statistics depicting the impact of health care facilities and industries around Ashland County.

For more information please contact us at (419) 289- 3200.

Evan Scurti, Director of Ashland Area Council for Economic Development toured Mohican area campgrounds and recreational facilities on July 24 with Jerrilynn Leckrone of the Loudonville/Mohican Area Chamber of Commerce. The majority of the campgrounds and recreational facilities are open for business. On Monday, the current river report shows the water level at green/yellow, which signifies caution but open for rentals, children under 10 must go in rafts, life jackets must be work, etc. (Please check with individual liveries for specifics).

There has been a misconception that all campgrounds and recreational facilities are closed in the Mohican area. Please help spread the word that this is not the case and that indeed a majority of the businesses are open.

Upcoming Mohican area events:

Flightjunkies (paragliders) reunion at a farm just south of the Township Road 211 bridge off of Wally Road about six miles South of Loudonville. The Reunion will run this Thursday through Sunday. Area residents are encouraged to go down and watch the powergliders.

Loudonville-Mohican Chamber of Commerce is having its first summer luau on Saturday, 7/29 at the home of George and Shirley Haudenschild, five miles east of Loudonville on Holmes County Road 22 at 6:00 p.m. Please call the Chamber office at 419-994-4789 for additional information.

Pine Run Grist Mill clean-up, Saturday, 7/29 at 8:00 a.m. For more information, please call Mark Smith at 419-541-0161

Mohican Blues Festival, at Mohican Reservation, Saturday August 19, 2006 - 1-877-NEW-FEST or www.bluesinvasion.com for additional information.