Dear
Reader:
I hope
you'll find this edition of our newsletter both
interesting and encouraging. As we
start to wrap up the year, our office has been very busy
trying to accomplish some important 2007 Goals &
Objectives. As we prepare for 2008, I
hope you will contact us with your thoughts regarding
some specific economic development projects/initiatives
that you believe are important for Ashland
County. Below is just a quick
reminder of what we outlined for ourselves heading into
2007, with a brief update on how we're doing (visit our
website for a more complete list).
Research
and begin to implement cutting-edge workforce
development solutions.
UPDATE:
AACED has been working closely with Job and
Family Services (JFS) and the Career Center on two
primary projects: First, in
anticipation of the North Central Ohio region receiving
$1.8 million from the State to assist manufacturing
firms in their incumbent worker training (grant decision
expected in mid-December), we have assembled a local
committee that will meet with companies seeking these
incentives. In addition to the
$150,000 that would be allocated to Ashland County
companies, the AACED Board has pledged an additional
$25,000 should that money be fully expended.
This regional incumbent training program is
seeking a continuation of its inaugural two-year
cycle. AACED believes it is a great
incentive program in an era when human capital is a
driver of growth. These dollars will
help companies pursue new product lines and new
production strategies, while strengthening the careers
of their employees.
Secondly,
AACED and JFS are working in close partnership to
develop other local incentive products for companies'
training needs. We are also
co-hosting a State seminar on December 19th,
9-11am at AACED offices, on how to utilize the State's
job matching program. In summary, we
believe we are following the State's lead in aligning
workforce and economic development, in order to drive
economic growth.
Assemble
task forces to address key redevelopment sites,
primarily Dalton Foundry,
Hospira properties, and the former Wal-Mart
plaza.
UPDATE:
Some of these vacant buildings/sites are moving
back into productive reuse faster than
others. Hospira executives have
visited several times from the Chicago office to meet
with City and Community Improvement Corp.
leaders. They are working closely
with us on creating and evaluating opportunities for the
redevelopment of the 4th
St. complex. We are very appreciative
of Hospira's willingness to work with us in order to
receive the greatest economic impact from the future
uses of these properties.
Dalton
Foundry executives, thus far, have not agreed to begin
preliminary testing to bring their very marketable 30
acres (with great access to US 250 and rail) "on the
market". AACED will resurrect this
discussion in '08, and we welcome any suggestions from
interested citizens.
Another
example is the former General Latex building on
Cleveland Ave. AACED has been assisting a local group
trying to finalize negotiations with parent company Dow
Chemical. AACED's service has been in
the form of identifying strong tenants to help the
prospective owner achieve a return on
investment. I am confident we will
have a success story very soon.
Focusing on these idle properties is not only a
good reuse of assets, it helps our local firms in their
search for expansion space, while also improving the
appearance of our county.
Develop
strategies to place
AshlandCounty
into the forefront of the Renewable Fuels (ethanol,
biodiesel, etc.) production process.
UPDATE:
AACED has expanded on this goal by becoming an
active member of the Bioscience Consortium of Northeast
Ohio, which is rooted in Ashland County.
This group is putting our county "on the map" not
just for renewable fuels, but for all types of
bioscience firms. We are pleased to
report that discussions are underway with an Ohio firm
that has just started its "Pilot Manufacturing Plant"
for a bioscience manufacturing process.
Their desire to locate a permanent plant in
Ashland would mean a minimum of 10 new jobs.
More on this exciting project as the pilot phase
is completed in about 6 months.
Complete
two Retention&Expansion assistance projects carried
over from 2006-a utility upgrade and major capital
investment, respectively.
UPDATE:
This goal refers to the American Augers and Mansfield
Plumbing projects. AACED successfully
wrote grant applications to help Ashland County receive
$340,000 in State grant dollars to build an electric
substation for American Augers' growth.
The grant agreement documents are currently being
reviewed by the County prior to any
construction. Should this project
move forward, NO county monies would be
obligated; the Commissioners are instead serving as a
conduit in this creative infrastructure
program. American Augers has already
hired 12 of the 25 new employees they committed to as
part of the grant.
Assembling
government incentives for a proposed multi-million
dollar Mansfield Plumbing plant modernization is also
being explored. Our goal is to
achieve a solid local-State partnership with Mansfield
Plumbing and their parent company Organizacion de
Corona. The potential is for the
Perrysville facility to become the nation's premiere
sanitaryware production facility.
Of course,
these projects are in addition to our day-to-day work
throughout the year. Other activities
include continued work with Ashland Railway, especially
as it prepares to build a spur to the Ashland Business
Park. Inside is a profile of Ashland
Railway's successful growth. You'll
also find reminders of important upcoming
seminars. In short, I hope this
summary reveals the high level of activity our office
has seen in recent months. Ours is a
local economy with innovative entrepreneurs and problem
solvers that are constantly challenging us to address
economic weaknesses and build on local
strengths. Please help us continue in
these efforts throughout 2008. What
else should we be doing to strengthen the Ashland County
economy and the job opportunities associated with
it? Our door is always
open. Stay tuned for a detailed
2007 Annual Report in February and our next newsletter
in January.
To the
governmental and private investors in AACED: THANK YOU
for a great 2007! Our economic
development program is obviously impossible without
you.
Have
a wonderful Holiday Season!
