2008 Annual Report
Impact of Ohio's Tax Reform
The full report is available in interactive and PDF versions on ther website, and can be found at http://www.ohiomeansbusiness.com/year2tax_report/index.php
Annual Report 2008
Jamie N Beier Grant, Director
The Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (OCIC) serves as the lead economic development agency by advancing, encouraging, and promoting the industrial, economic, commercial, and civic development of Ottawa County. These efforts in 2008 created an environment in Ottawa County where existing businesses were able to continue to compete and grow in the worldwide marketplace while efforts continued to attract new companies to the area.
In May, the OCIC broke ground on a new speculative building in the Lake Winds Industrial Park. Financed in part with significant grant funds and low interest loan from the State of Ohio, the 50,000 square foot spec building was designed to enhance business attraction and expansion prospects, and as an alternative to many of the existing older industrial buildings. Prior to the building’s completion, OCIC began working with a local company looking to expand its existing operations. Transfer of the building will occur in 2009 with at least ten additional job opportunities resulting from its acquisition.
The month of July saw two significant developments occur in the industrial sector. On July 14th, Brush Wellman broke ground on a new facility at its Elmore site. The “Pebble Plant”, estimated to cost about $90 million, will provide the Department of Defense a reliable domestic source of pure beryllium pebbles used in their defense activities. Resulting in at least twenty-five new job opportunities, the company anticipates project completion in 2009.
July 22nd was the date of the ribbon cutting for the new Fenner Dunlop expansion. This 70,000 square foot addition, costing about $42 million, will enable the company to produce a ninety-six inch conveyor belt, used primarily in the mining industries. Fifty-five new job opportunities will result from the plant expansion, a welcome addition for County workers.
A fire in December of 2007 destroyed Ray & Jetts Café in Genoa, Ohio. Through the efforts of the OCIC, about $265,000 of low interest loans were obtained to assist in the reconstruction of the restaurant. Groundbreaking for the facility was in early August and the restaurant was open to the public in late November. A ribbon cutting ceremony will occur in early January of 2009.
The County’s first Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) was discussed for land in the area of the Ohio Turnpike exit in the Elmore Area. The JEDD will require the political subdivision in Ottawa and Sandusky counties to work cooperatively towards the development of job creating activities, both commercial and industrial, that will benefits all of the involved communities. This process will continue in 2009.
A final initiative of the OCIC in November of 2008 was the preparation and submission of a grant application in the amount of $200,000 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on behalf of the Ottawa County Commissioners. The grant will provide funds to local communities that can be used to conduct Phase I & II environmental assessments on properties proposed for future economic development activities. A decision from the U.S. EPA is expected in mid-2009.
