Talk distribution in the Midwest and you have to talk mid-Ohio. Columbus is the fastest growing metro area in the state and is replete with logistics possibilities -- an all-cargo airport at Rickenbacker, the busy intersection of two interstate highways and multiple railyards comprise the Inland Port package.

That's why suburban communities like Obetz on the south side and Gahanna on the east are targeting distribution, particularly for food processors. Both communities are members of a new regional organization, the Mid-Ohio Development Exchange, designed to streamline development in this rapid growth corridor.

	One large distributor in Obetz is ProSource (formerly Martin Brower), supplying food, paper goods and proprietary products to such restaurants as Red Lobster, Olive Garden, TGI Fridays and Chiles. The company serves 1,250 restaurants in the Midwest and Northeast out of its 186,000-sq. ft. Obetz facility.
ProSource supplies over 1,000 restaurants from Obetz.

Jim Russell, Village Administrator, enumerates the distribution advantages: "We are blessed with both east-west and north-south rail service. Obetz is close to Rickenbacker, I-70 and I-71 and is on several major state routes."

Obetz provides services that Columbus can't. In one innovative program, the village shows Obetz employers the benefits in on-time attendance and productivity by providing employees with a bonus that could be used for purchasing housing in the village.

Obetz is a blue collar community, whose population of 3,500 swells to 12,000 when employees arrive at work. The village is striving to upgrade its labor force skills. Any resident or employee of an Obetz business can attend an intense five-week basic business skills course. The village has developed courses specifically for materials handling and distribution.

Obetz is fortunate in available land, recently picking up exclusive development rights for 5,000 acres. The village is now developing its third industrial park -- which will have about 8.5 million sq. ft. under roof, with rail service on a limited access highway. Sites in Obetz are several thousand dollars an acre less than at nearby Rickenbacker.

The village operates a dual water system, which is appreciated by companies like Shasta, which bottles beverages in Obetz.

Obetz invests in infrastructure in advance of demand. "If a community is going to focus on distribution it has to pay attention to traffic patterns and road improvements," says Russell.

Gahanna, too, is pursuing distribution with success. Among large facilities are McGraw-MacMillan's publications distribution facility and a PetsMart food and supplies unit.

The fast-growing city of 35,000 is just five minutes from Port Columbus, and its 500 acres of industrial and distribution parks are close to the airport and the interstates.

Gahanna sells a great location. I-670 is the city's private driveway to Columbus and a major access route to I-71. It's just 10 minutes from Gahanna to downtown Columbus.

Two large regional pizza makers are headquartered in Gahanna. One is Donato's, growing from a one-stand operation to a large chain that also developed and markets pizza-making equipment. Companies like food equipment maker Wolfking find Gahanna a convenient location for reaching customers throughout the Midwest, East Coast and Southeast.
	Wolfking, a Danish company, assembles the "Cadillac" of meat processing equipment in Gahanna. New products being introduced in the U.S. include a ham cooking line that uses high frequency heating to reduce cooking time from several hours to two minutes, and a new product that measures the fat content of meat, particularly useful to fast food franchisers which want to offer lower fat sandwiches.

"This is important," says president Jan Erik Kuhlman, "because we rely heavily on our ability to visit our customers regularly to service the equipment and to overcome any obstacles to buying foreign-made equipment."

	Meigs County		Pike County
	Mid-Ohio / Obetz and Gahanna		Mercer and Auglaize Counties
	Hardin County		Marion County
	Village of Leipsic		West Central Ohio
	Medina County		Fostoria