This editorial survey of economic development opportunities in Ohio's agri-industry was prepared by the staff of Conway Data under the sponsorship of the Ohio Dept. of Development, First Frontier Fund. For further information, contact Dave Claborn, Ohio Dept. of Development, 77 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Telephone: (614) 644-8774. Fax: (614) 644-0745. An Ohio information kit is available by calling 800-345-OHIO. Or visit Ohio's home page: http://www.ohiobiz.com.
Location:
West Central Ohio
Population:
Clark County: 150,000.
Champaign County: 36,700.
Fayette County: 28,000
Transportation:
Road: I-70 through Clark County; U.S. 36 and U.S. 68 in Champaign County; I-71 through Fayette County.
Rail: Indiana & Ohio Central Railroad, CSX, CN North America, Conrail.
Air: Dayton International Airport, 20 miles from Springfield.
Major Employers:
Dow Brands Chemical, Grimes Aerospace and Fox River Paper/Howard Paper in Champaign County; Navistar International and Gordon Foods in Clark County; and Calmar and Mid-Ohio Chemicals Co. in Fayette County.
Further information:
Larry W. Himes
West Central Ohio Port Authority, P.O. Box 2639, Springfield, Ohio 45501
Telephone: (513) 324-7753
Fax: (513) 328-3496
Location:
North Central Ohio
Population:
Fostoria: 14,980.
Seneca County: 59,930
Transportation:
Road: U.S. 224 and 23.
Rail: CSX, Norfolk Southern.
Air: Toledo Express, 35 miles.
Major Employers:
Allied Signal/Autolite, Cummins Engine/Atlas, Roppe Co., ADM, Mennel, Quality Farm & Fleet
Further information:
Dennis J. Hellmann, Executive Director
Fostoria Economic Development Corp., 121 N. Main Street, Fostoria, Ohio 44830
Telephone: (419) 435-7789
Fax: (419) 435-0936
Location:
Franklin County, Columbus metro area
Population:
Gahanna: 35,000.
Obetz: 3,500.
Columbus Metro Area: 1.4 million
Transportation:
Road:
Gahanna is 6 miles from I-70 and I-71.
Obetz is on I-270 and is 6 miles from I-71 and 7 miles from I-70.
Rail:
Obetz is served by CSX and Norfolk & Western.
Gahanna is served by the Ohio Shortline, CSX and Conrail.
Air:
Gahanna is adjacent to Port Columbus.
Obetz is 9 miles from Port Columbus and two miles from the all-cargo airport at Rickenbacker.
Further information on Gahanna:
Curtiss L. Williams, Director of Development
Gahanna Dept. of Development, 200 S. Hamilton Road, Gahanna, Ohio 43230
Telephone: (614) 471-5059
Fax: (614) 337-4381
E-mail:cwilliams@ee.net
World Wide Web: http://www.gahanna.k12.oh.us/city/
Further information information on Obetz:
Jim S. Russell, Village Administrator
1611 Chillicothe Street, Obetz, Ohio 43207
Telephone: (614) 491-1080
Fax: (614) 491-7507
Location:
North Central Ohio
Population:
32,719
Transportation:
Road: On U.S. 68. I-75, 26 miles.
Rail: Conrail.
Air: Port Columbus, 66 miles. Hardin County Airport has a 4,200-ft. runway.
Major Employers:
Rockwell International, Imperial Bondware, Durez Occidental Chemicals, Precision Strip, Wilson Sporting Goods
Further information:
Carolyn Gilbertsen, Executive Director
Hardin Chamber & Economic Development, Liberty National Bank Building, 100 E. Franklin Street, Suite 2000, Kenton, Ohio 43326
Telephone: (419) 673-4131
Fax: (419) 674-4876
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Linus Braun, one of several Mercer County farmers raising ostriches, shows off a golden egg. The meat from the ungainly birds is sold as a specialty item in Columbus restaurants, and the plumage is used by automakers to whisk the dust from freshly minted vehicles. |  |
Location:
Putnam County, Northwest Ohio.
Population:
Village: 2,203.
Putnam County: 33,819
Transportation:
Road: U.S. 224.
Rail: CSX, Norfolk Southern, Canadian National-GTW.
Air: Toledo Express, 60 miles.
Major Employers:
Pro-Tec, Crabar Business Systems
Further information:
James R. Russell, Village Administrator
215 S. Belmore Street, Leipsic, Ohio 45856
Telephone: (419) 943-2009
Fax: (419) 943-2010
Location:
Central Ohio, 40 miles north of Columbus.
Population:
Marion County: 65,000
Transportation:
Road: On U.S. 23.
Rail: Conrail, CSX, Norfolk Southern.
Air: Port Columbus, 50 minutes. Marion Municipal Airport has two runways, with facilities for corporate aircraft.
Major Employers:
Whirlpool, Wyandot, GTE
Further information:
Steve Erickson, President
CAN DO!, 206 S. Prospect St., Marion, Ohio 43302
Telephone: (800) 841-7302
Fax: (614) 387-5522
GeoFax #81831
Location:
Northeast Ohio, adjacent to the Cleveland, Lorain/Elyria and Akron metro areas
Population:
139,524
Transportation:
Road: Interstates 71, 271, 76 and 77; U.S. 224.
Rail: Wheeling & Lake Erie.
Air: Cleveland Hopkins International, 30 minutes. Akron-Canton, 33 miles. Private facilities at Medina County Airport
Major Employers:
MTD Products, Schneider Trucking; Gowe Printing; Plasti-Kote; Par Industries; Nabisco Brands.
Further information:
Fred H. Huff, Director
Medina County Economic Development Corp., 144 North Broadway, Medina, Ohio 44256
Telephone: (330) 722-9215
Fax: (330) 722-9206
Location:
Southeast Ohio
Population:
23,436
Transportation:
Road: U.S. 33 and 32.
Rail: Conrail, C&O.
Air: Commercial service at Wood County (W. Va.) Airport. Private and charter service at Gallia Meigs Regional Airport.
Water: On the Ohio River
Major Employers:
Southern Ohio Coal Co.; Midwest Steel.
Further information:
Julia Houdashelt, Economic Development Director
Meigs County Economic Development Office 238 W. Main Street, Pomeroy, Ohio 45769
Telephone: (614) 992-5005
Fax: (614) 992-7942
Location:
West Ohio
Population:
Mercer County: 39,972.
Auglaize County: 45,983
Transportation:
Road: I-75 and U.S. 33 through Auglaize County; U.S. 33 and 127 through Mercer County.
Rail: R.J. Corman shortline.
Major Employers:
Huffy Bicycle, Agco, Cooper Foods and Reynolds & Reynolds in Mercer County; Crown Equipment, Dannon, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Minster Machine Co., and Amcast in Auglaize County.
Further information:
Larry Stelzer, Economic Development Director
Mercer County Community Development Dept., Mercer County Courthouse, 101 N. Main Street, Room 104, Celina, Ohio 45822
Telephone: (419) 586-4209, (419) 586-2963
Fax: (419) 586-1714
Auglaize County
Kurt Kuffner, Auglaize County Administrator
Courthouse, P.O. Box 330, Wapakoneta,
Ohio 45895
Telephone: (419) 738-3612
Fax: (419) 738-4713
Location:
South Central Ohio
Population:
25,268
Transportation:
Road: State Route 32 (the Appalachian Highway, scheduled for upgrading to I-74), and U.S. 23 (scheduled for upgrading to I-73).
Air: Port Columbus, 60 miles
Major Employers:
Lockheed Martin, Mill's Pride.
Further information:
Blaine Beekman, Executive Director
Pike County Chamber of Commerce, 303 E. Emmitt Avenue, Waverly, Ohio 45690
Telephone: (614) 947-7715
Fax: (614) 947-7716
