Troy: Crossroads of America

The intersection of I-70 and I-75 in southwest Ohio is called the "crossroads of America" -- not just because this is where the cross-country I-70 meets the north-south I-75, but also because it is very near the centerpoint of the U.S. population.

Very little land is left for development in the environs of the intersection, one of the fastest growing commercial and industrial corridors in the state. So manufacturers and distributors are widening their site search circle a little. Many times, they center on Troy, just 10 miles north of the I-70/75 cross hairs.

The city of 20,000 population on I-75 in Miami County was the community of choice for such distributors as American Honda and United Retail.

Troy is the national parts center for Honda automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment. The facility is about to take on a much larger role. When Honda begins exporting autos to Latin America from Ohio, the Troy parts depot will serve Mexico, Central and South America -- a region now served from Japan. The Troy unit already keeps Europe supplied with parts.

Parts are brought into the facility, repackaged and distributed to other facilities in the U.S. General manager Rick Doran has to keep track of 180,000 different part numbers housed in the facility.

In addition to distribution, the 680,000-sq. ft. American Honda facility is also the hub of all North American procurement. This is a considerable function -- Honda purchases parts from more than 320 North American suppliers. The Troy site is also an 800 number call center for customer service.

It wasn't just logistics and economics that sold United Retail on a Troy location. It was also "a direct, hands-on selling job" that made the company feel welcome. Troy's sales force is a public/private partnership begun in 1982. The partnership is credited with much of the economic progress the city has witnessed in recent years.
	American Honda's Troy facility is soon to expand its global distribution role with inclusion of Latin America in its sphere of operations.

United Retail opted for Troy after a thorough investigation of 500 potential sites in 10 states over more than two years. "We chose Troy for our Logistics Operation because it can handle fast-track projects and was prepared to do business," says president and CEO Rafael Benaroya.

The New Jersey-based retailer processes merchandise for 900 retail outlets in 37 states, including Sizes Unlimited, The Avenue and 16 Plus. The $100 million construction project, to be completed in three phases, will eventually represent an investment of $100 million and could grow to 1.35 million sq. ft. It includes 6.9 miles of conveyors, 10 miles of garment rail, 1,200 motors and 130 miles of wiring connecting more than 6,000 electrical control devices to the master computer systems.

Its location on I-75 and the availability of well-developed sites makes Troy prime territory for just-in-time suppliers to Honda and to truck-maker Navistar in neighboring Clark County. F&P American Manufacturing, for example, makes automotive suspension parts from its 100,000-sq. ft. Troy plant and distribution center. The Canadian/Japanese company began operations in Troy in 1994.

Dayton International Airport and its Emery Airfreight hub are just a 15-minute drive from Troy. From Dayton International, air travelers can reach 60 percent of the U.S. population, two-thirds of the nation's businesses and over 50 percent of the Canadian population within 90 minutes. The 90-minute driving market encompasses four million people.