February 13, 2007

Greg Meyer - Wapakoneta Area Economic Development Council

Greg Meyer, former NB/NK Rotary Member and current director of the Wapakoneta Area Economic Development Council braved the winter elements to travel from Cridersville to address the club about the Council and some of the economic issues in Ohio and the area. 

He shared that the economy in Ohio is not what it seems based on some of the political rhetoric that abounded during the fall elections.  According to the Site Selection publication, Ohio was #1 in economic development over Texas in 2006.  85% of the economic development comes from within Ohio communities and 15% is from outside sources.

Recent tax reforms have provided substantial incentives for attracting new businesses and expanding existing ones.  With a workforce of over 5.4M people, Ohio has more than the total populations of 31 other states.  With 500,000 high school students and 550,000 college students in the state, the workforce is positioned for new vitality.  If Ohio were a nation, its economy would rank 24th in the world and ranks 3rd among the 50 states in terms of manufacturing Gross Sales Product.

Greg also shared about the state's Job Ready Sites Grant Program and how under this program, regional projects have been awarded over $8M including $1.5M in Wapakoneta, $3.25M in Lima and $3.5M in Van Wert.  Planning for the Van Wert site is for a 1900 acre mega-manufacturing site. In Lima, a 15 acre Tech Center complex is planned and in Wapakoneta, a multi-acre site is planned for south of town and bounded by 25A to the West, I75 to the East, SR 33 to the North and Puseta Creek to the South.

For more information on the Development Council, follow this link.

Hosting Rotarian: Jerry Lehman