Recent projects

Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County is committed to assisting businesses throughout the county. The staff at Growth Partnership works diligently to spur economic development through business relocation, retention, and expansion projects. We would like to share with you a few projects that have taken place over the past several months.

Saybrook Township Park Commission Hopes to Create Tupilo Park
February brought Growth Partnership the opportunity to help the Saybrook Township Park Commission vie for $64,000 in Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant dollars. These monies would be used to create a park on the 35.5 acres located at the corner of Route 45 and North Bend Road. This land was graciously donated to the commission, made up of Jeff Forinash, Patricia Shells and Dave Dragon, by The Ashtabula Foundation. If these monies from the Natureworks and Land and Water Conservation Grant Programs are awarded, the commission will create a 2400-foot long, eight (8) foot wide gravel trail winding through the acreage. A footbridge also would be built to easily span the small creek that runs through the land and adds to the beauty of the site. A 50’ X 30’ parking lot will also be created for easy public access.

This site is full of nature and will hopefully be a dream come true for nature lovers of all ages. In an environmental assessment done for the commission it is noted there are many species of plants and animals on the property as well as what could possibly be one of the states largest Swamp White Oak trees!

The award of the grants will not be announced until late summer 2008.

This project is a shining example of what Ashtabula County has to offer.

Austinburg, Ohio lands Canadian plant, first in U.S.
Barring any last minute issues, the Coffee Creek Industrial Park in Austinburg soon will become the new American headquarters for the RTS Companies of Canada.

Joseph Mayernick, executive director of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, today announced RTS, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is expecting to close a deal in early March to buy the assets (land, building and equipment) of NEO Plastics, 2900 Industrial Road in Austinburg.

“This is fantastic news for Ashtabula County,” Mayernick said. “RTS once was the largest customer of NEO Plastics, soon it will be the newest member of our industrial community. We look forward to having RTS as another partner in moving our county forward.”

RTS manufactures numerous rotational molded products at its Waterloo facility and has been producing items in Austinburg for the last month. RTS manufactures playground components, home accent products, shopping carts (including the popular race car cart) and store fixtures.

“We look forward to a long-term relationship with Ashtabula County and the community in Austinburg,” said Mike Panayi, a partner with RTS. “We are only a few days from closing and we can’t wait to implement processes and procedures to improve efficiencies and ramp up production at 2900 Industrial Park Road. The team on our end is really excited. We have already taken copies of the building plans and are looking at ways to implement a true production line with built-in efficiencies.”

In addition to maintaining 19 existing jobs at the former NEO site, Mayernick said RTS will be creating new positions here and expanding the footprint of the former NEO building.

“If all goes according to plan, Mayernick said, “RTS will move ahead quickly with its expansion plans, thus adding more dollars to our economy. This entire process represents another save for Ashtabula County but more importantly, a new investment from a Canadian company which is well respected with substantial abilities to add to the plant and to the county over the years.”

RTS is the plastics division of Canbar, a company founded in 1872. RTS is one of the oldest roto molders in Canada. Today, the firm is the largest roto molder in Canada, operating out of 60,000 square feet in Waterloo.

“We have come to realize that Ashtabula County offers a quality workforce,” Panayi said. “We believe that our acquisition of the assets at 2900 Industrial Road will be a win-win situation for all involved—the region, the workers and RTS Companies (U.S.) Inc.”

Mayernick pointed out additional wins could be in Ashtabula County’s future thanks to the relationship built with RTS.

“The ties we have established already are paying dividends,” he said. “Growth Partnership will be leading a Team NEO visit to Canada in April designed to bring dialogue with other Canadian firms looking to relocate. This visit is directly related to the relationship we have developed with RTS.”

Growth Partnership draws high praise from RTS officials
The economic development team at Growth Partnership drew high praise from a Canadian industrialist for helping to foster a “win-win situation for RTS Companies (U.S.) Inc. and Ashtabula County.

In a letter to GP, Mike Panayi, a principal of RTS, said, “without the work of Growth Partnership, we would not be in the process of purchasing the assets of NEO Plastics.”

“When we were first approached by the receiver at NEO Plastics to purchase the assists of the company, we really weren’t interested in purchasing the Austinburg plant,” Panayi wrote. “Manufacturing in North America is really hurting right now due to competitive forces from aboard. Furthermore, we have the same capabilities in Canada, utilizing for the most part the same machinery and equipment.

“Further complicating our decision was the fact that we are not familiar with operating a manufacturing entity in the U.S. As similar as the Canadian and U.S. cultures are, we have found significant differences in a number of areas. It hasn’t been easy, but the Growth Partnership team has always been there for us.”

Panayi praised Growth Partnership for its work “from the first day we met at your office. You and your team took the time to explain the environment, set up meetings to introduce us to local and state officials, arrange for meetings with banks and act as sounding board for all of our questions and issues.”

The RTS official said Growth Partnership was “involved as we tried to navigate through environmental and building inspections, introducing us to the appropriate people, as well as bringing local trades to the table regarding the proposed building expansion. You were there to act as a liaison for us when dealing with banks, finding alternate ways of bridging the gap and to make sure the deal did not fall through the cracks.”

“I think it is a given that RTS Companies (U.S.) Inc. would not be there had it not been for the Growth Partnership team,” Panayi wrote. “We would have walked away from the acquisition of the land, building and equipment at 2900 Industrial Road long ago had it not been for GP’s continuous involvement on a daily basis, most times several times a day.

It is without question that RTS has come to consider the Growth Partnership team as part of our team. Whenever we ran into an obstacle, you were only a phone call away, always resourceful and willing to help. I don’t remember every receiving such high level of support and commitment for any other entity, public or private.’

King Luminaire
King Luminaire, located in Jefferson, will be adding on a 7,000 square foot building to be used for warehousing inventory. This project is a $216,000 investment and will retain 49 jobs. The company has been granted 60% tax abatement for five years by the Ashtabula County Commissioners, allowing the project to become reality. King Luminaire will also be investing in a bar coding system to organize the new warehouse. The company manufactures decorative outdoor lighting for a diverse set of customers including electric utility companies, distributors, contractors, and municipalities.

DelPriore, Interim Leadership for Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County
Susan Stocker, Ph.D., President of the Board of Trustees of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County announces today that Joseph DelPriore of Ashtabula will be providing interim leadership of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County. "We are excited that DelPriore will be working with us, as we begin the search for permanent leadership," says Stocker.

DelPriore will bridge the gap between late June completion of Joseph Mayernick's 20 ½ year term of office and the completion of the selection process. DelPriore states he "Intends to help with the transition to assure that Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County continues its mission and success to retain and to attract jobs, and to assure the continuation and growth of the organization."

DelPriore, an Ashtabula resident, retired President of the Pinney Dock Company, will begin his tenure in the next couple of weeks. He is a graduate of Capital University, served as Ashtabula County Commissioner (1989-1992), was President of Ashtabula City Council in the early 1970s, and retired from Pinney Dock six and one-half years ago, after a distinguished 30-year career.

DelPriore and his wife Mary Kay have two children and three grandchildren.

The Search Committee is comprised of Scott Strayer, Site Manager-Cristal/ Millennium; Mark A. Jones, Manager-External Affairs for First Energy; Peggy Carlo, Ashtabula County Commissioner; James Pearson, City Manager-City of Geneva; Ron Kister, President-Kister Construction; Steve Walling, Chairman/CEO-Plasticolors, Inc.; Martin Kuula, Senior Economic Development Representative-FirstEnergy; and John Yesso, Kent State University, who will coordinate the search process.

The committee will begin its work to identify the goals and the process next week.

Mayernick is completing his tenure on June 19, 2010, after coming here from West Virginia in 1990.

Plastpro Celebrates Five Years in Ashtabula County
Plastpro Inc. had plenty to celebrate during a special event held Saturday afternoon.

For starters, Plastpro celebrated its fifth anniversary of doing business from the North Bend Industrial Park in Saybrook Township. In addition, Plastpro also marked the production of the two millionth door.

"Plastpro definitely has been a first-class addition to the business base in our area," said Joe Mayernick, executive director of Growth Partnership. "In five years between investments, payroll and suppliers, the company has spent $150 million in the Ashtabula County economy. In addition, there are further opportunities coming along for this company."

Mayernick added as part of its five year celebration, Plastpro donated 500 pre-hung doors and $250,000 to Habitat for Humanity.

"The investments made by Plastpro during the course of the last five years have truly impacted the economic well being of our county," Mayernick said. "I want to thank Plastpro Inc. for its belief in Ashtabula County."

GaREAT Recognized by Team Northeast Ohio
Team Northeast Ohio will recognize local economic development efforts that helped retain companies, create jobs and bring foreign investment to the region during the calendar year 2009 at the upcoming Team NEO Economic Development Plus Awards dinner being held June 23 at 5:30 pm at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.

"In 2009, Northeast Ohio communities and economic development organizations completed 115 projects that created more than 3,200 jobs and more than $1 Billion in capital investment," said Tom Waltermire, Team NEO's chief executive officer. "It is important to celebrate the 'wins' that are helping to diversify and advance our economy, and it is critical that the region honor the unsung heroes - the economic developers, communities, and non-profit organizations - who fight daily to make progress."

Team NEO received a record 74 applications from 10 counties for the fourth annual celebration. The GaREAT Sports complex was selected in the Asset Creation category.