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ASHTABULA COUNTY |
Ashtabula County, at the top of Ohio, is also at the top of the plastics industry. This largest Ohio county has the single largest concentration of plastics makers in the state.
| Ashtabula County hooked itself to the plastics star nearly 50 years ago when the embryonic industry was just gaining ground. In 1948, Robert Morrison opened his Molded Fiber Glass (MFG) plant. Today, most of the county's fiberglass-reinforced plastics makers have MFG alumni in them.
On a per capita basis, Ashtabula County industry makes more plastics than any other place in the U.S. Products range from auto parts and household appliances to cooking utensils and computers. One indication of the strength of Ashtabula's plastics industry is the fact that every car made in the U.S. has one or more Ashtabula County-made parts. MFG today produces compression molded parts, with 500 employees at two Ashtabula plants. The "sandwich" of plastic, resin, glass, resin and plastic is about 30 times stronger than normal plastic. MFG Body Co. was the original molder of the Corvette (in 1953), but today automotive is is only one part of its business. A number of suppliers support Ashtabula County's plastics industry. Plasticolors, for example, supplies additives, primarily pigment dispersions. The company employs 135 in plants in Ashtabula and Jefferson with custom-made colors for such applications as steering wheels, for both domestic and transplant automakers. |
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One of the reasons Ashtabula stands firmly at the top of the plastics industry is because of the level of commitment by the business community to a strong education system. Fourteen firms have joined in METAC -- Manufacturers Education and Training of Ashtabula County -- to take a proactive stance in educating the workforce. "In the long run, this group effort will accelerate Ashtabula's advantages over areas that don't put forth the same effort," says Steve Walling, president and CEO of Plasticolors. "The objective is to develop the best possible entry-level employee."
Another resource for Ashtabula plastics makers is the Kent State University program, which offers an associate degree in polymer engineering.
The county provides strong support in transportation, with rail, deep-water ports and interstates (north-south and east-west). There is a large amount of reasonably priced land in six industrial parks. And the metro markets of Cleveland and Youngstown are just an hour away.
Quality of life is superb. "This is what a majority of the people in the country are looking for -- a safe, small town atmosphere where you know your neighbor and which provides quality education opportunities," says Ray Greenwood, manufacturing manager for Iten Industries. "This is the kind of environment that fosters growth and makes it an attractive environment to locate a plant and to work in."
Insurance and housing costs are much lower than in Cleveland or its suburbs. Business leaders report that, on average, there is a $20,000 differential on a $100,000 house between Ashtabula and the Cleveland suburb of Lake County.
| Ashtabula County's business community is experiencing healthy growth. The county hosts the operations of 15 Fortune 500 firms, but the economy is largely driven by a thriving community of smaller, locally headquartered industries. Iten Industries, for example, which produces high-pressure industrial laminates for diverse applications including electrical insulation, has four plants in the county. Bailey Transportation Products, a thermoset plastics maker for the auto industry, added 33,000 sq. ft. to its Conneaut plant last year -- employment three years ago was 167 and now is 400. Plasticolors is on its third expansion. Premix, a supplier of fiber-reinforced plastics and molded parts for the auto industry and applications in electrical equipment and office equipment, moved its operations in Georgetown, Ky., back to Ashtabula County because of the skills in the workforce and technology in the Ashtabula plant. Andover Industries, a custom injection molder for the auto industry, has been in Ashtabula County for over 40 years, rapidly expanding its work force from 300 to 800 in the last three years. Several other companies are closing divisions in other areas and bringing operations back to Ashtabula. |
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Business and civic leaders, united under the Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County, have gone out of their way to assist new companies moving to the area. The Partnership can help companies develop business plans, cut red tape, find financing and select sites. Companies undertaking new facilities are assigned a permanent project manager who runs interference for the company so that it can focus on business.
| Allen County | OHiO ENGINEERED MATERIALS |
Auglaize & Mercer Counties |
