BR&E visits show positive economic news

VW independent/Economic Develop. Office

The efforts of the Business Retention and Expansion (BR & E) team continued for the month of July, with positive responses from local companies.

The BR & E team, with representatives from county, municipal governments, educational partners and the Van Wert County Economic Development office, have completed visits to 20 of the 30 county companies that were to be surveyed.

The BR & E survey is a combination of essential questions from JobsOhio, Regional Growth Partnership (RGP), Ohio State University Extension Community Development and the local economic development office to help establish state and federal policies, track trends in the manufacturing sector, identify workforce and training needs, as well as identify at a local level the needs and concerns of companies.

Of the 10 businesses surveyed by the BR & E team in July, the businesses reported they were stable to growing in the areas of employment and sales for 2013.

A positive visit with Braun Industries’ third generation of management, President Kim Braun and Vice President of Quality Solutions Scott Braun, that included representatives from the Regional Growth Partnership, Vice President and NW Ohio JobsOhio Director Gary Thompson and the northwest Ohio liaison to Governor Kasich’s office, Chase Francis, support the belief that companies are rebounding.

The local BR & E team, together with the regional representatives, toured the facility and discussed the recovery from the recession, in terms of sales and employment. Kim Braun was excited to report the current number of employees at the facility at 193 — the highest Braun has experienced in its nearly 50 years of operations.

Since January 2013, the company has hired 50 new employees, with open positions still available. Together with the increase in jobs and a gain in market share, new capital equipment purchases are planned for this year.

Other Van Wert County companies surveyed during the month of July included Advanced Biological Marketing, Baker Built, Bunge, Continental Structural Plastics, Elmco Engineering, Miller Precision, National Door & Trim and TEEM Wholesale. Several of the companies reported new sales and customers, new product offerings, increase in exporting, new equipment investments and building expansions which are all indicators of recovery.

The BR & E team hopes to finish up the remaining businesses by the end of August.  A summary report is expected to be ready for review later in the fall of 2013.  For more information about BR & E efforts, contact the Van Wert County Economic Development office at 419.238.2999.