VWCEDG’s 2013 annual dinner held

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Awards were handed out and economic development celebrated during the 2013 Van Wert County Economic Development Annual Dinner held Thursday at Willow Bend Country Club.

The event, sponsored by Van Wert County Hospital, Central Insurance Company and Citizens National Bank, featured an update on local economic development activity, as well as special awards and speaker Paul Zito, vice president of JobsOhio’s Northwest Region.

Cindy Leis, Van Wert economic development director, first provided an update on development successes over the past 12 months. On the list was Vantage Career Center’s $35 million renovation and expansion project and its solar and wind alternative energy projects; a total of $160,000 disbursed in revolving loan fund loans; Cool Machines purchase of the Van Wert Innovation Center; and expansion and renovation projects by several local businesses, including National Door & Trim, Van Wert Terminal, Eaton, Unverferth Manufacturing, Van Wert County Hospital, First Financial Bank, the Van Wert County Common Pleas Courtroom renovation and the new Sears store renovation project.

Leis also talked about the successes of Ridgeview Hospital, located in the former county home; Wassenberg Art Center’s purchase and renovation of the former Van Wert Armory building; Cooper Farms’ 75th anniversary and its wind turbine project; and the location of six new businesses – Simply Irresistible, Once I Was, Cakecrazy, R&R Employment, Smith & Sons Firearms and the Embroidery Coop, in the downtown area. Other new local businesses include Ruler Foods Label Shopper, Hall’s Custom Meats, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Westwood Senior Apartments and Little Caesar’s Pizza.

Main Street Van Wert Program Manager Adam Ries was also moved to full-time status, while Iberdrola Renewables signed a lucrative contract with Ohio State University to provide wind power to the university.

Several businesses also hired employees this year, including Eaton Corporation, Braun Industries and Toledo Molding & Die.

Zito talked about the importance of collaboration between local, regional and state economic agencies and entities in bringing development to Ohio. He also stated his opinion that Van Wert County is perfectly situated for economic development, with the 1,600-acre megasite, Vantage Career Center’s training facilities and the many other amenities the county offers to prospective businesses.

Special awards were also handed out on Thursday, with Miller Precision Manufacturing receiving the Small Enterprise of the Year Award, Toledo Molding & Die the “Large Enterprise of the Year Award, Vantage the Outstanding Workforce Partner Award and Denise Frey the Volunteer of the Year Award for her contributions to a number of area development entities, including Main Street Van Wert and the Van Wert County Economic Development Advisory Group, of which she is president.

Frey said she was surprised, but thrilled, to receive the volunteer award. “I am speechless,” Frey said, noting that she was born and raised in the county and raised her family here. “You don’t do it for the recognition … you do it to give back to your community.”

Leis complimented Vantage on its contributions to county development, and specifically to Vantage’s workforce training efforts.

Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer spoke of the city’s economic successes, while County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger and County Business Outreach Coordinator Sarah Smith both talked about the county’s efforts to partner with Leis on economic development.

Frey handed over the gavel to incoming Economic Development Group President Staci Kaufman to end the dinner.