New jobs created in county during 2013

Van Wert independent/economic development information

Unemployment was somewhat level in Van Wert County during 2013 – especially during the past several months – but the county did see job growth during the year.

Unemployment decreased approximately 1.5 points since the first of the year, from 6.85 percent to 6.7 percent, while job creation was favorable in 2013, according to information provided by the top 30 employers in the county.

Van Wert County Economic Development Director Cindy Leis noted that Business Retention & Expansion meetings held with top employers showed that, over the past nine months, the top 30 employers had a net employment increase of 120 jobs. During the past 18 months, Leis said, net job creation was more than double that (260), which she added is a start to closing the gap on the number of jobs lost during the economic downturn that began in 2008.

While the county continues to recover from 2008, local companies that reported an increase during 2013 include Braun Industries (50 new jobs), Toledo Molding & Die (75 new jobs), Unverferth Manufacturing (18 new positions) and several other companies.

“The accumulated results indicate an upward trend in new jobs for the county,” Leis noted.

The economic development director also said that, while job increases are only based on a select list of county employers, the results are still significant in terms of the overall impact to the community’s economy.

According to an input-output modeling method using a nationally recognized tool called IMPLAN (IMpact analysis for PLANing), new jobs have impact on other sectors of the economy, such as goods and services provided by retail stores, medical facilities, food services and transportation. For instance, if Van Wert County were to attract 1,000 new jobs to a site such as the Jobs Ready Site (megasite), the impact on the community would be significant, adding an additional 555 jobs in other economic sectors.

In the coming year, Leis said, Braun already has plans to hire an additional 20 new employees, while National Door & Trim estimates it will add 30 new jobs. The economic development director said that attracting new businesses to the county will likely be the most significant factor in local job growth.

Vision Industrial Park still has more than 70 acres available, while there are also other sites available throughout the county, Leis noted.

Priorities for her office in 2014 will be retaining existing jobs and creating new ones through business attraction and expansion. Also a priority will be to complete the certification process on the 1,600-acre industrial megasite on the northeast side of Van Wert through the Ohio Jobs Ready Site (JRS) program. Projects that receive funding through the JRS program must satisfy stringent industry standards in order to receive certification, Leis said.

“These standards were developed by the Ohio Department Services Agency and third-party engineering and site selection firms that have a large number of years’ experience in commercial and industrial development,” she explained.

Having the certification ensure future investors that the property will meet site selection standards, as well as include the necessary attributes sought by leading corporations.

In addition to JRS certification, Leis said she is also seeking certification under American Electric Power’s site evaluation and certification program. To assist with that process, AEP has hired site selection consulting firm McCallum Sweeney Consulting, based in Greenville, S.C.

“Both certifications will increase the chances of identifying prospects and serve as an extended marketing partner with the Van Wert County Economic Development Office,” Leis concluded.