Alliance tackles economic development

Create 1,500 new, quality jobs in five years.

That’s the goal of the newly formed Economic Development Alliance of Southern Ohio. The alliance consists of the Ross County Community Improvement Corp., Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce, Ross County Board of Commissioners, city of Chillicothe and businesses which invest in the initiative.

The alliance has three main goals:

• Retain and increase the number of jobs provided by existing industry and business

• Attract new business and industry with an emphasis on targeted segments

• Improve current sites and identify other sites for development

The alliance was formed following the CIC study last year by the Silverlode Consulting Group which identified industry segments which would appear to be a good match with the strengths of Ross County. It also outlined strategies which could be used to attract the industries. Since February, the alliance has worked with Catalyst, a consulting firm in Circleville, to launch a fund-raising campaign called Jobs 2010.

To date, more than $100,000 has been raised. This includes a special challenge grant from the Ross County Board of Commissioners. The board pledged 25 percent of what is raised by the alliance, up to $100,000. The goal is about $300,000 which does not include an additional $115,000 of in-kind contributions.

Of the 1,500 jobs to be created, 900 will come from existing business and industry. In almost all studies, about 80 percent of a community’s growth comes from those already in business who expand their operations and add employees.

The alliance plans to help these businesses include:

• Visit local major employers regularly to determine assistance needed to grow jobs

• Provide technical assistance for expansions and modernizations

• Make local businesses aware of financing and incentive programs available on local, state and national levels

• Aid in workforce development programs

• Build on relationship with OSU Small Business Development Center

The remaining 600 jobs will come from new business and industry to be attracted to the area. The industry segments being targeted are:

• Automotive parts/suppliers

• Warehouse and distribution

• Aviation

• Plastics manufacturing

• Telecommunications/back office functions

• Paper and chemical manufacturing

• Food manufacturing

• Medical and diagnostic laboratories

Strategies to attract the new jobs include:

• Create a “brand” for Chillicothe and Ross County

• Develop a website with site selectors and developers in mind

• Mail specialized brochures to site selectors and developers

• Place ads in trade publications of targeted segments

• Be represented at trade shows of targeted segments

• Establish quick response teams to expedite the decision-making process when prospects are hot

Major investors of the initiative so far include Adena Health System, Horizon Chillicothe Telephone, Litter Industries and Citizens National Bank. The fund-raising campaign is expected to last until the end of the year.