By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green Economic Development has been sowing seeds – and the city is reaping the benefits. Industries are expanding here, and companies have seen a rebound in workforce.
Kati Thompson, the city’s economic development director, shared the recent success of efforts to bring new manufacturers to BG, and encourage those industries already here to invest in expansions.
A vital part of those business decisions are retention visits made by Bowling Green city officials to about 40 companies each year.
“These visits are really the lifeblood of our work,” with about 80% of industrial job growth in the city coming from expansions of existing companies, Thompson said Monday to City Council.
During the retention visits, all the company officials this year have had good news about labor issues.
“The workforce has stabilized,” Thompson said. “We were thrilled to hear that.”
Thompson’s office is currently tracking 33 possible industrial projects coming to or expanding in the city. Nine of those are already in the “win” column and are moving forward.
Of the 33 industries considering investments in Bowling Green, 11 have given the city projections totaling $180 million in capital improvements and 248 new jobs.
Local teamwork helps the city secure more “wins.”
A German company was recently in Bowling Green, looking for a location for its first site in the U.S. After the visit, Thompson said she received a call from state officials praising the collaboration by economic development, city administration and utility teams to attract the company. Bowling Green is one of the finalists for the project.
“We really have a fantastic team here. We really did make an impression,” she said.
Thompson gave an update on the Abbott plant being constructed on Ohio 25 on the north edge of the city. Working with the city, Abbott is continuing to work on the design and engineering process. The company has demolished a few buildings on the site and cleaned up old oil wells.
And Abbott has begun its hiring process, she added.
Due to growth, the city has seen changes in its industrial parks. On the east side, another entrance/exit has been added to the Woodbridge Business Park. Woodgate Drive has been completed to the east of the Meijer store, connecting a 40-acre expansion of Woodbridge to the existing loop within the park.
“Our industrial community out there loves it,” Thompson said of the new road in and out of the park.
At the same business park, a 100,000-square-foot speculative manufacturing building was recently constructed and leased to Magna even before being completed.
The economic development office has also been working on small business grants through JobsOhio. One grant has been secured for Clark Fixtures, and another is in the pipeline for a company in Woodbridge.
A Vibrancy Grant through JobsOhio is also being sought for a downtown redevelopment project.
As for housing additions in the city, Thompson listed the following:
- Triban Investments has started construction on the new subdivision at Brim and Newton roads, with 120 homes to be built by K. Hovnanian.
- A group of local developers purchased the remaining lots on Meadowlark, in the Pheasant Farms subdivision, with 14 homes planned.
- Cogan’s Crossing is expanding by about 20 lots, also by K. Hovnanian.
- Stone Ridge has opened up about 20 lots.
Thompson also reported on increased membership in Bowling Green Economic Development. The office secured a partnership with BGSU for 2024, which included a financial contribution and the commitment of six BGSU representatives to work on strategic planning and collaboration.
Efforts have also been made to introduce students and teachers to careers in manufacturing. Wood County Business Bootcamp was held in June for teachers, and Manufacturing Day was held last week at Bowling Green Middle School. Ten local manufacturers participated.
“They basically nailed it,” Thompson said.
In other business, Bowling Green Municipal Court Judge Mark Reddin swore in Jordan Musgrave as the new Bowling Green City Council member representing the First Ward. Musgrave replaces Damon Sherry, who resigned from council after taking a job with the Wood County Board of Elections.
City Attorney Hunter Brown reported to council on a lawsuit against the city that has been dismissed. The suit had been filed by Leatra Harper and Steve Jansto over the city’s rooftop solar policy.
The solar lawsuit filed in the Sixth District Court of Appeals asked that the city be ordered to pay for the couple’s home, valued over $600,000, since the solar policy degraded their investment in their home. City officials have stated that the solar fee is necessary to make sure other electric customers in the city aren’t subsidizing those who choose to install rooftop solar panels.
Also at the meeting, Utilities Director Brian O’Connell reported that the three city electric linemen who went down to Florida and South Carolina to help restore power after Hurricane Helene have returned home. Two other city linemen headed south today, to help repair damaged public power systems, O’Connell said.
