By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County saw $750 million invested this year in industries making fresh hamburger patties, glass for solar panels, auto parts and more.
“That is a record as far as I can tell – and by a lot,” Wade Gottschalk, executive director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission, said Wednesday during a commission meeting.
The investments spread from the far north to the far south of the county.
West of North Baltimore, the NorthPoint Development Co. announced plans to construct a logistics development near the CSX rail hub.
“There’s a lot to be done still,” but the project is progressing, Gottschalk said.
And the CSX hub is also expecting to start doing more business, and serving a wider geographic area, he added.
In the village of North Baltimore, Continental Structural Products is expanding its auto parts production.
“They were slated to close during the recession, and they are now coming back with a vengeance,” Gottschalk said.
The plant is on track to rival its highest production back when it was supplying parts for Fieros, he said.
And just east of North Baltimore, the Equity Meats plant has made the shift from frozen patties to fresh hamburger patties. Anyone ordering a McDonald’s quarter-pounder in the Northeast U.S. will get a taste. “It’s coming from Wood County,” Gottschalk said.
In the northern part of the county, NSG-Pilkington has secured all the necessary local regulatory approvals for its plant in Troy Township. The plant, which will manufacture float glass for the new First Solar plant, is expected to be in operation in 2020.
“That’s a big project,” he said.
The new First Solar plant in Lake Township is also progressing well.
“It’s an absolutely massive facility out there,” Gottschalk said..
In Perrysburg Township, the expansion of the Walgreens distribution center is underway. The project is expected to create 350 new jobs.
“It’s a big project and good for long-term,” he said.
Retention visits from the Wood County Economic Development Commission have also found operations well at Biofit near Haskins, and Jerl Machine in Perrysburg.
The O-I site in Perrysburg is “doing very well” and considering an expansion of its research and development area, with a focus on training.
“Changing over from one thing to another is not a simple process,” Gottschalk said.
Gottschalk reported to commission members that announcements of more investments in Wood County may be coming soon.
“There are a couple other very large projects in the region,” he said.
He also told members that he recently traveled with other Ohio economic development officials to Atlanta, Georgia, to make a pitch to a German battery company.
“It’s a good project, if we could get it here in Ohio,” he said.
