By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Last year was pretty sweet for pickle processing, plastic recycling and public service facilities in Bowling Green.
On Thursday, approximately 200 people attended the annual luncheon meeting of Bowling Green Economic Development, where they heard an optimistic forecast from Director Kati Thompson.
“Things just keep getting better in Bowling Green,” she said.
Thompson shared the numbers that led to the sunny forecast for the city.
- 27 companies reported making capital investments in 2023 for a total of nearly $93 million.
- 4 facility builds or expansions were completed for a total of 163,807 square feet.
- 19 companies created new jobs.
- 4 project wins were recorded.
- 29 business retention and expansion visits were made by city and economic development officials.
Thompson told of a recent conference she attended, with one of the speakers saying “More and better leaders make more and better everything.” That stuck with Thompson, who said she sees that theory playing out here in Bowling Green. More and more people are stepping up and offering their expertise to further boost economic growth in the city.
Thompson highlighted four major investments in Bowling Green in 2023 – involving the pickle processing expansion at Hartung Brothers, the new building for plastic recycling at Phoenix Technologies, the providing of public services at the new city building, and the planning for the new Abbott Laboratories.
“We appreciate you trusting the community with your growth,” Thompson said.
To continue the success, BG Economic Development has adopted four strategic goals focusing on infrastructure and utility development, encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship, attracting and retaining sustained economic growth, and improving quality of life.
During the past year, BG Economic Development completed several projects and initiatives, such as:
- Partnered with the Wood County Port Authority to successfully option about 170 acres east of Interstate 75 to be used for future development.
- Facilitated plans for a new housing development adding more than 120 homes to Bowling Green.
- Participated in several long-term infrastructure planning initiatives for transportation and utilities.
- Secured a planning grant through JobsOhio to assist with a downtown redevelopment initiative.
- Held Manufacturing Day at BG Middle School, featuring 11 companies and serving more than 500 students.
- Hosted quarterly BG Employer Group meetings to discuss workforce development, attraction and retention initiatives.
- Received three Energy Efficiency Revolving Loans.
Guest speakers at the annual gathering were Bowling Green City Schools Superintendent Ted Haselman and Penta Career Center Superintendent Ed Ewers. Both spoke about how schools were preparing students for their futures – whether that involves college, joining the workforce or joining the military.
“Our goal is always to build quality leaders,” who could help local businesses succeed, Haselman said. “Build leaders and let them find their niche.”
Haselman predicted Bowling Green City Schools will see a boost in enrollment due to the new high school being built and the new housing being added to the community.
“We’re already seeing that rise happening,” he said.
Haselman listed off electives offered by BG schools, including several STEAM classes, agricultural industry, and tech and engineering.
“It’s an array of opportunities for our students,” he said. Career tech classes are being added at the Middle School, including more family and consumer science, culinary, logistics and supply chains, and cyber security classes.
The new high school is being designed to be a good learning environment for years to come, Haselman said. The goal is for it to be a “tool” not just a “facility.” There will be walls that open between classrooms, flexible furnishings, multi-purpose areas, and a variety of small to large classrooms.
Haselman also spoke of BG City Schools’ close relationship with Penta Career Center. “We work together,” he said.
Ewers said enrollment at Penta is growing, with the building “bursting at the seams.”
Penta has started working on career awareness in grades K-12. The school wants to find students’ aptitudes and identify their dreams, then expose them to careers that match, Ewers said.
Penta is also working to offer better ways for businesses to connect with schools.
“It’s a foreign language sometimes to connect businesses with what takes place in schools,” Ewers said. “We want to remove roadblocks and barrier between businesses and schools.”
