ASHLAND – At its annual economic development forecast breakfast Thursday, Ashland Area Economic Development celebrated business growth in 2017 and looked ahead to plans for the remainder of 2018.
Among the top causes for celebration, Ashland cracked Site Selection Magazine’s top 10 list of top micropolitans in 2017. With eight qualifying projects, Ashland tied with Manitowoc, Wisconsin for seventh place in the nation.
For 2017, Ohio had more top 100 micropolitans than any other state. Findlay was the first-place micropolitan this year, and Wooster finished third.
It was the first year that Ashland made the top 10 list but the fourth consecutive year the area ranked in the top 100.
In total, AAED executive director Kathy Goon said her office had an active role in 14 completed projects in 2017. Combined, those projects brought $311 million in capital investments to the area and created 229 jobs.
Previously a council of governments, AAED privatized in 2017, creating what treasurer Mike Kelly called a “blanket of secrecy” for the businesses that work with the corporation on expansion or new business projects.
AAED still receives over half its funding from the City of Ashland and Ashland County, according to the annual report released by the corporation at Thursday’s breakfast.
In 2017, AAED celebrated groundbreakings for Farmers Bank, Barbasol and Landoll’s Mohican Castle and grand openings of Chipotle and Kay Jewelers in Ashland Commons Plaza, Hampton Inn & Suites, Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center and Uniontown Brewing Company.
Also last year, AAED helped set up an entertainment district and a revitalization district to help make additional liquor licenses available in portions of Ashland and helped pave the way for a land bank called the Ashland County Land Reutilization Corporation.
Currently, AAED is working on 21 projects including projects with Aber’s Towing, BCU Electric, Origo, SJE, Tahoma Enterprises and a new Ashland franchise of Whit’s Frozen Custard.
Anticipated projects for 2018 include creating a revitalization district in Loudonville, creating a transportation improvement district, creating a community reinvestment area in Perrysville and creating a Foreign Trade Zone in Ashland County.
AAED also plans to work on infrastructure needs at Ashland Business Park, to collaborate with Mohican Area Growth Foundation to upgrade the existing pedestrian and bicycle pathway in Loudonville and to work with partners to find ways to revitalize the Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center.
