ASHLAND — Leaders in business gathered Wednesday at Ashland University to highlight the community’s “transformative time” in sectors such as housing, health care and new business.
The annual summit, hosted by Ashland Area Economic Development Inc — also known as Grow Ashland — marked the first such event since before the pandemic and featured speakers from some of the largest employers in Ashland County: OhioHealth, Vision Development, Return Polymers and Mansfield Plumbing.
Mayor Matt Miller, who also serves as the organization’s president, said the speakers represent the area’s future in growth.
“Housing, health care, growing and expanding and new businesses — those are three very important aspects to building a strong future for this city. And you can see, these are the activities that are being developed right here before our eyes,” Miller said.
Housing
Pete LaRose, vice president of site development with Vision Development, said it was “abundantly clear” that Ashland is the best spot for “class-A, market-rate apartments.”
“So many businesses are taking a look at Ashland that historically may not have been, and we’re following suit,” LaRose said, adding the Columbus-based real estate firm “jumped on the opportunity” to build apartments in the city.
Vision Development is behind the $44 million construction project near George Road. When finished, the 192-unit apartment building will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units, a tiki bar, a resort-style gym, a dog park, volleyball courts and walking trails.
“So why Ashland?” he said. “I think the answer remains abundantly clear: the jobs are here, the renters are here, you have a community that’s pro-development, strong leadership, the numbers work. But more importantly the people and the culture are exceptional.”
The apartments will join 200 units that are slated for a building, developed by Abacus Financial, that will replace the old Hess and Clark building that is currently being demolished. The city also recently acquired property at the corner of Fourth and Union streets, which includes a planned “urban meadow” space and plans for a 16-32 unit apartment building.
Health care
Vinson Yates, president of OhioHealth Mansfield, Shelby and Ashland hospitals, said it’s a blessing to be part of the change in Ashland.
“You can have a self-fulfilling prophecy of ‘no we’re not going to get there,’ or you can have an attitude of ‘how do we do it?’ Which means you treat each other well — we’re blessed to be part of that with you,” Yates said.
OhioHealth Ashland Health Center, a a $14 million project, opened to the public in January. The 22,000 square-foot facility features an emergency department, a helipad, primary care offices and lab services.
The facility houses around 30 associates and Yates has said he anticipates adding more than 50 new jobs there.
Expansion and growth
David Foell, president of Return Polymers, said his recycled plastics manufacturing company uses around 40 million pounds of recycled plastic every year.
The Ashland-based company was recently acquired by Chicago-based Azek Co. Inc., a composite decking manufacturer, for $18 million. Combined, the companies put out around 400 million pounds of plastic a year, Foell said.
The company recently set a goal to recycle 1 billion pounds of plastic every year by 2026.
“There is no plan on how to get there,” Foell said. “Ashland is the plan. It’s big — and it’s all here. We got a commitment to how to grow this place.”
Foell said the goal means more infrastructure, more trucking and more jobs. The company itself is expanding by constructing new buildings on its 23-acre site, he said.
Mansfield Plumbing, headquartered in Perrysville, recently struck an exclusive deal with Lowe’s to sell its toilets and other bathroom products.
Phil Cunningham, the company’s vice president of marketing, said the deal represents a “true David and Goliath” story and will lead to the 92-year-old business’ growth.
Cunningham said the deal created 90 new jobs between the company’s three facilities. Mansfield Plumbing has offices in Perrysville, Ashland and Henderson, Texas. He said the company is also investing $2.5 million in facility upgrades.
Grow Ashland also provided an update, which included Miller announcing the recent hire of Aaron Pauly, the organization’s sole coordinator. Treasurer Mike Kelly said the economic development organization remains in a “good cash position.”
The organization, founded in 2001 as a department of the City of Ashland, now operates under a public-private partnership. Miller said it receives annual allocations of $44,500 from both city and county government entities. Another $44,000 comes from 37 investors, he said.
