Press Room >> 2010 Press Releases
For Immediate Release
October 28, 2010
Strickland, Patt-McDaniel Announce Certifications for Job Ready Sites
Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel today announced the certification of these industrial site improvement projects through the Ohio Jobs Ready Sites Program. These approved sites will assist in business attraction and expansion efforts by accommodating investment and job creation in Ohio. Certification in the Ohio Job Ready Sites Program ensures future investors that the property exceeds site selection standards and includes the necessary attributes demanded by today's leading corporations.
"The Job Ready Sites program is about transforming locations that have been left behind into work sites that are ready for new business investment and new jobs for Ohioans," Strickland said.
The Ohio Job Ready Sites Program bolsters Ohio's portfolio of commercial and industrial developable sites. Properties in this program are strategically chosen for their ability to provide optimal infrastructure capabilities and attract economy-shifting investment. By accelerating investment decisions and maximizing the development potential of each property, funds from the Ohio Job Ready Sites Program help offset costs traditionally incurred in speculative commercial and industrial development.
"These projects are part of an investment portfolio that make Ohio a better place to work and live, adding to our long-term economic development and prosperity," Patt-McDaniel said. "Ohio Job Ready Site Certification enhances these communities' ability to attract new business, while creating job opportunities and helping existing companies reinvest in Ohio."
The three certified Ohio Job Ready Sites include:
The City of Wapakoneta (Auglaize County) has been awarded Job Ready Site Certification for the West Central Ohio Industrial Center. The 471-acre certified industrial site is located at the intersection of Interstate 75 and U.S. 33, opening an additional 240 acres for future development. The site has direct rail access to the CSX rail line, and all utilities are located on-site.
Ray Fogg Building Methods Inc. and the City of Euclid (Cuyahoga County) have been awarded Job Ready Site Certification for the Bluestone Business Park (formerly the PMX Euclid site). The 80-acre site is well situated at the Interstate 90 and Route 2 interchange at East 260th Street. CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads also provide rail access to the site. All projects in the park will feature green design with at least Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.
The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority in the City of Zanesville (Muskingum County) has been awarded Job Ready Site Certification for the EastPointe Business Park. The 295-acre site is located along State Route 93 with convenient access to Interstate 70. As part of the development preparation, the site has been mass graded to prepare a building pad for future manufacturing development.
The Ohio Job Ready Sites Program, authorized by Ohio's voters under Issue 1 in 2005, was created to bolster the state's inventory of available facility locations served by utility and transportation infrastructure. Sites improved under the program are kept ready for future business prospects seeking locations for new or expanded operations.
Working with our partners across business, state and local governments, academia, and the nonprofit sector, the Ohio Department of Development works to attract, create, grow, and retain businesses through competitive incentives and targeted investments. Engaged every day in marketing, deal-making, innovating, investing, and collaborating, the Ohio Department of Development works at the speed of business to accelerate and support the teamwork that is absolutely necessary for success by providing financial, informational, and technical assistance to those making an investment in Ohio's future.
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