Little Engines That Can

Electric Cooperatives and Small Communities Collaborate, Produce Big Results

It takes a lot of resources and ingenuity to get noticed in today's site selection environment, and smaller communities are fighting hard to stay in the economic development game. One of their successful strategies is to use an approach long familiar to Ohio's Electric Cooperatives – work together for the benefit of all.

Two communities served by Ohio's Electric Cooperatives (OEC), one in central Ohio and the other in northeast Indiana, are using grants from OEC to advance shovel-ready site development and increase awareness with site selectors.

Prime small-town advanced manufacturing site readying for certification

Monroeville, Indiana is home to American Mitsuba Indiana, a manufacturer of DC electric motors, actuators, and electrical components. Mitsuba also operates its North American logistics center and a design center at this Indiana location. Combined employment totals approximately 400.

Monroeville town officials are working in partnership with NewAllen Alliance and Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council to complete the requirements so the site can become Indiana Site Certified at the Silver level. "With certification, the site will be featured on Indiana's Site Selector Database," notes Don Gerardot, president of council for Monroeville.

Gerardot adds, "It's important to attract businesses that are a good fit for our local workforce and that help maintain and enhance Monroeville's quality of life."

"Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative (PPEC) works with Allen County's rural communities to prepare for new opportunities," states Erika Willitzer, PPEC marketing and economic development manager. "The $15,000 OEC site certification grant recently awarded to Monroeville will help pay for soil borings, Phase I environmental report, title search, Alta survey and wetlands determination/delineation, to complete the certification of the Monroeville site. Having these studies completed and immediately available for site selectors will help the site compete for development opportunities."

Agriculture and manufacturing roots run generations deep

"Fifty percent of Marion County, Ohio's, economy is agriculture-based," explains Gus Comstock, director of Marion CAN DO, the economic development organization that serves both the City of Marion and Marion County. "Marion is home to major U.S. and international manufacturers including POET, Nucor, Whirlpool and Sakamura. The foundation of agriculture and manufacturing has fostered the creation of a unique workforce development and education system."

America's 'Workforce Development Capital'

Marion County schools share a focus on agriculture, along with robotics training, that prepares students for post-high school success. Tri-Rivers Career Center is home to RAMTEC, which is known throughout the nation as a flagship school for robotics training and certification. Students can continue their training and education at Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University at Marion. With this unique concentration of educational and advanced manufacturing training assets, Marion County continues to build on its agricultural and industrial heritage with a work ethic honed through generations of hands-on craftsmanship.

Powering economic development

Reliable power for high-capacity ag operations

Collaboration produces powerful results

In rural communities throughout Ohio and Indiana, the collective strength of the local business community, educational resources, economic development officials, neighbors and the local energy cooperative, combine to create unique site location opportunities with skilled workforces for manufacturers, logistics centers and agri-business production facilities.