Bright Year Ahead, County Officials Say
Eight New Businesses Possible
by David Pugh Buckeye Staff Writer

Fulton County officials reflect the optimism of Archbold leaders for 2008.

Lisa Arend, Fulton County economic development director, said county officials are working on five business retention or expansion projects. There's also work going on to bring eight new businesses to the county.

The figures include the two projects Archbold officials alluded to.

"We've been working with the Village of Archbold as well as the rest of the county. There is a lot going on," Arend said.

"I'm surprised at the number of projects we have pending. You know we're not going to get them all, but hopefully, we'll get some of them," she said.

One of the new projects is a firm called ZincOx.

Joe Short, Fulton County commissioner, said the company, which plans to locate in the Delta area, will recycle one of the byproducts from the Blue Scope steel mill, west of Delta, extracting zinc from the byproduct.

Short said the project will involve a $100 million-plus investment, and create 35 jobs.

"While the 35 people may not seem like a lot, they are very good-paying jobs, and there are possibilities of more jobs just because ZincOx wants to be in Northwest Ohio," Short said.

Arend said the jobs that could be created in Fulton County range from minimum wage to $35,000 a year.

Preparations

Arend said Fulton County has done several things to prepare to take advantage of any economic development opportunities that arise.

Fulton County is looking into the creation of a port authority, an entity established by local governments.

"A port authority is an economic development tool that provides us with other financing opportunities. There are loans through (the port authority). Right now, interest rates (on development loans) are about 4% (interest)," Arend said.

"Also, the port authority can build a project and lease it back (to a new business). That saves sales tax on the construction," she said.

A port authority has the ability to issue bonds to raise money, providing an attractive way to finance economic development projects.

"Of course, the financing is tied to job creation and job retention. They do so many dollars per job created or retained," she said.

"Most of the other things that encourage development have been done. There have been lot of infrastructure things done in various areas of the county, so we do have quite a few sites that have the infrastructure in place- what the state would consider a shovel-ready site.

"You can go in and start dig- ging right away.

"All of our industrial parks, and the Fulton County industrial corridor on St. Rt. 109, have the majority of the infrastructure in place. I can't think of one where we're lacking," she said.

Listening

Arend said the economic development office is still in a state of transition. She took over the office early last year, following the retirement of Fred Eldridge.

In September, 2007, the county sponsored an economic development summit, which brought together representatives from the communities and townships to meet with county officials.

"We listened to the communities, to see what things they see us doing. One of the things that came out, is, we need to do a better job of marketing ourselves, so we're trying to establish a common identity for the county."

"Another thing we heard, we need to do a better job at communicating and being in front of the state, and nationally, so we can get things done.

As a result, the commissioners have joined the National Association of County Commissioners.

Also Arend is on the board of directors of the Ohio Economic Development Association. She is serving as treasurer.

That, she said, will give Ful- ton County contacts in the state and national government to get help on projects when needed.

The county also has started upscaling a business retention and expansion program, in conjunction with the Fulton County Community Improvement Corporation, and the Ohio State University Extension Service.

As part of the program, county and other government officials will meet with business leaders, to see what government can do to help those businesses.

She also emphasized the need for additional communication between Fulton County and the communities and townships.

"Contact by phone, anything- it's always a good thing. The more open communication we have back and forth, the easier things will be."

Workers

Short pointed out one of Fulton County's strongest assets is its workforce.

"Even as some businesses restructure and consolidate expenses, company owners have told me time and time again, workers in Northwest Ohio have the desire to work and produce a good product.

"They show up on time, and are ready to work. In many places throughout the country, this is not the case.

"I would like to think that it comes from the values and ethics that have been instilled into us," he said.

"All in all," Short said, "2007 had many struggles the whole year throughout the entire county. I know many people have worked extremely hard to keep what we have, and are doing everything possible to bring new businesses here.

"This is why I believe we have good reason to be optimistic

about 2008 and beyond."

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Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.- Oliver Wendell Holmes