Richland County’s 2015 Second Annual Economic Excellence Awards were presented Tuesday, March 24 to a sold-out crowd at the Mansfield Holiday Inn and Suites. The awards sponsored by the Richland Community Development Group provided an opportunity to highlight those businesses, individuals and organizations that have had significant impact on the growth and development of the local economy.
Partnership Award
The Richland Community Development Group presents an annual award to recognize the organizations that have worked closely with RCDG to further the mission of the organization. This year’s winners are as follows:
County Media Outlets
Since the inception of the Richland Community Development Group, efforts have been made to focus on the positives in our community. No segment of the community has played a more significant role in promoting that focus than our local media. The media organizations have provided great coverage of RCDG activities and events; they have donated design and publication space for campaigns focused on refreshing the attitudes toward Richland County and they have been the backbone behind RCDG’s efforts to support our 179th Airlift Wing.
There have been four specific RCDG media campaigns. The first two campaigns illuminated why various residents ‘Choose Richland.’ These included both native born and newcomers to the community. The third campaign dovetailed with the celebration of the bicentennial of the county and featured historic persons such as Johnny Appleseed and Cy Gatton.
The latest campaign is focusing upon the investments various businesses are making into the community and is challenging community members to also invest in their county. This work has all been donated and amounts to over a half million dollars in design, production and advertising.
RCDG presented the Partnership Awards to: The Mansfield News Journal, Lind Media, IHeartMedia, Sun Graphics, Inc., Mid-State Multimedia, RichlandSource, the Shelby Globe and the Bellville Star.
Business Excellence Awards
Businesses were nominated based on a number of criteria including but not limited to: employment growth, capital investment, product development, system/process innovation, and civic involvement.
Winners in this Category:
ArcelorMittal
ArcelorMittal in Shelby, Ohio is expanding and will add 45 new jobs with an estimated $1.9 million in additional payroll. The company plans $30 million in capital investment for machines and equipment. It is building an expansion of the existing facility with a new production line; new furnace; additional crane; and finishing/testing equipment.
The Shelby community has a rich history in manufacturing, and this investment helps to solidify its role in manufacturing in the future. The Shelby site competed against sites across the globe for this investment and the company’s decision to grow in Richland County is a testament to the skilled workforce and positive business climate here. The mill had been operating at near to full capacity for years and numerous customers had petitioned Shelby to increase its volume offering to the market.
ArcelorMittal in Shelby which employs over 600 persons manufactures welded and seamless precision tubes in a variety of steel grades for the fluid power, automotive, construction equipment, farm machinery, oil and gas tooling markets. The facility is recognized as the market share leader of tubular product in the United States, which means it serves as the No. 1 supplier, in volume and sales, in the market.
With a current annual capacity of 250,000 tons, the facility is a major employer in Ohio’s Richland County area. The local facility has been in production since 1870 and has been a stalwart supporter of many causes philanthropically in the Shelby area.
The Blueberry Patch
The Blueberry Patch in Lexington was established in the early 1980’s as a weekend hobby. It has developed into a premier destination in the state. The Blueberry Patch is a perfect example of market development – expansions into new niches and attracting new customers. Though they began as a place for blueberries only, they quickly recognized the potential for a greenhouse. That grew into a gift shop and the Blossoms Café. They then found a new niche with the addition of specialized coffee at The Beanery.
Just last year they added the Winery 1285 at the Blueberry Patch where they serve their own wine as well as those from other wineries in the area. Upon opening this latest venture, they partnered with the community to name their signature wine. “Solitary White” was chosen so that it could be a great souvenir along the Shawshank Trail.
The Blueberry Patch has been the focus of great regional publicity with articles in publications such as “Midwest Living Magazine” and “Our Ohio Magazine” providing a positive view of our community. They are active participants in the Blueberry Festival in Lexington and in the Mansfield/Richland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Elzy Milling and Trade
Since purchasing an old Bellville mill and starting Elzy Milling & Trade in July, 2011, the mill has seen substantial growth and has made a significant economic impact on the Clear Fork Valley and Richland County. Elzy is a manufacturing and retail business specializing in animal care and feed production, farm supply, garden materials, general retail and much more. Their tagline is “Your Source for Home & Farm,” and it’s a motto that has become their guiding principle. If there is a product that assists in property ownership, from ice melt to grass seeds and pet items, they carry it.
In three years, Elzy has tripled their business income and reinvested in the area by acquiring several additional properties to assist in inventory management, production capabilities and retail capacity. Perhaps most notably is the reinvestment into the original 1840s-era feed mill. They are on an accelerated refurbishment schedule to return the mill to its former glory.
Of most particular note in regards to the past 12 months has been the growth of the retail showroom. Several months ago a 2,400 sq. ft. retail space renovation was completed. This showcases existing products and has enabled them to introduce a new line of products in the Elzy Home Collection, featuring Swan Creek Candles, J.R. Watkins, home items and much more. To assist in the increased business, they have also added employees.
Elzy serves not only those in Richland County, but is proud to bring in customers from outside the area as well. They regularly deliver to four different counties and often service customers from six to seven contiguous counties. Attracting customers from outside the area is, after all, a fantastic way to showcase Richland County.
Economic Impact Awards
Economic Impact Awards recognize entities for their efforts in supporting economic development in Richland County
Winners in this category include:
STARTEK
Under new leadership, Startek has completely turned around their business – engaging new customers and expanding their employee base. Over 400 are currently employed at the facility and that number is growing. STARTEK reinvented itself under the leadership of site supervisor Tom Luther. It is working to become an employer of choice through its redecorated facility featuring colorful, modern workspaces, rooms named for landmarks in Mansfield and a spacious cafeteria with Internet access.
Recruitment and selection processes for Startek employees are helping to ensure that the fit is right for the job and the site has created career paths for its employee’s advancement.
STARTEK has taken an active role in the community, taking over the operation of Christmas Wunderland at the Richland County Fairgrounds and purchasing the naming rights to Ram Field at StarTek Stadium. There have been over 500 hours volunteered by STARTEK employees to ensure the operation of Christmas Wunderland. The company has made stadium improvements to Arlin Field and donated $20,000 in the community last year, including sponsoring youth programs, nonprofit organizations, the Halloween Parade, Walk for the Cure, Stuff the Bus and other events.
Mechanics Bank
Mechanics Bank has made a significant contribution to Richland County in the last year. They opened a brand new Clear Fork Valley office in Bellville. This office includes a beautiful new building that was designed in keeping with the historic look and feel of Main St. in Bellville. Additionally, the bank brought 11 new jobs to Bellville.
In addition, Mechanics expanded their downtown Mansfield flagship bank on the square. An additional 8,900 square feet opened to the public in June. The new spaces extends from the current bank south and give customers’ access to the commercial, residential and consumer loan offices on street level. The expansion reinvented and revitalized several adjourning buildings to the original structure. It is a striking example of architectural creativity in the use of old buildings.
Mechanics Bank has proven to be a dedicated partner in the renewal of the downtowns in our county.
Investing in Our Future
Investing in Our Future Awards recognizes the person or program that has significantly contributed to preparing the workforce of the future.
School Specialty
School Specialty identified Mansfield as the consolidation site to absorb distribution activities previously operated out of other states. The company’s staffing model revolves around school year schedule. As such, the company hires a significant amount of season workers between April/May-September, typically teachers or college students. They, therefore, invest in our future with both the products that they sell and with the folks they hire.
In an effort to improve service and delivery capabilities the decision was made to transition several operations to the Mansfield location with the intent of Mansfield becoming the core distribution hub for the company. The total investment for this project is estimated at $7 million which includes major system and software upgrades along with a new material handling equipment.
The school supplies distribution center on Paragon Parkway has donated $400,000 worth of science education supplies and materials to the nine high schools in Richland County. School Specialty stocks 32,000 items in its Mansfield distribution center, and the supplies. Over 500 people are needed this summer to work at the facility, including seasonal, full-time and part-time associates.
Rebecca Owens
Rebecca Owens is the site manager for the Richland County office of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Toledo. Rebecca oversees the daily operations of the Mansfield ministries whose primary focuses are Adult Advocacy Services (AAS) and Community Emergency Services (CES). In planning the celebration of 100 years of Catholic Charities, Rebecca decided to change the way we look at charity in our community. She invited author Robert Lupton to town. Lupton has a powerful message of “stop doing for others what they have the capacity to do for themselves. Shift from doing for others to doing with others.” She rallied several hundred to hear his message and has formed a collaborative looking at how to do the business of charity in a more meaningful manner.
Rebecca has formed the 1Richland group to carry forward this view throughout the community.
She has rallied the local business sector to join the “Do Something” cause. “As we have said over and over, it is a community’s responsibility and it will indeed take the community to make a change if we are to empower and engage individuals to become self-sustaining, contributing members of the community,” she said.
Rebecca Owens is changing the focus of charity in Richland County and will continue to positively impact our future.
Distinguished Performance
The winners of this award embody the RCDG mission of “to improving the economic vitality of Richland County.”
Bart Hamilton
Bart Hamilton was the driving force behind the formation of the Richland County Land Reutilization Corporation (RCLRC) (the Land Bank). The land bank is directly addressing the issues of blight in our neighborhoods. Blighted and vacant properties undermine the value of real estate within a community, cost municipalities significant dollars to maintain, and erode the local tax base because of the tax delinquency often associated with blighted properties.
The Land Bank is tasked to acquire blighted properties, return blighted properties to productive use, increase property value through these efforts, support community goals, and improve the quality of life for county residents. It is further tasked to apply for additional grant monies available to communities with land banks.
Bart Hamilton worked tirelessly to research the issue, gather expertise, inform the public and implement the Land Bank for Richland County. Its existence enabled the county to acquire $700,000 in grants to address blight in the first year alone. He is currently assisting with the Neighborhoods Sector of the RCDG Strategic Plan Initiatives as they address both residential and industrial blight in the county. His adept communications skills and personable approach to issues has enabled him to move this county to efficiently address this most pressing issue.
Darrell Banks, Mayor of Bellville
Darrell Banks, the Mayor of Bellville, has worked diligently to develop, beautify and promote the Village of Bellville. The Mayor formed the Bellville Beautification and Revitalization Sector of RCDG and successfully engaged many property and store owners in the downtown streetscape project. From choosing streetlights to brick sidewalk patterns to timing of the project, he worked closely with his constituents to ensure that their voices were heard in the project and that the ambiance of this quaint town was maintained. He creatively approached this project through funding for a stormwater sewers.
With each devastating flood, Mayor Banks was on the front lines assisting folks including his Village crews in the response to the water. And he did not forget once the water subsided. hE was the driving force behind the formation of the Clear Fork Subdistrict of the Mohican Watershed Conservancy District. This Subdistrict will begin to review the causes of and develop potential solutions to prevent and reduce flooding along the Clear Fork of the Mohican River – a tributary that has caused much damage in the Village.
The Mayor works diligently for the economic development of the Village. He represents the Village on the RCDG Leadership Board, was instrumental in the Village rezoning some of the property along I-71 to make it more attractive to potential investors and he regularly visits businesses- old and new – to offer assistance. He readily promoted the renaming of one of the C-130’s to the Spirit of Clear Fork Valley.He is a shameless promoter of the Village of Bellville and the Clear Fork Valley.
The Richland Young Professionals, a sector of RCDG, also presented two awards.
Richland Young Professionals Entrepreneurial Spirit Award
Richland County business that either started or re-invented itself in the last 24 months. The business demonstrated an effort to support and contribute to the local economy and was led/owned by a young professional (21-45 years of age).
The 2015 winner is Phoenix Brewing Company
Great beer! That should be reason enough to deserve an award! But the guys at Phoenix have done much more than brew fantastic beer. Duncan, Scott, and Steve (Zig) have been home brewing for many years. They’ve spent ample time getting their brews to taste just right. They are all very knowledgeable about beer styles. They started out serving friends and family and were well received, allowing their home operation to grow over time. The idea to open a brewery also grew over time. It began as a half-handed joke and began to blossom into a real possibility.
They saw downtown as having great potential. They ended up in a building with a storied past, an old mortuary. It was in a state of disrepair when they originally looked at it, but they could picture the new life they could bring to the building, and downtown. Just as the phoenix rises from the ash, the downtown has seen its own rebirth. The Phoenix Brewing Company has played a large part in making downtown Mansfield into a destination. Their beer is delicious, the atmosphere inviting, and the owners bartend. Entrepreneurial spirit is always flowing at the Phoenix Brewing Company!
Community Hero Award
Individual, organization, or business that is fully committed to serving the community thereby spurring economic growth and development. The winner demonstrated a significant contribution to foster a thriving Richland County and must be a young professional (21-45 years of age) or an organization/business led/owned by a young professional.
The 2015 winner is Cody Albert
Historically, Shelby Bicycle Days broke even. But the year before Cody Albert accepted a new role as festival co-director, the festival suffered a significant loss and had limited funds in its bank account. The community was also dismayed with parts of the festival. After taking the role, Cody made sure that the festival became fiscally sound and that the community was involved in the planning. Cody refocused the festival around the bicycle, created a leadership team made of community members and moved the festival to a Thursday through Saturday format.
He created a new budget to include new events and activities, such as the BMX Bike Safety Show and Historic Bike Walk, and made tough decisions to eliminate traditional entertainment. With Cody’s leadership and with Mother Nature’s help keeping the July heat and rain at bay, Shelby Bicycle Days had its most successful event in over 10 years in two respects: 1) the festival’s had its largest net income in history; and 2) most importantly, the community (not just Shelbians) came out in droves. Even Betsy Kling of Cleveland’s Channel 3 News and her family came to the festival due to a tweet from Cody.
Shelby Bicycle Days was the most well attended festival in years. And, with the success of that weekend, Shelby businesses, especially those downtown, saw an increase in foot traffic and sales.
