CRESTLINE – Crawford Partnership welcomed approximately 240 stakeholders, partners, investors, and community members to its annual State of the Vision meeting on Thursday, March 19 at The Hub in Crestline. The event served as a celebration of the organization’s impact, recognition of outstanding community leaders and projects, and a look ahead at continued growth across Crawford County.
The evening was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including presenting sponsor Regional Growth Partnership, a JobsOhio Network Partner. Additional event sponsors included OhioHealth and MAGNET, with in-kind support provided by Avita Health System, Norton’s Flowers, A-1 Printing, and Dead Shark Productions.
Recognizing Excellence Across Crawford County
Crawford Partnership honored six award recipients whose work has significantly contributed to the county’s economic and community development:
Workforce Development Award – Bucyrus City Schools
Recognized for their True North Professional Development Day programming, supporting workforce readiness and career awareness.
2025 Economic Development Award – Stellar Industries (Galion)
Awarded in recognition of their 2024 expansion project. This award was presented in lieu of a 2025 annual meeting due to the organization’s leadership transition.
2026 Economic Development Award – Forge Fire & Company (Bucyrus)
Honored for their 2025 project and investment in the Bucyrus community.
Community Development Award – The Hub (Crestline)
Recognized as a revitalized retail space transformed into a vibrant event center, contributing to local community development.
Community Leadership Award – Doug Weisenauer
Former Crawford County Commissioner, honored for his longstanding service to the county and his leadership efforts with the Salvation Army locally.
Partnership Award – Dave Williamson
Presented in recognition of Crawford Partnership’s 20th anniversary to its first Executive Director, honoring his foundational leadership and lasting impact on the organization.
Honoring Crawford Partnership’s organizational milestones and impact
During the program, Crawford Partnership also recognized Nancy Clutter, Administrative Coordinator, for her upcoming 10-year anniversary with the organization in May.
Executive Director Makenna Laser delivered the annual address, highlighting the organization’s continued focus on economic growth, workforce development, and community collaboration.
The event also marked the release of the 2025 Annual Report, which outlined key accomplishments, including:
- 202 new full-time jobs created
- $10.1 million in new annual payroll
- 251 full-time jobs retained
- $16.4 million in capital investment
Looking Ahead
As part of the evening, Crawford Partnership shared its intent to establish the Dave Williamson Scholarship Fund in collaboration with the Community Foundation for Crawford County. The scholarship will support a local student attending the Crawford Success Center, with additional details to be announced in the future.
About Crawford Partnership
Crawford Partnership serves as the county’s lead economic development organization, working to attract, retain, and grow businesses while advancing workforce and community development initiatives across Crawford County.