CantonINC Canton Inc. is an economic development publication produced through a collaboration of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and The Repository.
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CANTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Dennis P. Saunier President & CEO dennys@cantonchamber.org (330) 456-7253 Steven J. Katz Senior Vice President katzcrcc@cantonchamber.org (330) 458-2062 Jessica A. Bennett Director of Marketing & Events jessb@cantonchamber.org (330) 458-2071 Denise A. Burton Director of Sales & Membership deniseb@cantonchamber.org (330) 458-2067 Kathy D. Irwin Director of Accounting kathyd@cantonchamber.org (330) 456-7253 David C. Kaminski Director of Energy & Public Affairs davidk@cantonchamber.org (330) 458-2059 Michael P. Gill Director of Canton Development Partnership mikeg@cantonchamber.org (330) 458-2090 John R. Kiste Executive Director of Canton/Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau johnk@visitcantonstark.com (330) 458-2080 Joanne K. Murray Director of Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival joannem@cantonchamber.org (330) 458-2050 Eric Smer Director of ystark! (330) 458-2302 ystark@cantonchamber.org Fran Wells Director of Leadership Stark County franw@leadershipstarkcounty.org (330) 458-2094
CONTENTS 8 10 14 17 24
CEO Message Local attractions Economics Neighborhoods Site selections
26 33 38 41 47
Energy Manufacturing Transportation Deep roots Small business
50 Area resources 52 Growing in Stark 57 Health care 60 City info 62 Education 66 70 72
Food Stark resources Development resources
74
Final look
CantonINC REPOSITORY/ GATEHOUSE OHIO MEDIA Kevin M. Kampman Publisher kevin.kampman@cantonrep.com 330-580-8451 Christopher T.White General Manager chris.white@cantonrep.com 330-580-8428 Donald J. Detore Interim Executive Editor don.detore@cantonrep.com 330-580-8344 Maureen Ater Director of Marketing maureen.ater@cantonrep.com 330-580-8451 Darla Brown Niche Publications Editor darla.brown@cantonrep.com 330-580-8579 Patrick Mackie Business Development patrick.mackie@cantonrep.com 330-580-8430 Michael Weiss Associate graphics editor michael.weiss@cantonrep.com 330-580-8575 Julie Botos Photography julie.vennitti@cantonrep.com 330-580-8409 CONTRIBUTORS Scott Brown, Bob Rossiter
Executive Committee, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Rick L. Haines, AultCare; Sr.Vice Chairman Karen Brenneman, Hall, Kistler & Company LLP;Vice Chairman Brian Belden,The Belden Brick Company;Vice Chairman Philip D. Fracassa, The Timken Company;Vice Chairman Kevin Kampman,The Repository;Treasurer D. William Allen, Pro Football Hall of Fame; Immediate Past Chairman George W. Lemon, Technical Products Group (retired), Dennis P. Saunier, President and CEO, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce; Steven J. Katz, Corporate Secretary, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
CantonINC is published by GateHouse Ohio Media. 500 Market Ave. S, Canton, OH 44702; 330-580-8300. CantonINC is protected by federal copyright law, which gives CantonINC exclusive rights to reproduce or authorize reproduction of its materials.
AD INDEX 2 Grabowski & Co. 3 The Repository 4 Classic Landscaping 5 United Way 6 Stark State College 7 Jülz by Alan Rodriguez 9 Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce 12 Stark County District Library 13 ArtsinStark 15 Canton Symphony 15 About magazine 16 Aultman Hospital 19 Rice’s Nursery 20 Ramsburg Insurance 21 Canton Palace Theatre 21 Canton Charge 22 CSE Credit Union 24 SARTA 25 Sol Harris/Day Architecture 25 Shearer’s Foods 28 WKSU 28 Black McCuskey Souers & Arbaugh 29 Kenan Advantage Group 29 The University Center 31 University of Mount Union 31 NAI Spring 32 Mercy Medical Center 35 Premier Bank and Trust 35 Hammontree & Assoc. 36 Abbott Moving 36 Canton/Stark County CVB 37 Kent State University Stark 39 Huntington Bank
40 ystark!/Leadership Stark County 43 Fifth Third Bank 43 Capestrain Jewelers 44 Standard Plumbing & Heating 45 Canton Community Improvement Corportation 46 Hartville Marketplace 46 BIA Stark 49 Pro Football Hall of Fame 49 Pete’s Grill and Pizza 50 Bob & Pete’s Flooring 50 Downtown Ford 51 The Belden Brick Company 54 Gasser Fine Jewelers 55 Diebold 56 Hughes Kitchens 60 AllState-Dillenback 60 Canton Aluminum 61 AultCare 64 Krugliak,Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty 65 North Canton Medical Foundation 68 Beaver Excavating 69 Furbay Electric 70 Shannon English Marketing 70 Brewster Cheese 71 Stark Parks 71 Atwood Boats 72 Day Ketterer 72 NEO Medical University 73 Biery Cheese 73 Plain Local Schools 75 Malone University 76 Chesapeake Energy
For information about how to advertise in this publication, please call Patrick Mackie, business development manager, at 330-580-8430 or email patrick.mackie@cantonrep.com.
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CEO MESSAGE CantonINC
A SHOWCASE FOR STARK COUNTY BUSINESSES
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
W
8
elcome to the first issue of Canton Inc., a publication dedicated to showcasing Canton and Stark County as a prime destination for doing business. Our region has the strongest of backbones in manufacturing, paired with a surge in new technologies. Our industries are diverse and our spirit of entrepreneurship abundant. And so, the pages of Canton Inc. are filled with snapshots of the true business dynamic in Canton — forwardthinking, steadfast companies with hardworking, talented people working for them. If that sounds like where you'd like to do business, then Canton Inc. is your invitation to join us. Situated in Northeast Ohio, the Hall of Fame City and surrounding communities comprise the strategic place for your company to do business. Stark County has long prided itself on its industrial prowess, with small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike calling Canton home. With six outstanding colleges and universities in Stark County, we’re prepared to meet the needs of innovative companies who are seeking talented professionals now and in the future. We’re innovative, and we’re poised to welcome even greater investments, expansions and growth of existing and new businesses this year. Canton/Stark County faces an extraordinary year ahead. Canton has recently been branded The Utica
DENNIS SAUNIER AND KEVIN KAMPMAN CapitalTM, as oil and gas exploration in the region’s Utica Shale deposits could affect every aspect of business in Canton. And while oil and gas are creating enormous excitement, Stark County already has established itself as a center for energy in the development of wind power and fuel cells, as well as in our nearly endless fresh water supply. When you consider our region’s low cost of living, high home-purchasing power, world-class attractions, cultural access, innovative companies and highly educated workforce, Canton/Stark County is a thriving center for business development.
We invite you to explore this publication, but more importantly, to explore our region for business relocation and growth.
Dennis P. Saunier President & CEO, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Kevin M. Kampman Publisher, The Repository/ GateHouse Ohio Media
ATTRACTIONS CantonINC
W
elcome
to Stark County
Home to both national attractions and tucked-away treasures, Stark County abounds with options to suit every taste. From the well known Pro Football Hall of Fame to the thriving downtown arts district to the amazing parks and recreation — these pages hold just a sampling of all Stark County has to offer. BY JOAN PORTER
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
CANTON ARTS DISTRICT
10
The outdoor murals, painted trash cans and recycled sculptures welcome visitors to Downtown Canton’s Arts District, an eclectic mix of studios, galleries, theaters and restaurants. From photography to paintings, ornaments to pottery and jewelry to wearables — if it's art, you will find it here. Food, music, and movie festivals are held in the arts district throughout the year. On the first Friday of each month, venture downtown to enjoy an evening of art, live music, and street performers.Visit www.cantonarts district.com for more information.
CantonINC ATTRACTIONS
CANTON MEMORIAL CIVIC CENTER
WORLD WAR HISTORY & ART MUSEUM
If basketball is the name of your game, then be sure to get tickets to a home game of The Canton Charge, an NBA D-League affiliate for the Cleveland Cavaliers.The team plays at Canton Memorial Civic Center. The center also hosts circuses, tournaments, expos, shows, dinners, auctions, graduations and high school proms. For more information and a schedule of games and events, visit www.cantonciviccenter.com.
Original artwork by veterans of World I and II set the stage for an assortment of exhibits that preserve and present the history of those armed conflicts. Among the exhibits at the World War History & Art Museum in Alliance are trench art, war relics, air combat, Nazi propaganda, scale models, toy soldiers and women in the war. For more information, visit wwham.com.
This little gem of a museum in North Canton preserves the history of an everyday common household appliance — the vacuum cleaner. But the museum itself is far from common. Nestled within this Victorian Italianatestyle farmhouse — the boyhood home of Hoover Company founder William “Boss” Hoover — are vintage vacuums, advertisements, ladies’ fashions, home décor and war memorabilia. Awardwinning herb gardens add lovely scents and color to the grounds.The Hoover Historical Center offers a variety of programs throughout the year, including games played by an 1860s baseball team called the Hoover Sweepers, summertime story-telling and a Christmas open house. For more information, visit www.walsh.edu/ hoover-historical-center.
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton is an awaiting paradise for sports fans. Check out the busts and informational kiosks of the 267 NFL players who have been inducted into the HOF since it opened in 1963. From the Super Bowl gallery and treasured artifacts to the museum store and interactive game areas,
it’s all football all the time at the Hall of Fame. The $27 million “Future 50” expansion and renovation project — the largest in the Hall’s history — is under way, with a grand opening scheduled for August 2013 to coincide with the Hall of Fame’s 50th anniversary. Visit www.profootballhof.com for more information.
QUAIL HOLLOW STATE PARK Be on the lookout for frogs, deer, raccoons and red foxes as you hike, bike, ride horseback or cross-country ski along the trails in Quail Hollow State Park.There is a lot to see and learn throughout the three
major habitats in this 703-acre park and at its nature center filled with displays, live animals, and hands-on activities. Bring a picnic, fish in the stocked pond, ice-skate, visit the Carriage House Nature Center or
tour the historic 40-room H.B. Stewart Manor House and Herb Garden. Special programs are offered throughout the year. For more information, visit www.quailhollowpark.org
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
HOOVER HISTORICAL CENTER
11
ATTRACTIONS CantonINC
CULTURAL CENTER FOR THE ARTS
CANTON PALACE THEATRE Built in 1926, the Canton Palace Theatre is a fine example of a community effort that has restored the theater to its original glory. Settle into a comfortable seat and savor the ambiance of a Spanish courtyard on a midsummer night as the clouds float across the sky. While you wait for your show to begin, listen to the strains of the theater's original Kilgen pipe organ.This multi-purpose entertainment venue is busy throughout the year with professional productions, ballets and films.Visit www.cantonpalacetheatre.org for more information.
When it comes to the arts, Canton has it all. Enjoy your favorite arts all within one building — the Cultural Center for the Arts. Here you will find performances by the Canton Ballet, Canton Symphony, Voices of Canton, Inc. and the Players Guild Theatre. And let’s not forget the Canton Museum of Art, with its permanent collection and changing exhibits.This place is an art lover’s dream come true! To learn more about each of these organizations and their shows, visit www.artsinstark.com and click on “Cultural Center.”
OHIO & ERIE CANALWAY From Lake Erie southward to the Tuscarawas River, you can experience 110 miles of nature, culture, and history by traveling the Towpath Trail, riding the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, or driving along America’s Byway. In Stark County, you’ll find 48 trailheads to access 25 miles of the Towpath Trail, where you can bird, bike, hike, run and ride on horseback along the path where mules plodded as they pulled canal boats over 100 years ago. Stop in Canal Fulton for a ride on the St. Helena III, a canal-era freight barge. Key visitor centers are in Canal Fulton and at Sippo Lake.Visit www.ohioanderiecanalway.com for more information.
CantonINC ATTRACTIONS
OHIO SOCIETY OF MILITARY HISTORY Investigate all periods of Ohio’s military history by visiting the Ohio Society of Military History Museum in Massillon. Old uniforms, historic documents, photographs and prestigious medals all honor the men and women who served in our country's armed forces. Go to www.ohiotraveler.com and click on Ohio Society of Military History for more information.
NATIONAL FIRST LADIES' LIBRARY The First Ladies' Library is a unique resource and national archive located in the heart of Canton and devoted to educating the public about the contributions of First Ladies and other notable women in history.Visit online at www.firstladies.org.
STARK PARKS If getting close to nature is what you like, then spend some time in any of the 8,200 acres that make up the 13 parks belonging to Stark Parks.The park system throughout Stark County offers walking, bicycling and equestrian trails along with a variety of events, activities and educational programs at its centers. Boating, fishing, geocaching, letterboxing, questing and orienteering are all part of the park experience. Additional information may be found at www.stark parks.com.
WILLIAM McKINLEY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Take a step back in time at the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton. Explore 200 years of the area’s history, learn about the life and career of Canton’s favorite son and 25th president of the United States, meander through the Street of Shops, stop at the model train layout and enjoy a variety of changing exhibits.The museum offers a treasure trove of information on presidential and local history. Next door is the McKinley Monument, President McKinley’s final resting place. More information may be found at www.mckinleymuseum.org.
ECONOMICS CantonINC
STARK COUNTY
ECONOMICS INCOME AND COST OF LIVING Median household income:
$44,999 Median home value:
$128,000 Median rent:
$622/MO. Cost of living:
15% LOWER than U.S. average
HOUSEHOLD INFO Canton population Stark County population Median resident age
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Age 17 and under
14
Average July high:
33
82
degrees
degrees
40.3 23.3% 8.7%
Age 25 to 44
24.5%
Age 45 to 64
27.8%
Age 65 and over
15.6%
High School grad or higher:
Average January low:
375,586
Age 18 to 24
EDUCATION WEATHER
73,007
87.8% 20.4% 6.5%
Bachelor’s degree:
Graduate or professional degree:
CantonINC ECONOMICS
MAJOR INDUSTRIES Education, health care and social assistance:
24.1% 18.5% 11.7% Manufacturing:
Retail trade:
Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food service:
9.0% Professional, scientific, management:
8.4% HENRY TIMKEN
MAJOR OCCUPATIONS Management, business, science and arts occupations:
30.7% 25.8% 16.8% Sales and office occupations:
Production, transportation and material moving occupations:
MAJOR EMPLOYERS Affinity Medical Center Alliance Community Hospital Aultman Hospital Canton City Schools Diebold, Inc. Fishers Foods Freshmark Inc. GE Capital Mercy Medical Center Nationwide Insurance Republic Engineered Products Shearer's Foods Stark County Government Stark State College The Timken Company
WORKFORCE Total workforce: 192,511 Average commute: 21 minutes
SOURCES: U.S. Census Bureau, Ohio Department of Development, NOAA and the National Weather Service, United States Department of Labor (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
STARK COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS:
MOVE-IN READY BY JESS BENNETT
Continued on page 18
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
A place where your business will flourish must also be a place where your people will flourish. Canton and the Stark County region enjoy one of the most affordable housing markets in the nation. From new, up-and-coming neighborhoods near activities for families and singles to grand dame historic allotments, resplendent with architectural flourishes and wooded lawns, there’s truly something for everyone. Urban-style loft apartments are on the rise in downtown areas, while quaint, charming starter homes dot neighborhoods in every corner of the county. Canton is a cornucopia of realty options at every price range. The median home cost in Stark County is $128,000, and the median rent is $622 per month. With a cost of living 15 percent lower than the national average, hassle-free commutes and communities packed with history and amenities, Canton is the perfect destination for your business to take root.
17
NEIGHBORHOODS CantonINC
GLAMORGAN CASTLE, ALLIANCE Continued from page 17
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
ALLIANCE
18
Located in the eastern part of Stark County, Alliance is the official home of the Ohio state flower — the scarlet carnation. Alliance celebrates with an annual Carnation Festival, packed with 10 days of events that bring thousands of visitors to the Carnation City. Alliance also is the home to Glamorgan Castle, Haines House, and The University of Mount Union — a Division III college with a championship football team, strong educational standards and a strong community presence.
CANAL FULTON Canal Fulton is conveniently located in northwest Stark County. This old canal town is home to a historic district,
boasting more than 100 sites listed on the National Historic Register. Climb aboard the St. Helena III, an authentic reproduction of a horse-drawn canal boat. Travel along an original section of the Ohio and Erie Canal by bike, hike or canoe on the Towpath Trail. Quaint shops and restaurants are abundant in this picturesque village.
CANTON Canton is experiencing an exciting downtown renaissance, with a vast array of art galleries, studios, restaurants and attractions flourishing in a beautifully manicured downtown corridor. The city offers more than 50 unique neighborhoods, including gorgeous historic allotments as well as urban loft-style living in the center city. The Hall of Fame City is home to national attractions including the Pro Football Hall of Fame, First
HISTORIC RIDGEWOOD ALLOTMENT, CANTON
CantonINC NEIGHBORHOODS
HARTVILLE FLEA MARKET, HARTVILLE Ladies’ National Historic Site and McKinley Presidential Library, Museum and Monument. The arts are everywhere with the Canton Symphony, Canton Ballet, Players Guild Theatre and Canton Museum of Art, to name just a few. Canton Memorial Civic Center also brings the area national music acts, trade shows, sports events, and more. Canton is full of history and heroes, and is the site of the founding of professional football. Each year, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival honors the legends of pro football, which includes conducting a world-renowned festival celebrating the annual enshrinement of football players, coaches and contributors into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Enshrinement Festival activities, attended by nearly 700,000 people, annually produce an economic impact of more than $31 million for the Canton/Stark County area and $56 million for the state of Ohio.
EAST CANTON/ OSNABURG TOWNSHIP This area is located five miles east of Canton along U.S. Route 30, and is home to a historic golf course. Clearview Golf Course is on the National Register of Historic Places. The course, located in Osnaburg Township, was built in 1946 by William Powell, who encountered racial discrimination on the golf course. After returning home from World War II, he decided to build his own place to play, where people of all colors would be welcomed.
LAKE TOWNSHIP: HARTVILLE, GREENTOWN AND UNIONTOWN Nestled in the northern corner of Stark County is Lake Township and the communities of Hartville, Greentown, Uniontown, Aultman and Continued on page 20
NEIGHBORHOODS CantonINC
CONSTITUTION PARADE, LOUISVILLE Continued from page 19
Cairo. The area is brimming with unique shops, restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and bed and breakfasts. Family entertainment includes miniature golf, swimming, parks, trails and three scenic golf courses. Enjoy wine tasting, homemade pies and a farm market. The splendor of simple pleasures is what Lake Township has to offer.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP Jackson Township is the county’s retail center. Westfield Belden Village and The Strip shopping areas comprise more than 140 restaurants and an everexpanding retail and commercial center. The park system consists of eight parks and approximately 300 acres. There are three private country clubs and three public courses in Jackson. The township is also the home to Stark State College and Kent State University at Stark, the largest regional
KSU campus, which boasts the stateof-the-art Kent State Professional and Education Center.
LOUISVILLE A 10-minute drive northeast of Canton will bring you to the lovely community of Louisville. Known as “Constitution Town USA,” Louisville hosts a week of activities during September that center around our nation’s constitution. Featured during this festive time are a queen’s pageant, balloon lift-off, fireworks and parade. Louisville offers five city parks where all types of recreational activities can be enjoyed.
MASSILLON Massillon, known for its epic sports tradition, retains the flavor of its past as it enjoys economic resurgence. The Massillon Museum displays art and a chronology of the community, while the castle-like Five Oaks Mansion anchors historic Fourth Street, a neighborhood known for architectural gems
that span a century of design excellence. Five Oaks and Fourth Street join Spring Hill Historic Home on the National Register. The Legends of Massillon provides 27 holes of first-rate public golfing. In addition, wooded hiking and biking trails intersect in the community.
MINERVA Nestled in the Appalachian foothills on the historic Lincoln Highway, the village of Minerva offers a unique, relaxing smalltown atmosphere. A rich history — including the Lost French Gold Legend and original brick sections of the Lincoln Highway — awaits you. You’ll cherish downtown Minerva, with its brick streets, quaint shops, cheesemakers, the Haas Museum and murals. Challenging golf courses, parks and trails, plus great family and fine dining are also available in the area.
NORTH CANTON The original home of the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner offers an excellent environment for family and for entertainment. The beautifully kept parks offer walking paths, picnicking, skateboarding and swimming in a magnificent public pool. New allotments and long-time housing staples alike abound in North Canton. Spend an evening of culture at the Playhouse Theater, visiting the Hoover Historical Center, or indulge in some great food any night of the week for big entertainment value in a small town. more story page 22
NEIGHBORHOODS CantonINC
from page 21
NAVARRE, BREWSTER AND WILMOT Deemed the “Gateway to Ohio’s Amish Country,” the southwest tip of Stark County offers gently rolling farmlands dotted with these quiet villages. Navarre is the home of Nickles Bread, and Brewster boasts the headquarters of both Brewster Dairy and Shearer’s potato chips. Wilmot is home to the Amish Door Restaurant & Village and the Wilderness Center, consisting of 1,700 acres of land, streams and prairies. Though these villages may be small, more than half a million people visit this area each year.
PERRY TOWNSHIP Nestled between Canton and Massillon, Perry Township has a population of more than 28,000. Perry Township is home to Sippo Lake, Stark Parks offices and unincorporated Richville. The township has seen much growth in the past several years through housing, commercial and industrial sites, medical facilities and municipal structures. Though much of the township has been developed, some agriculture still exists.
PLAIN TOWNSHIP Plain isn’t an accurate description of this bustling township. It’s the largest township in the county based on population (more than 50,000 total), combining the advantages of township living with the convenience of
SIPPO LAKE, PERRY TOWNSHIP an urban area. The park system is a source of pride in this area, and was recently recognized as a top place to relax in Stark County. The community here comes together each December for a tree-lighting ceremony and family-friendly festivities.
CantonINC NEIGHBORHOODS
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS IN NORTHEAST OHIO Akron Art Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Akron Zoo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleveland Browns Stadium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brecksville . . . . . . Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland . . . . . . . . Hale Farm and Village, Peninsula . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Playhouse Square, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Progressive Field (home to Cleveland Indians) . . Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Akron . . . . . . . . . . Trumpet in the Land, New Philadelphia . . . . . . . . University Circle Museums, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . Warther Museum, Dover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24 25 61 41 60 34 60 60 60 60 28 30 58 23
miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles miles
GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER
90
LAKE ERIE Cleveland 90
Brecksville Peninsula Akron
30
Stark County
80
76
Canton 30
71
Columbus 70
CLEVELAND INDIANS AKRON ZOO
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
OHIO
WARTHER MUSEUM
Dover New Philadelphia 77
RIVER
NORTHEAST OHIO
23
INDUSTRIAL LAND AND BUSINESS PARKS AKCAN INDUSTRIAL PARK Location: North Canton, Ohio Acres available: 16 Highway access: I-77 Zoning: Light industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Dan DeHoff, DeHoff Realty, (330) 499-8153
ALLIANCE COMMERCE PARK Location: Alliance, Ohio Acres available: 140 Highway access: U.S. Route 62 Zoning: Light/heavy industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Jim Stout, Coastal Pet Products, (330) 821-2218
BECK PARK Location: Louisville, Ohio Acres available: 300 Highway access: state Routes 44 and 153 Zoning: Light industrial Rail access: Yes Development contact: Tom Ault, City of Louisville, (330) 875-3321
EASTRIDGE COMMERCE PARK Location: Canton, Ohio Acres available: 80 Highway access: U.S. Route 62 Zoning: Light industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Bob DeHoff, DeHoff Development, (330) 499-8153
ELM RIDGE INDUSTRIAL PARK Location: Canal Fulton, Ohio Acres available: 85 Highway access: state Route 21 and I-77 Zoning: Light industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Ken Schalmo or Fred E. Etheridge, Schalmo Properties Inc., (330) 854-4591
FORD PROPERTY Location: Canton, Ohio Acres available: 85 Highway access: U.S. Route 30
Zoning: Heavy industrial Rail access: Yes Development contact: Fonda Williams, City of Canton, (330) 489-3258
HARTVILLE INDUSTRIAL PARKS Location: Hartville, Ohio Acres available: 40 Highway access: state Routes 43 and 619 Zoning: Light industrial Rail access: Some potential Development contact: Mayor's office, Village of Hartville, (330) 877-9222
MASSILLON ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY PARK Location: Massillon, Ohio Acres available: 392 Highway access: I-77, state Route 21, and U.S. Routes 30 and 62 Zoning: Industrial Rail access: Yes Development contact: David Hall, CurrieHall Investment Co., (330) 650-0525 ext. 12
MILLER I Location: Massillon, Ohio Acres available: 350 Highway access: state Route 21 and U.S. Route 30 Zoning: Heavy Industrial Rail access: Yes Development contact: Bob Sanderson, Massillon Development Foundation and Miller Family Trust, (330) 833-3148
MILLS BUSINESS PARK Location: Canton, Ohio Acres available: 110 Highway access: I-77 Zoning: Light Industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Dan DeHoff, Canton Commerce LLC, (330) 499-8153
NAVARRE PROSPECT PARK Location: Navarre, Ohio Acres available: 340 Highway access: U.S. Route 30 Zoning: Light Industrial Rail access: Yes Development contact: Perry Township,
(330) 833-2141
NOVA EAST Location: Massillon, Ohio Acres available: 120 Highway access: U.S. Route 30 Zoning: Light Industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Jon Calazza, Beaver Excavating, (330) 966-8800
PORT JACKSON Location: North Canton, Ohio Acres available: 26.3 Highway access: I-77 Zoning: Light Industrial Rail access: No Development contact: Lisa Gould, Akron-Canton Airport, (330) 668-4000
RECORR PARK Location: Massillon, Ohio Acres available: 30 Highway access: U.S. Route 30 Zoning: Light Industrial Rail access: Yes Development contact: Bob Sanderson, Grief Brothers, (330) 833-3148
DID YOU KNOW? Canton, Ohio, ranked 16th-most affordable housing market in the United States at the end of 2011, according to Housing Opportunity Index data from the National Association of Homebuilders. Stark County is within 600 miles of 60% of the entire U.S. population and 50% of the Canadian population. The City of Canton owns and operates one of the largest underground freshwater aquifers in the state of Ohio, putting a nearly endless amount of fresh water at your disposal for processing or manufacturing. Stark County is outpacing both Ohio and the nation when it comes to students returning for a second year of college. Eighty-five percent of all Stark’s high school graduates who go directly to college return for their sophomore year, viewed as a major step in degree persistence and completion. Canton is located at the intersection of two major highway systems, 1-77 and U.S. 30, offering freedom and convenience for delivering products.
CantonINC ENERGY
COVERSTORY:
ENERGIZING THE REGION An oil and gas boom, wind energy research and fuel cell technology has many eyes focused on Stark County Have you heard about the Utica Shale? Since late in 2010, nearly everybody in Canton has learned about the Utica. Lying about 7,000 feet below the surface of Eastern Ohio, it may hold as much as 5 billion barrels of oil and 15.7 trillion cubic feet of gas. New drilling technology permits oil and gas explorers to reach the vertical depth of the Utica and then extend the drill pipe horizontally into the shale. This provides access to thousands of feet of shale from one drill site. The biggest city in the heart of the Utica is Canton. It has the business, educational and transportation infrastructure to support the oil and gas industry. That is why Chesapeake Energy, which has spent $2 billion on energy leases in the Utica, has about 200 people at work in downtown Canton. And
it is why oil and gas service companies, engineering firms and well field supply companies have followed Chesapeake to Canton and surrounding Stark County. It is hard to go anywhere in Canton these days without people talking about oil and gas and the enormous boost to the local economy that energy exploration could bring. “Increasing operations here in the development of the Utica Shale will bring economic benefits for cities like Canton and the entire region. We will be more than doubling our rig count in Ohio in 2012. There will be more local jobs both with Chesapeake and ancillary businesses, and in turn more revenue for local residents and municipalities. We are excited about what has happened so far and are optimistic about the Utica Play,� says Keith Fuller, director of corporate development for Chesapeake in Canton. continued on page 28
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
BY DAVID KAMINSKI
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Continued from page 27
At the turn of the new year, Chesapeake had seven drill rigs in the Utica Shale region of Ohio. By year's end, it projects 20 rigs. This is just the start of what could be 30 years of oil and gas exploration. Chesapeake is the most visible oil and gas exploration company operating in the Canton area, but it is not the only company here that is preparing to explore the Utica Shale. Another is EnerVest, which has an office in Hartville, just north of Canton. It is a huge operator of shallower vertical oil and gas wells in Ohio. By acquiring the holdings of several companies over the years, it has 1,900 vertical wells in Stark County alone. In an ideal position to take advantage of the Utica production is the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Canton, which is capable of receiving refinery products from Utica wells by truck until gathering pipelines can be constructed — another good fortune when it comes to Canton's location.
And there’s more However, the exploration of the Utica is not the only energy development occurring in Canton and Stark County. Canton also is home of The Timken Co., a world leader in specialty steel and bearings. Timken, in partnership with Stark State College, the Stark County Port Authority and the Stark Development Board, is
constructing an $11.8 million research and development center to simulate field tests for the enormous bearings and seals needed to keep wind turbines running. The research center is expected to be completed in August 2012. “We are very pleased to launch such an important project for the wind energy industry,” said Douglas Smith, Timken’s senior vice president of technology and quality, at the groundbreaking for the research center. “... Being able to simulate real-world conditions at full-scale puts us in a unique position to rapidly assess and qualify new solutions for the industry.” And then there are megawatt-size fuel cells under development by Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems at the fuel cell prototyping center on the campus of Stark State College in suburban Jackson Township. The fuel cell system under development by Rolls-Royce is big enough to power a shopping center or a neighborhood, and it can run on a variety of fuels, including natural gas, a fuel in abundance in the shale deposits underground in Ohio and Pennsylvania. A 7,500-square-foot addition to the fuel-cell center at Stark State will be completed by November 2012. Funded primarily through a grant by the Small Business Administration, the new space will provide 6,500 square feet for research and design at Rolls-Royce and 1,043 square feet for fuel cell systems learning activities and a photovoltaic certification program. An important advantage of the partnership between Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems and Stark State College is the opportunity to offer an education in fuel-cell technology to Stark State students. Through exploration of the Utica, through production of components for the wind industry and through development of fuel cells, Canton and Stark County are nurturing the future of energy in the United States.
ENERGY CantonINC
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
Fracturing crew
How it works Hydraulic fracturing, combined with horizontal drilling, is a process in which water, sand and chemicals are injected into the earth at high pressure to release trapped gas. Horizontal wells start like a conventional gas well.The drilling extends much deeper than a conventional well. Depths of 7,000 to 10,000 feet are required to reach the gas deposits in the Utica Shale formation.
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AQUIFER CASING Concrete case
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Well casing is cemented into place to prevent any fluids used in drilling and fracturing from contaminating aquifers and other geologic zones.
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After drilling vertically to the depth that reaches slightly above the shale, the drill bit is turned horizontally and pushed into the shale, sometimes as much as 3,000 feet. Small fractures are created in the targeted area with perforating charges. Next, a fluid mixture of sand, water and chemicals is injected into the newly created fractures at high pressure. Hydraulic fracturing will further crack the rock and release gas trapped inside. The fracturing requires between 3 million and 5 million gallons of water per well.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
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After capturing gas from the well, drilling companies recover portions of the fracturing fluid, which is treated and/or recycled for future drilling projects.The well is prepared for production. Energy companies return to monitor and maintain the site.
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Source: www.hydraulicfracturing.com, http://geology.com
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Well casing
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Fre sh wa ter aqu ifer
FRACTURING PROCESS FRACTURING FLUID The shale is fractured by high pressure fluid that is injected into isolated portions of the well.
SHALE FORMATION Well depth Shale is a sedivaries from mentary rock 7,000 to We that is found in 10,000 feet ll c asi the Earth’s crust ng Well and often contains Released gas turns large, untapped natuflows into the horizontal ral gas reserves. well Fracture Names have been given 3 H to types of shale. we orizo Marcellus and Utica shale llb nt Sand mixed into or al e deposits are beneath parts the fluid keeps of Ohio, New York, fractures open. 4 Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Research indicates the formations could yield Ut large amounts of natural gas. ica Wells can extend as long as 3,000 feet.
Sh ale
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REPOSITORY GRAPHIC BY BOB KAST
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MORE ON FRACKING Hydraulic fracturing involves forcing a liquid under pressure into rock to create tiny fissures that free up trapped oil, gas and petroleum liquids. Hydraulic fracturing is a key technique in the exploration of deep shale formations. Modern technology allows oil companies to turn the drill bit from the vertical to horizontal to reach thousands of feet into the shale from one well. But hydraulic fracturing is not new to Canton or Stark County, Ohio. Oil exploration companies drilling vertical wells at much shallower depths than the average 7,000-foot depth of the Utica, have been hydraulically fracturing the earth to bring up oil and gas for about 60 years. Oil and gas wells dot the landscape around Canton and Stark County. What’s different in this new oil play is, principally, the scale of modern exploration and the potential wealth that would be shared with local landowners and host communities. One would not have to be in the oil and gas business to be affected positively by a booming economy fueled by low-cost energy.
CantonINC MANUFACTURING
NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S MORGAN ENGINEERING
MANUFACTURING
ANYMORE HYDRODEC
The landscape for doing business has changed pretty dramatically in the last several years. Customer demand for new products, advancements in technology, improved communications, worldwide competition, a global market — all these things have contributed to the rapidly changing playing field for businesses. To remain competitive in today’s manufacturing world, companies must adapt — and they must adapt quickly. Four cutting-edge companies in Stark County have been doing exactly that.
KOCH KNIGHT Koch Knight in East Canton began in the early 1900s as the Maurice A. Knight Company, making acid-resistant ceramic. In 1981, Koch Engineering Company, Inc. purchased parts of the Knight Company and today, Koch Knight LLC is a leading innovator in corrosion-proof materials and environmental heat transfer equipment. Continued on page 34
RTI ALLOYS
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
BY JOAN PORTER
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MANUFACTURING CantonINC
The company continues to hold its own in a mature market. Within the last 10 years, Koch Knight has introduced more than 40 new products and has two more products on the drawing board, with release expected within a year. In addition, Koch Knight is currently implementing lean manufacturing, a business philosophy that focuses on reducing costs while preserving value for the customer by changing the way people do their jobs. Customer demands have kicked the
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
KOCH KNIGHT
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company into high gear. Customers want not only high quality products but also new products. And they want them delivered more quickly than ever before. Koch Knight has responded to its customers’ needs and demands and has been able to keep up the pace.
customers. Also sells ceramic and plastic packing for pollution control equipment. Number of employees: 75 in Canton Years in Stark County: 15 About Stark: “We like Stark County for its availability of high quality shop labor as well as access to major truck routes. For our employees, we like the lower cost of living, family-oriented environment, great schools and Midwestern values.” -Michael Graeff
HYDRODEC NORTH AMERICA Hydrodec’s roots may only go back a few years, but the business is firmly planted in environmentally sustainable chemical processing that leaves a small carbon footprint. The process for removing cancercausing PCBs from used transformer oil and returning the oil to a re-useable condition was developed in Australia after eight years of research. The end result was PCBfree transformer oil that could be refined an infinite number of times, allowing power companies to reduce their use of new oil supplies. Once the technology was patented, Hydrodec, a London-based company, was formed in 2001 and now has plants in both Australia and Canton with plans well underway to expand into Japan. In keeping with its focus on sustainability, Hydrodec North America has brought new life to a brownfield area in Canton, where the company has been operating for four years, transforming what once was considered a waste product into a renewable product with a never-ending life cycle.
ABOUT KOCH KNIGHT President: Michael Graeff Location: 5385 Orchard View Dr., SE, Canton Product or service: Leader in acid proof systems for large industrial
ABOUT HYDRODEC NORTH AMERICA CEO: Ian Smale, general manager Global Operations: Michael Pitcher Location: 2021 Steinway Blvd., SE,
Canton Product or service: Collects and re-manufactures specialty mineral oil products for reuse and provides environmentally sustainable petrochemical materials management. Number of employees: 26 in Canton Years in Stark County: 4 About Stark: “We like Canton for its excellent shopping, quaint neighborhoods, reasonable cost of living, access to talent and proximity to the Eastern U.S.” -Michael Pitcher
MORGAN ENGINEERING SERVICES, INC. Morgan Engineering dates back to 1868 when a young Welsh immigrant named Thomas R. Morgan set up shop in Pittsburgh to manufacture steam hammers and other special machinery. After three years, when the company outgrew its space, Morgan moved the business to Alliance. Known as “The Hammer Shop,” the company soon expanded its product line to include a variety of heavy equipment and an assortment of cranes, which gained the company notoriety in the late 1800’s. Today, Morgan Engineering is known worldwide as the leading designer of overhead traveling cranes for aluminum companies, steel mills, electric power plants, refuse facilities, container handling and general industry use. In addition, they also manufacture transfer cars, ladles, scrap buckets and presses. Throughout its existence, Morgan Engineering has kept up with the times by modernizing its equipment and plant as well as developing new products and redesigning old ones. It has incorporated today’s technology into its engineering services as well as into its equipment. Today, after 141 years in Alliance, the
company continues to improve its products and processes to meet the changing needs of its customers.
ABOUT MORGAN ENGINEERING SERVICES, INC. President and CEO: Mark L. Fedor Location: 1049 South Mahoning Ave., Alliance Product or service: Material handling equipment for the metals and mining industry. Primary products are electric overhead traveling cranes and industrial automation/robotics integration including all Level 1 and Level 2 hardware and software development for all metals and mining equipment. Number of employees: 110 fulland part-time employees Years in Stark County: 141 About Stark: “The hardworking, dedicated people of Stark County who unconditionally care about the quality of their work are the biggest asset to businesses of all sizes in the county. Stark County businesses have kept their synergies together through all the economic turmoil and that’s why today we see the resurgence of manufacturing in the hardest working county in America. We are proud to be in Stark County and we are proud to be 100 percent manufactured in Alliance, Ohio, USA.” -Mark L. Fedor
RTI ALLOYS RTI International Metals, founded in 1950, is one of the world’s largest producers of titanium with a global presence in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. Through its numerous subsidiaries, RTI International manufactures and distributes an assortment of titanium products to the aerospace, defense, energy, Continued on page 36
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Continued from page 35
medical and performance sport industries. Its worldwide facilities help RTI to better serve its customers. As a subsidiary of RTI International, RTI Alloys has been producing titanium ingots in Canton for the past 15 years. The ingots then go to the Niles plant where they are fabricated into sheets and plates before being sent on to be made into finished shapes. Titanium may not be new to the aerospace and medical industries. It has been used in both for the past 60 years, but increased use of titanium products and new applications are always being developed. And it was just 20 years ago that RTI International entered the energy market. With continued growth in existing fields and the exploration of new markets, the titanium business will continue to grow as new applications for this “space age” material are developed.
ABOUT RTI ALLOYS CEO: Dawne Hickton of RTI International Metals Plant Manager: Shane Probst Location: 1935 Warner Rd. SE, Canton Product or service: Produces titanium ingots and sends them to RTI Niles to forge into smaller shapes and roll out into plates and sheets to be sold to other companies for use in aerospace, industrial and other applications for customers around the world. Number of employees: 70 Years in Stark County: 15 About Stark: “Stark County’s labor pool is a major asset for doing business in Stark County.There are a lot of skilled individuals.The county has a diverse workforce with diverse backgrounds.” -Shane Probst
TRANSPORTATION CantonINC
HOW DO YOU DO BUSINESS? By rail, air, highway or waterway? It’s easy to get where you need to go from Canton BY DAVID KAMINSKI
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anton’s rail network can handle anything you put on the tracks. The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway is a regional railroad that connects to Norfolk Southern, CN and CSX. It is the largest provider of rail transportation in Canton and Stark County, operating more than 80 miles of track. “Wheeling & Lake Erie moves over 21,000 carloads per year to or from customers in the county,” said Jonathan Chastek, manager of economic and industrial development for W&LE. It can offer customers up to twice-daily service depending on their shipping volume. If you need to fly to the rest of the country from Canton, you’re in luck. We have the Akron-Canton Regional Airport. “When considering the perfect business location, airport access is critical,” said airport President and CEO Rick McQueen. “Not only is CAK conveniently located, we offer the lowest average fare in a fourstate region and a relaxing airport experience. Your road warriors will thank you for making such a smart location choice.” CAK set another record in 2011 by
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CSX Transportation, Inc. Norfolk Southern Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Ohio Cenral Rail System
serving 1.6 million passengers, and it is the 14th most affordable air market in the United States. It offers nonstop service by Southwest/AirTran, Frontier, Delta, US and United
Independent line Amtrak service with CSXT and NS Indiana and Ohio rail system
Airport Highway
Express to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Atlanta, Denver, Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit.
CantonINC TRANSPORTAION
WHAT’S YOUR DESTINATION? FROM CANTON: New York City 445 miles Washington, DC 338 miles Richmond,VA. 427 miles Louisville, KY 333 miles Indianapolis, IN 301miles Chicago, IL 389 miles Milwaukee,WI 476 miles Detroit, MI 213 Toronto, ONT. 339 miles
If your business travels by highway, Canton is the intersection of Interstate 77 and U.S. Route 30. It is easily connected with Interstates 76, 71 and 80 (which is the Ohio Turnpike). In the first decade of the
21st Century, Interstate 77, through the heart of Canton, underwent a massive expansion from four to six lanes to accommodate the city’s personal and commercial traffic. And if you ship on the water, the
Ohio River intermodal port at Wellsville is 52 miles away. It’s your barge connection to the ports of Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans. You can get anywhere from Canton, by any means you choose.
LEADERSHIP PROGRAM FOR BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS
Leadership Stark County has been building community trusteeship. Through our programs, we are developing a core of motivated leaders to serve Stark County in the coming years -
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ENGAGED IN STARK COUNTY We’re here to develop a young, involved and educated workforce for area businesses. We want these businesses - our partners to know that we’re out there, working to attract and retain diverse young professionals to this area. For businesses in Stark County, ystark! means just one thing: unlimited access to a pool of the sharpest, most engaged YPs around.
www.ystark.org A DEPARTMENT OF THE CANTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
FOR MORE INFO ABOUT LEADERSHIP STARK COUNTY,VISIT
LEADERSHIPSTARKCOUNTY.ORG 222 Market Avenue N • Canton, Ohio 44702 • (330)458.2094
CantonINC DEEP ROOTS
THE TIMKEN COMPANY
Many roads lead to Stark County. The Timken Company moved here seeking access to Pittsburgh’s steel and Detroit’s automobile market. Belden Brick grew out of the clayrich soil that fed its kilns. Each of the following six companies took different routes, but each has put down deep roots, invested in Stark County and continued to flourish. Continued on page 42
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
DEEP ROOTS, BRIGHT FUTURES
BY JOAN RENNER
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DEEP ROOTS CantonINC
Continued from page 41
THE TIMKEN COMPANY The Timken Company moved from St. Louis to Canton in 1901. For the first 100 years of business, the company was known for its tapered roller bearings. That is changing. In the last 10 years, the company has entered new markets such as wind energy, mining and power transmission. It has also expanded its market in China and changed its steel offerings. Sales last year hit a record $5.2 billion. Of the 21,000 people Timken employs worldwide, 4,700 are employed in Stark County. In February, Timken announced a $225 million upgrade to Canton’s Faircrest Steel plant. The upgrade is expected to increase alloy steel bar capacity by 25 percent.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
ABOUT THE TIMKEN COMPANY
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CEO: James W. Griffith, President and CEO Location: 1835 Dueber Ave. SW, Canton Product or service: GRIFFITH Tapered roller bearings, steel alloys, gear boxes, components for wind energy, mining, and power transmission industries. Founded in St. Louis in 1899, moved to Stark County in 1901. 2011 sales: $5.2 billion. Number of employees: 21,000 total; 4,700 in Stark County Years in Stark County: 111 About Stark: “While the 21,000 people of Timken work from 30 countries to be close to customers, Canton has been our home for more than a century. We are proud to both live and work here in Stark County, which has been a great partner in progress with a terrific pool of talent.” -James Griffith
GREGORY INDUSTRIES
GREGORY INDUSTRIES In 2011, a line in a transportation bill would have banned federally-funded projects from using guard rails produced by continuous galvanizing — the process used by Gregory Industries. The company reached out to Ohio’s U.S. Senators — Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman. Portman introduced an amendment to remove the provision, and it was taken out of the bill. Gregory Industries specializes in proprietary manufactured products, continuousgalvanized sheet coal and coatings, fence products, guard rails, safety cables and metalworking services. The company originated in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Stark County in 1957 to capitalize on Ohio’s steel industry. Two plants employ 125 people.
ABOUT GREGORY INDUSTRIES CEO: Steve Gregory, President and CEO Location: 4100 13th St SW, Canton
Product or service: Makes continuous-galvanized steel coil, guard rails and safety cables, strut and fence products.Thomas Gregory Galvanizing Works founded in Brooklyn in 1896; moved to Stark GREGORY County in 1957. Number of employees: 125 Years in Stark County: 55 About Stark: “We moved our business from New York to Canton 55 years ago and have been pleased with the move. A combination of a business friendly political environment, a great work force and superior health care for our employees has helped our company prosper and grow.” -Steve Gregory
DIEBOLD Diebold moved to Canton in 1872. Today, the company employs roughly 16,000 people. Diebold makes and services ATM machines and can manage entire networks of ATMs, said company spokesman Mike Jacobsen. It provides both individual site security and integrated system
security for multiple sites. In 2009, Diebold competitor NCR announced it was moving from Dayton to Georgia, lured by a generous tax incentive package. Placed at a competitive disadvantage, Diebold announced its own move — two miles from its current world headquarters. Roughly 1,500 of its 1,900 local employees will work in the new building in Green; the company expects $100 million in state and local incentives for the $105 million project.
ABOUT DIEBOLD CEO: Thomas W. Swidarski, President and CEO Location: 5995 Mayfair Rd., North Canton Product or service: Makes and services ATMS. Provides security for individual and multiple sites. Founded in SWIDARSKI 1859 when German immigrant Carl Diebold bought into the Cincinnati safe building company C. Baumann and Company. Moved to Stark County in 1872. Number of employees: 16,000 total, 1,900 in Stark County area Years in Stark County: 140 About Stark: “The Stark County region has provided a valuable business environment since Diebold located here in 1872. Now, with nearly 2,000 Diebold associates working in the area and supporting local families, schools and communities, we look forward to opening a new chapter in our history in the region with the opening of our new global headquarters in the coming years.” -Thomas W. Swidarski
Continued on page 44
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DEEP ROOTS CantonINC
BELDEN BRICK Belden Brick operates six plants in nearby Tuscarawas County with administrative offices in Canton. It operates four plants through its outof-state subsidiary, Redland Brick, and two distributorships. Total employment comes to about 800. Raw materials, a good work force and low cost of living keep the company in the area, said President and CEO Robert Belden. Last year, Belden Brick produced just under half of its 250 million standard brick equivalent-capacity. Still, it was up about 3 percent from 2010, sparking optimism for this year. Mineral and gas rights the company holds in two counties also spark optimism. The company is discussing how to benefit from the recent Utica Shale exploration, Belden said.
ABOUT BELDEN BRICK CEO: Robert Belden, President and CEO Location: 700 Tuscarawas St. W, Canton Product or service: BELDEN The largest family-owned and managed brick company in the United States. Makes and distributes bricks, with a 250 million standard brick equivalent capacity. Founded (as Diebold Fire Brick Company) in 1885. Number of employees: 800 total, 500 in Stark County area Years in Stark County: 127 About Stark: “We have done business here in Stark County for 127 years. It is our home and we have enjoyed great support from this community and we hope we have made a positive contribution in return. Certainly, we are proud of the
part our products have made in helping to create durable, beautiful buildings in which all of us live, work, and play.” -Robert Belden
MARATHON PETROLEUM Marathon Petroleum is also discussing what to do about Utica. The Ohio-based company’s Canton refinery has already built a temporary truck rack to accommodate the barrels coming in from Utica, said spokesman Shane Pochard. Still, Utica accounts for a small percentage of the oil refined in Canton. “It's too soon to tell” whether to increase production beyond the 78,000 barrel-aday capacity of the Canton refinery, division manager Kevin Bogard said. Still, Bogard is optimistic, both for Marathon’s 350 local employees, and
CantonINC DEEP ROOTS
the entire region. “The job opportunity that’s going to be in this area, the amount of skilled labor that’s going to be needed to come into this area, it’s just a very exciting time,” he said.
ABOUT MARATHON PETROLEUM CEO: Kevin Bogard, division manager Location: 3801 23rd St. SW, Canton Product or service: A wide range of crude oils from light sweet to heavy sour. Gasoline, diesel, asphalt, heavy fuel oil, propane, and sulfur. Crude distillation, catalytic cracking, catalytic polymerization, hydrotreating, reforming, alkylation, and sulfur recovery. Refining capacity: Total company capacity 1.2 million barrels a day; Canton plant has 78,000 barrel capacity. Number of employees: 350 in Stark County
Years in Stark County: 81 (Local refinery built in 1931, was acquired by Ashland Inc. in 1948 when Ashland merged with Allied Oil company; Ashland Inc. formed joint venture with Marathon in 2005, which dissolved in 2008; in 2011, BOGARD Marathon Petroleum separated from Marathon Oil.) About Stark: “From 22 years of Marathon, I've lived in Illinois three times, Kentucky, Detroit, Houston ... Canton is one of our favorites; it’s a small enough town to get around, and not fight all the people that you have to in Houston, but it’s big enough that you have all the things that you want to do.” -Kevin Bogard
H-P PRODUCTS H-P Products was founded in 1945 to make gas conversion burners for coal furnaces in households. Today, the company makes engineered tube bends for the automotive, construction and agricultural industries at two Louisville plants. Residential central vacuum systems, bearing brand names such as Dirt Devil and VACUFLO, are produced at the company’s Jackson Township plant. Company spokeswoman Pam Corneliussen said roughly 35 to 40 percent of new homes in the United States have these systems installed — and that the systems are even more common in Canada. Employment at the three plants and corporate headquarters totals 375 people, said Corneliussen. Continued on page 46
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ABOUT H-P PRODUCTS CEO: Allen Green, President and CEO Location: 512 W. Gorgas St., Louisville Product or service: Makes engineered tube bends and residential central vacuum systems. Number of employees: 375 GREEN Years in Stark County: 67 About Stark: “The secret to our growth and success has been a diversified product line, flexible manufacturing capabilities, quality products and services, and the ability to rapidly respond to market changes and customer demands. However, none of this would be possible without our greatest asset…our people. Stark County offers a vast pool of hard-working, talented individuals, many who have been educated by one of our excellent school systems or local universities. Many of our suppliers, and some customers, are also from Stark County or Ohio based, meaning easier communications, more on-time deliveries and less transportation costs. On a more personal note, Stark County is a great place to raise a family, since it has affordable housing, reputable hospitals and health care programs, a growing airport, and lots of recreation and entertainment programs and venues.” -Allen Green
CantonINC SMALL BUSINESS
SMALL BUSINESSES:
The engine of a thriving economy Two rules for successful small businesses: Find a niche and adapt, adapt, adapt. Five local businesses have followed that path to success. Stark Industrial, founded by Raymond Wilkof in 1959, went from distributing power transmissions to distributing cutting tools and custom-made parts. When their main supplier stopped making custom parts, Stark Industrial started manufacturing, which makes up about 90 percent of the business today, said company Vice President Sam Wilkof. Fred Olivieri Construction, founded the same year, focused on gas station construction in the 1960s. When the mall came to Belden Village in the early ’70s, the company started building stores and restaurants in and around malls. One chain outlet job led to others. “Amazingly, the little Belden Village area in Jackson (Township), Ohio is pretty much in all the United States,” said company president Dean Olivieri. Continued on page 48
ABOVE: Solmet Technologies originally focused on metallurgical sampling. Now the business includes machining, open die forging and even hand-forging by a company blacksmith. AT LEFT: The Fred Olivieri Construction Company originally focused on gas station construction, but found a niche in chain outlet development.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
BY JOAN RENNER
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SMALL BUSINESS CantonINC
ABOUT HAMMONTREE AND ASSOCIATES
HALL OF FAME BRIDGE, HAMMONTREE AND ASSOCIATES
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Continued from page 47
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Today, the company does business in 30 states, has a branch in Texas and owns a cabinet shop, Mr. O’s Custom Millwork and Store Fixtures. The engineering company Jim and Tim Seifert opened in 1985 has split into three companies: Seifert Engineering, Seifert Technologies, which deals with information technology, and Seifert Associates, a staffing firm. The firms operate in Massillon, North Canton and Nashville, Tenn. and employ roughly 120 people. Hammontree and Associates is continuing to adapt at the moment: The civil engineering and land surveying firm still does plenty of work with area governments in road, bridge and building construction. But Hammontree and its subsidiary, Morris Knowles & Associates, of Pennsylvania, see growing business from the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and Pennsylvania. “It’s kind of like a gold rush,” said president and CEO Charles F. Hammontree. The company has had
two record years in a row, he said. “We’re on pace to beat them this year.” Solmet Technologies is also benefiting from the gas and oil exploration. “It’s a big, big deal,” said Solmet President Joseph Halter. The company Halter founded originally did metallurgical sampling. Today, Solmet also offers machining, open die forging and even hand-forging by a company blacksmith. Employment at Solmet has nearly tripled in three years. Halter is looking for a nearby company to heattreat the shafts his company makes for gas exploration. The Texas and Louisiana plants he relies on are backed up two to three months, he said. “We’d like to take more control of our own destiny,” he said. The leaders of these companies praised Stark County’s health care, schools, colleges and universities, sense of community and skilled work force. “We work all over the country, I can say this, this is still one of the best places to work,” Olivieri said.
CEO: Charles F. Hammontree, chairman and CEO Location: 5233 Stoneham Rd., North Canton Product or service: Civil engineering and HAMMONTREE land surveying. Number of employees: 76 Years in Stark County: 46 About Stark: “Ohio can contribute greatly (to oil and gas exploration and use) in not only uncovering and discovering the resource, but developing it into plastics and manufacturing and exporting.” -Charles Hammontree
ABOUT SEIFERT COMPANIES CEO: Tim Seifert, president and owner, Seifert Technologies; owner Seifert Technologies and Seifert & Associates Product or service: Three SEIFERT separate companies provide engineering, information technology and staffing services. Number of employees: About 120 Years in Stark County: 27 About Stark: “ There is no shortage of hard working, dedicated people living right here in our area. I believe our firm has taken full advantage of that.” -Tim Seifert
ABOUT FRED OLIVIERI CONSTRUCTION CEO: Dean Olivieri, president Location: 6315 Promway Ave. NW, North Canton Product or service: Constructs and fits stores and restaurants within and around malls. Also owns Mr. O’s Custom Millwork and Store Fixtures cabinet shop. Clients range from Disney Stores to Victoria's Secret,
IHOP to Benihana. Number of employees: About 70 in the cabinet shop; about 70 in the construction company. Years in Stark OLIVIERI County: 53 About Stark: “It’s a great place to live, great place to raise a family.” -Dean Olivieri
ABOUT STARK INDUSTRIAL CEO: Raymond Wilkof, President Location: 5103 Stoneham Rd., North Canton Product or service: Manufactures custom precision parts, cutting tools SAM WILKOF, VP and dead centers; distributes cutting tools and precision measuring tools. Large focus in aerospace and environmental control sectors. Number of employees: 33 Founded: 1959 Years in Stark County: 53 About Stark: “We’ve been very successful here in Canton, and there’s really no other place I’d want to be.” -Sam Wilkof, vice president
ABOUT SOLMET TECHNOLOGIES CEO: Joseph Halter, President and CEO Location: 2716 Shepler Church Ave. SW, Canton Product or service: Metallurgical sampling machining, HALTER open die forging, hand-forging and nondestructive testing (NDT) inspection. Number of employees: 60 Years in Stark County: 27 About Stark: “There’s a great work ethic here ... there’s a lot of really good workers here.” -Joseph Halter
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330.452.7383 Catering Available!
REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR FUTURE The Fund for Our Economic Future is a collaboration of philanthropic organizations and individuals that have united to strengthen the economic competitiveness of Northeast Ohio through grantmaking, research and civic engagement. www. FutureFundNEO.org, 216-456-9800.
JUMPSTART, INC. Jumpstart provides intensive assistance and service to Northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, and selectively invests in the highest potential companies. www.JumpstartInc.org, 216363-3400.
TRADE CONSORTIUM The Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium is a multicounty regional economic development partnership that works collaboratively in the region with the goal of attracting capital investment and jobs to Northeast Ohio through the administration of Foreign-Trade Zone 181. www.NEOTEC.org, 330-672-4080.
DEPT. OF DEVELOPMENT Working with 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. www.Development.Ohio.gov, 800-848-1300.
STARK FOUNDATION Since 1963, Stark Community Foundation has connected the generosity of donors with community need by making grants to organizations working to improve Stark County.Together with its donors, the Foundation has granted more than $106 million to nonprofit organizations. www.StarkCF.org, 330-454-3426.
TEAMNEO TeamNEO serves companies and site consultants by acting as the single point of entry into the 16-county Cleveland Plus region, and then works with counties and communities to ensure seamless attraction into Northeast Ohio. www.Cleveland PlusBusiness.com, 216-363-5400.
GROWING IN STARK CantonINC
“
The Canton labor market has just been ideal.
” GROWING -Greg Ouimet, regional vice president,VXI
in Stark County
BY JOAN RENNER
O
ne company plans to more than double its employees locally to 1,200 by the end of the year, while another recently moved in with a staff of 65. A third company has roots going back decades and continues to see amazing growth — and a fourth opened a distribution center here after business continued to climb in this market. All four companies, regardless of size or history, have found Stark County a good place to settle and grow.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
VXI GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
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VXI Global Solutions offers a full range of call center services, including sales, customer service, and technical support in roughly 40 languages. The company, which has 9,000 employees, first opened an office in Youngstown because management was impressed with several new hires from the region. “We really liked doing business in Ohio. We felt like we got tremendous support from the local community as well as the state,” said Nick Covelli, senior vice president of global sales. An available AT&T building, coupled with Canton Mayor William J. Healy II’s efforts, landed the office in Canton, Covelli said. VXI opened its Canton facility in August with 500 employees. By the end of this year, the company plans to have 1,200 employees providing customer
VXI GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
CantonINC GROWING IN STARK
OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE
ABOUT VXI GLOBAL SOLUTIONS CEO: Eva Wang Location: 401 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton Product or service: Full service call center operation providing sales, technical support and customer service WANG in 40 languages to several countries. It also has an array of business services, ranging from data entry to lead
generation and development software for call center needs. Number of employees: 600 in Stark County now, with an additional 600 projected for the end of the year. Years in Stark County: 1
OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE For years, Old Dominion Freight Line has served the Canton area through its Cleveland service center. As business in the Canton market grew, the company decided to open a dedicated, 70-door distribution facility at Mills Industrial Park. “We received wonderful cooperation from everyone in Canton,” said ODFL spokesman Chip Overbey. ODFL provides less-than-truck service — a shipment for a specific customer that does not take up the entire trailer space. Area trucks pick up several shipments in one day and bring it back to a distribution center. There, shipments with varying destinations are unpacked from the trucks
and regrouped according to common destinations. The company is based in Thomasville, N.C., and employs 12,000 with 40 employed at the Canton Center. Canton is ODFL’s first facility with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
ABOUT OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE CEO: David Congdon, President and CEO Location: 3970 Commerce St. SW, Canton Product or service: Less-thantruckload carrier, operating in 48 states. Number of CONGDON employees: 40 in Stark County Years in Stark County: 1 Continued on page 54
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
care, general marketing and technical support. VXI looks for employees with technical and computer skills as well as sales and customer service experience. “The Canton labor market has just been ideal,” said Greg Ouimet, regional vice president. “We’ve designated Canton as our regional office. We've purchased the facility. We plan on being here a long time.”
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GROWING IN STARK CantonINC
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KENAN ADVANTAGE GROUP Kenan Advantage Group originated in Stark County. Through mergers and acquisitions, it has grown to become the largest tank-truck hauler in North America. Kenan employs 7,000 people, about 450 of them in the region, said spokeswoman Patty Harcourt. “We have more than 125 terminals and more than 200 satellite locations,” Harcourt said. About 75 to 85 percent of what Kenan Advantage hauls is fuel, Harcourt said. In addition, it carries chemicals, food-grade products and industrial gases. In 2008, Kenan moved its corporate office and logistics center to a site more than triple the size of the original.
“
We’ve stayed in Stark County, Ohio because of the people. With a long history of manufacturing success, this region has developed a culture of hard working, highly skilled individuals who are committed to the success of their community.
”
-Dennis Nash, CEO, Kenan Advantage Group (pictured at left)
CantonINC GROWING IN STARK
The company invested heavily in state-of-the art equipment and technology, including proprietary software that allows customers to track deliveries in real time. “(Ohio) Gov. Kasich, when he came through our facility, indicated this isn’t a trucking company; this is a technology company with trucks,” Harcourt said. With subsidiaries as far flung as Pennsylvania, California, Texas and Wisconsin, the company could have moved out of state. But Harcourt said the local colleges and skilled workforce made staying a good decision. The Stark Development board, county commissioners and local chambers of commerce also deserve credit, she said. “We felt very wanted.”
ABOUT KENAN ADVANTAGE CEO: Dennis Nash Location: 4366 Mt. Pleasant St NW, North Canton Product or service: Tank truck hauler, hauling primarily fuel products, chemicals, industrial gases and food-grade products. Number of employees: About 450 in the Stark County region Years in Stark County: 21
MEDLINE INDUSTRIES Medline Industries, an Illinois-based producer and distributer of medical supplies, started looking for a new distribution center when its lease in Columbus ran out. Population statistics, interest from area clients and support of area government and business organizations led it to Canton, where it became the first tenant
of Mills Industrial Park, a 143-acre site in the southwest corner of the city. Medline bought the 18.9-acre site in 2010, committing to the $13.7 million transfer center. The site, which employs 65 people, distributes such products as wound care items, surgical gloves, walkers and wheelchairs within a radius of several hundred miles. “We have an outstanding team, we own the center, it’s somewhere we plan to be for a very long time,” said Bill Abbington, Medline president of operations.
ABOUT MEDLINE INDUSTRIES Location: 3800 Commerce St SW, Canton Product or service: Manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies. Number of employees: 65 in Stark County Years in Stark County: 1
CantonINC HEALTH CARE
ALLIANCE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AFFINITY MEDICAL CENTER
AULTMAN HOSPITAL MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
Caring for Stark BY JOAN RENNER With four hospitals in Stark County and a pediatric hospital nearby, residents here have access to high-level prenatal care, in-patient hospice and nearly everything in between. “For the size of our county to have the sort of medical facilities it has is incredible,” said local employer Sam Wilkof. “If you don’t have healthy
workers, it doesn’t matter what you do.” In the following pages, you’ll learn more about Aultman Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Affinity Medical Center and Alliance Community Hospital. Continued on page 58
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
HEALTH CARE:
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HEALTH CARE CantonINC
AFFINITY MEDICAL CENTER
AULTMAN HOSPITAL
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
AULTMAN HOSPITAL
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Aultman Hospital is Stark County’s largest hospital — and the county’s largest employer. Aultman predominantly serves members of its AultCare insurance program, although the hospital has a program for out-of-network patients as well. Major programs at the hospital include cancer, heart, emergency, orthopedic, neurosurgery and stroke, critical care and women and children. Aultman and its satellite facilities serve patients in a five-county area, providing physical, occupational and aquatic therapy, dialysis, pre-employment physicals and the county’s first in-patient hospice center. Aultman College teaches nursing and radiology, but the hospital also educates patients. Lung and breast cancer patients can discuss their health with a “patient navigator” throughout treatment. Anyone can use the Sharon Lane Health Information Center. Support groups help people lose weight, stop smok-
ing, adapt a vegan lifestyle — even connect with grandchildren over Facebook. “When we talk about health, it's not just the physical health of the community,” said Aultman spokewoman Jen Kessel.
ABOUT AULTMAN Where: 2600 6th St. SW, Canton Years in Stark County: 120 CEO: Ed Roth What makes it special: Aultman Hospital is Stark County’s oldest and largest hospital — and the only one that vertically integrates an insurance provider, a hospital and colleges of ROTH nursing and radiology. Aultman also offers Stark’s only in-patient hospice care center. Licensed beds: 808 Employs: About 5,000 (includes hospital, colleges, insurance provider) Satellites: 18 facilities in three counties. Accepts: AultCare insurance plans. NonAultCare patients can be admitted through Aultman’s “Yes,You Can” program. Website: www.aultman.org
Affinity Medical Center of Massillon is Stark County’s only for-profit hospital, and the only one not locally owned. Spokeswoman Susan Koosh touts the benefits of belonging to the 133-hospital network operated by Community Health Systems of Nashville, Tenn. “It's phenomenal. We can pull on any of our colleagues or corporate partners … to find services that have been beneficial.” Affinity opened a new heart center in 2009, and a new orthopedic and spine center in 2010. In 2011, it added Da Vinci Si, a state-of-the-art robotic surgery system. This year, it is expanding its emergency department from 16 treatment rooms to 24. Other specialties include pain management, women’s services, occupational health and in-patient senior mental health. Affinity is a teaching facility for Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Affinity is the only county hospital that does not offer birth delivery; it offers limited pediatric services.
ABOUT AFFINITY Where: 875 Eighth St. NE, Massillon Years in Stark County: 102 CEO: Ron Bierman What makes it special: Affinity Medical Center is Stark County’s only for-profit hospital, with access to a network of 133 hospitals. Licensed beds: 266 BIERMAN Employs: 769 Satellites: Seven physician offices in Stark County. Accepts: All major insurance programs; Affinity works with out-of-network patients through its Affinity Access program. Website: www.affinitymedicalcenter.com
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MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
ABOUT MERCY Where: 1320 Mercy Dr. NW, Canton Years in Stark County: 104 CEO: Tom Cecconi What makes it special: Mercy Medical Center is Stark County’s only Catholic hospital, and the only one that offers a dental residency program. CECCONI Licensed Beds: 523 Employs: About 2,500 Satellites: Eight facilities in three counties. Accepts: All major insurance plans. Mercy works with out-of-network patients through its “Your Choice” program. Website: www.cantonmercy.org
MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
ALLIANCE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Alliance Community Hospital, built in 2006, is the only Planetree hospital in Ohio. Planetree is a patient-centered philosophy of treatment. Bedside hand massages, aromatherapy and prayer shawls made by volunteers and blessed by a chaplain, are some examples of what spokesman Patricia Kimerer calls Alliance’s “integrative therapy.” Patients have a right to see their chart when they wish; visitation is restricted only when medical necessity or the patient dictates it. Kimerer said the idea “is to treat people as much as if they were at home as we can.” The acute care center, with an urgent care center in Louisville, offers general surgery, orthopedics, wound care, maternity services, some
cancer treatment and extensive therapy programs. The nursing home offers short- and long-term care.
ABOUT ALLIANCE Where: 200 East State St., Alliance Years operating in Stark County: 112 CEO: Stan Jonas What makes it special: Alliance is Ohio’s only Planetree hospital. Planetree is a patient-oriented philosophy. Licensed beds: 259 (includes 78 skilled JONAS nursing beds in affiliated nursing home and assisted living center). Employs: About 1,000 Accepts: All major insurance plans, will treat out-of-network patients. Website: www.achosp.org
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Mercy Medical Center of Canton is a Catholic hospital owned by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. Mercy’s nationally recognized emergency chest pain center features a heart catheterization lab right in the emergency department. “We are among the best in the nation in terms of what is called door-to-balloon angioplasty,” said spokeswoman Lynne Dragomier. In addition to heart care, Mercy’s specialties include emergency, cancer and stroke care, vascular emergency, robotic surgery and its 39-bed regional rehabilitation center. Mercy also operates a dental residency program and clinic. In addition to routine dentistry — open to the insured and uninsured alike — the clinic caters to the special needs of senior, disabled and pediatric patients and has dentists on call for dental emergencies. One of Mercy’s satellite health centers combines hospital, school, YMCA and library facilities on a common campus in Lake Township.
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CONTACT INFO ALLIANCE Mayor: Alan C. Andreani / Alliance Area Chamber: www.AllianceOhioChamber.org / Alliance Area Development Foundation: www.AllianceADF.com / City of Alliance: www.CityofAlliance.com CANAL FULTON
Mayor: Richard Harbaugh / City of Alliance: www.CityofCanalFulton-oh.gov / Canal Fulton Chamber: www.DiscoverCanal Fulton.com
CANTON Mayor: William J. Healy II / City of Canton: www.Canton Ohio.gov / Canton Regional Chamber: www.CantonChamber.org JACKSON TWP. Board of Trustees President: James N.Walters / Jackson Township: www.jacksontwp .com / Jackson/Belden Chamber: ww.JBCC.org
LAKE TWP. Board of Trustees President: John Arnold / Lake Township: www.laketwpstarkco.com / Lake Township Chamber: www.lake chamber.com / Lake Township Development Foundation: www.LTDF. org
LOUISVILLE Mayor: Patricia Fallot / City of Louisville: www.LouisvilleOhio .com / Louisville Area Chamber: www. LouisvilleOHChamber.com MASSILLON Mayor: Kathy Catazaro-Perry / City of Massillon: www.MassillonOhio.com / Massillon Area Chamber: www.MassillonOH Chamber.com / Massillon Development Foundation: www.MassillonDevelopment.com
MINERVA
Mayor: James Waller / Village of Minerva: www.ci.minerva.oh.us / Minerva Chamber: www.Minerva Chamber.org
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NORTH CANTON Mayor: David J. Held / City of North Canton: www.NorthCantonOhio.com / North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce: www.NorthCanton Chamber.org PLAIN TWP.
Board of Trustees President: Scott Haws / Plain Township: www.PlainTownship.com / Plain Township Chamber: www.PlainTownship.com
EDUCATION CantonINC
MALONE UNIVERSITY Located in Canton, Malone educates 2,300 students in a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Education is a priority in Stark
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County boasts strong high school and early college curriculums, abounding options for higher education BY DAVID KAMINSKI anton and surrounding Stark County are committed to getting their young people into college, and six local colleges are ready to fill their needs. College preparation starts with high school graduation. Of 18 public high schools, 14 have graduation rates at or above 90 percent. Seventeen of 18 exceed the state and national average. Three private, religious-based high
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schools exceed a 95 percent graduation rate. A growing number of Stark County high schoolers earn college credit through advanced placement courses and a dual-credit program in which adjunct professors teach college-level courses in high school for simultaneous high school and college credit. Continued on page 64
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KENT STATE UNIVERSITY AT STARK The campus in Jackson Township offers selected bachelor’s and master’s degree programs as well as wide-ranging professional and workforce development programs.The campus serves more than 11,000 students each year.
UNIVERSITY OF MOUNT UNION Located in Alliance, northeast of Canton, Mount Union has about 2,260 undergraduate and graduate students. It recently launched a bachelor’s in engineering program. Mount Union is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
AULTMAN COLLEGE Associate’s degrees in nursing are offered currently to 315 students. An associate’s degree in radiography is being developed. It is on the campus of Aultman Hospital and Aultman Health Foundation in Canton.
STARK STATE COLLEGE The main campus in Jackson Township and several satellite campuses — including one in downtown Canton — offers associate’s degrees, certificate training and contract training for area employers. Enrollment for credit exceeds 15,300.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
WALSH UNIVERSITY A Catholic university of nearly 3,000 students in North Canton, Walsh offers bachelor’s and master’s programs, and it is developing a center for research and education in teacher preparation that it hopes to link to scholars around the world.
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Then there is Early College High School in Canton, where students over four years can earn their high school diploma and an associate’s degree from Stark State College. These programs have inspired entire families. In many instances, parents are returning to college as their children earn college credit while in high school. As a result, Canton and Stark County have outpaced Ohio and the nation in the growth of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. “When we have an idea, we’re relentless about it. We just keep at it,” said Dr. Adrienne O’Neill, president of the Stark Education Partnership, a privately fundO’NEILL ed research and coordination body that helps the county think about educational progress from preschool through undergraduate degree. These high school graduates with college credits can go to college without leaving home. In Stark County alone, three liberal arts universities, Walsh, Malone and Mount Union, offer a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Stark State in 2010 was the fastest growing two-year college in the nation. Kent State University at Stark is the largest regional campus in the Kent State system, and Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences offers two-year healthrelated degrees.
FOOD CantonINC
FEEDINGAMERICA:
Several foods produced locally
SHEARER’S FOODS
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
BY JOAN RENNER
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ompanies in the region can produce 230 million pounds of snacks, 400 million pounds of processed meats, 110 million pounds of Swiss cheese — and 10 million pounds of chocolate. What more could anyone want? Shearer’s Foods began with a used kettle and some potatoes. In 1979, the Shearer family started selling
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their kettle-cooked chips through the snack food distributorship they bought five years earlier. The privately held, family-run company now operates snack food plants in Brewster, Massillon, Texas, Virginia and Oregon to produce pretzels, chips, cheese curls and other snacks. It manufactures for private and branded labels. Shearer’s has 1,850 employees — 1,100 of them in
northeast Ohio. Fresh Mark produces ham, bacon and hot dogs for the company’s Sugardale and Superior brands, as well as for private brands. The company makes some beef and turkey products, but pork is its main ingredient. “If you’ve eaten bacon in a restaurant, you’ve probably eaten our products,” said Marketing Director Kristin Clemmer.
CantonINC FOOD
FRESH MARK
BREWSTER CHEESE
HARRY LONDON Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
The company employs 2,000 at its three plants. Biery Cheese, founded in 1929, has expanded eight times in the last eight years. The company, which packages cheese and distributes it through its sister trucking company, Apollo Sky, has doubled both workforces to about 400 in the last two years. Executive Vice President Ben Biery attributes the growth to marketing, new packaging and new flavors in the processed cheese they produce. “Our workforce is just pheBIERY nomenal; when you walk in every day and you see smiles on people’s faces, it really is a delight to see,” he said. Brewster Dairy produces roughly 30 percent of the Swiss cheese sold in America, almost all of it for private labels. Formed in 1965, the company remains loyal to its Stark County roots, even as it has acquired facilities in Idaho and Illinois. Brewster Dairy employs between 180 and 200 people in its Brewster facility, and roughly 155 people outside Ohio. Ninety-year-old Harry London is still going strong. The chocolate factory is the sole chocolate producer for its parent company, 1-800-FLOWERS. Harry London produces chocolates for its eponymous brand, as well as for Fannie May and Fanny Farmer, said Bob Happel, vice president of business development. Employment at the plant ranges from about 200 to 500, depending on the season, Happel said. Stark County is well situated for food distribution: It is within delivery distance to the majority of the
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BREWSTER DAIRY U.S. population, and wellconnected by good highways. “There's a lot of room to sell snacks between here and any coast,” said Melissa Shearer, vice president of communications at Shearer’s. But Stark County’s real strength is the skilled, educated and deeply rooted workforce. “In the food service industry, it’s not like making nuts and bolts, you have the potential of harming people,” said Mike Walpole, national sales manager of Brewster Dairy. “It’s very, very important that you have the right people in place.”
Where: 800 S Wabash, Brewster Years in Stark County: 47 (*47 years as Brewster Dairy. Prior to that, it was Stark County Milk Producers. It was bought by John Leeman and renamed Brewster Dairy in 1965.) Makes: Swiss cheese and cheese byproducts, such as protein for energy drinks and lactose powder for baby formula. Facilities in: Brewster, Ohio; Rupert, Idaho and Stockton, Illinois. Employs: About 350 in all three plants. Can produce: Up to 110 million pounds of Swiss cheese a year. Website: www.brewstercheese.com
FRESH MARK Where: 1888 Southway Street SE, Massillon Years in Stark County: 92 Makes: Bacon, ham and hot dogs, primarily
from pork produced off-site, for retail and restaurant markets. Also makes some beef and turkey products. Facilities in: Solon, Massillon and Canton, Ohio Employs: 2,000 Can produce: 400 million pounds of processed meat a year; produces roughly 500,000 pounds of bacon a day. Website: www.freshmark.com
SHEARER'S FOODS Where: 692 N Wabash Ave., Brewster Years in Stark County: 33 Makes: Pretzels, potato chips, cheese curls, tortilla chips and other snacks for both Shearer’s brands and private labels. Facilities in: Ohio,Texas,Virginia and Oregon Can produce: 230 million pounds of snacks a year Website: www.shearers.com
CantonINC FOOD
HARRY LONDON Where: 5353 Lauby Road, North Canton Years in Stark County: 90 Makes: Chocolates under the Harry London, Fannie May and Fanny Farmer labels, all of which are owned by 1-800-FLOWERS. Employs: Between 200 and 500, depending on the season. Can produce: Up to 10 million pounds of chocolate a year. Website: www.harrylondon.com
ADDITIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS IN STARK SUPERIOR DAIRY
CASE FARMS
Where: 4719 Navarre Rd. SW, Canton Makes: Milk products, ice cream, orange juice, fruit drinks, chip dip Website: www.facebook.com/pages/ Superior-Dairy
Where: 1925 30th St. NE Canton, OH 44705 Makes: Chicken Website: www.casefarms.com
BIERY CHEESE
MID'S PASTA SAUCE
Where: 6544 Paris Ave NE, Louisville Years in Stark County: 83 Makes: Processes, packages and distributes cheeses. Employs: About 400 Sister company: Biery’s Apollo Sky trucking arm gives the company the flexibility to deliver according to retailers’ needs. Website: www.bierycheese.com
Where: 620 N. Main St., Navarre Makes: Pasta and pizza sauces Website: www.mids.cc
HEINZ FROZEN FOODS Where: 1301 Oberlin Ave. SW, Massillon Makes: Frozen foods Website: www.heinz.com
FRITO-LAY INC. Where: 4030 16th Street SW, Canton Makes: Pretzels and snacks Website: www.fritolay.com
NICKLES BAKERY Where: 26 N. Main St., Navarre Makes: Breads, rolls, cakes and donuts Website: www.nicklesbakery.com
CANTON/STARK COUNTY BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES CANTON REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization of nearly 1,600 institutions and individuals dedicated to the advancement of the economic, industrial, professional, cultural and civic welfare of Stark County. Since 1914, the Chamber has worked to advance business and develop community through partnerships, programs, services and events to achieve economic growth for Canton/Stark County. www.CantonChamber.org, 330-456-7253.
CANTON DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP The Canton Development Partnership is a coalition of area development organizations and city government that share an interest in downtown Canton’s continual improvement, revitalization, image and quality of life for its citizens. Partner organizations include: Canton Regional Chamber, Downtown Canton Special Improvement District, Downtown Canton Land Bank, Canton Tomorrow, Inc., and City of Canton. www.DowntownCanton.com, 330-456-7253.
CANTON/STARK COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS’ BUREAU The Canton/Stark County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, a department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, is here to assist you in your travels to our area.Whether you are organizing a tour group, a convention or sporting event, we have professional staff members ready to assist in your planning.The CVB services the community by attracting tourists, convention and meeting planners and sporting events to the Stark County area and operating the Tourist and Visitor Information Centers. www.VisitCantonStark.com, 800-552-6051.
CITY OF CANTON
800 S.Wabash Ave. in Brewster 330-767-3492 BrewsterCheese.com
Canton is home to well known national landmarks such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the William McKinley Presidential Library and National Monument, and the National First Ladies’ Library and Research Center. Mayor William J. Healy II is aggressively pursuing new companies and businesses to the city. Canton has a wide variety of attributes that make the city a smart location for companies of all shapes, sizes and industries, and
the city has programs that provide incentives for business location, relocation or expansion. www.CantonOhio.gov, 330-489-3283.
STARK AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY SARTA provides more than 2.4 million rides a year in Stark County through Fixed Route and Proline services. Its goal is to ensure that Stark County residents including employees, students, seniors and disabled individuals have access to a quality transportation system that is both reliable and affordable. www.SARTA Online.com, 330-47-SARTA.
STARK COUNTY ASSOC. OF REALTORS The Stark County Association of Realtors®, proudly serving the Realtors®, homebuyers, and home sellers of Stark County, Ohio, strives to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically, and to promote the preservation of the right to own, use and transfer real property. www.StarkRealtors.com, 330-494-5630.
STARK COUNTY BUILDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION The Building Industry Association of Stark County is a nonprofit trade association affiliated with the Ohio Home Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders. Chartered in 1945, the BIA represents and promotes the interests and concerns of the building industry and the community.The organization provides Stark County consumers and businesses with a directory of member builders. www.BIAStark .com, 330-494-5700.
STARK COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATION Whether you are new to the Human Resources field or have many years of experience, Stark County Human Resources Association is a local starting point for networking, information, professional development and continued support of excellence in Human Resources.The organization, founded in 1944, is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management. Stark.SHRM .org, 330-451-8670.
STARK COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY The Stark County Port Authority helps to provide the Greater Stark County area with an economic development tool for new capital investment, job creation and retention.The organization helps create and preserve jobs through a wide variety of financing, real estate and foreign trade zone programs. www.Stark CoOhio.com, 330-453-5900.
STARK COUNTY SAFETY COUNCIL The Canton Regional Chamber, with support from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, administers Stark County Safety Council, one the top councils out of more than 80 in Ohio.The Safety Council provides a forum for safety and health information, education and networking in Stark County, through leadership, innovation, facilitation, programs and support. www.StarkCountySafety Council.org, 330-456-7253.
STARK DEVELOPMENT BOARD The Stark Development Board is a private, nonprofit corporation created to help local companies grow and expand. In addition, it actively seeks to attract new business investments to Stark County, one of the most economically viable areas in Northeast Ohio, as well as to advocate for workforce development. www.StarkCoOhio.com, 330-4535900.
STARK REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION The Stark County Regional Planning Commission improves the quality of life in Stark County and its communities through an effective regional forum characterized by communication, collaboration, facilitation and planning assistance.The organization includes metropolitan planning, community development and engineering departments. www.Co.Stark.OH.us, 330-451-7389.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT JOBSOHIO JobsOhio is a private, nonprofit corporation designed to lead Ohio’s job-creation efforts by singularly focusing on attracting and retaining jobs, with an emphasis on strategic industry sectors. JobsOhio is your ambassador. www.Jobs-Ohio.com, 614-224-6446.
MAGNET MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, supports, educates and champions manufacturing, with the goal of transforming the region’s economy into a powerful, global player.The organization helps manufacturers adopt innovative techniques, increase productivity and global access. www.magnetwork.org, 800- 669-2267.
BUSINESS NETWORK The Regional Business Network aggregates resources to bring Stark,Tuscarawas and surrounding county businesses specialized services, funding through grants and loans, and staffing that options any company can access and use to do business better. www.RegionalBusiness Network.org, 855-669-4726.
SCORE SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. www.Canton Regional.SCORE.org, 330- 244-3280.
SMALL BUSINESS The Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Stark is a fully funded nonprofit organization devoted to helping small businesses grow and individuals start new small businesses through training programs and consultation sessions. www.CantonSBDC.org, 330-244-3290.
MINORITY BUSINESS The Stark County Minority Business Association fosters development and growth of minority-owned businesses. www.TheABCDinc.com, 330-455-6385.
EMPLOYMENT SOURCE The Employment Source is northeastern Ohio’s premier workforce development and training center, connecting job seekers with employers by providing numerous resources. www.ESwork.com, 330-433-9675.
EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP STARK COUNTY Leadership Stark County, a department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, engages and educates Stark County’s community leaders through a range of programs tailored to meet business and community needs. LSC works with community organizations to identify, prepare and position graduates for leadership within these organizations.The result is a core of motivated leaders with a lifelong commitment to community trusteeship. www. LeadershipStarkCounty.org, 330-456-7253.
STARK CO. EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER The Stark County Educational Service Center is committed to meeting Stark County school district needs by providing quality educational support and services for more than 60,000 diverse, wide-ranging students in Stark County.www.Stark CountyESC.org, 330-492-8136.
STARK EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP The Stark Education Partnership, Inc., is a non-profit education reform support organization in Stark County, crossing the lines of 17 public school districts.The partnership collaborates with educators, business, community and civic leaders to create and respond to opportunities that will add substantial and measurable value to education. www.EDPartner.org, 330-452-0829.
YSTARK! ystark!, a department of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, is Stark County’s dynamic young professional initiative.The organization works to attract, retain and engage young professionals, ultimately developing an involved and educated workforce for area businesses through programs, networking opportunities, educational engagement. yStark! program highlights include the “Twenty under 40” awards, the Fellowship Program with local businesses and Canton Entrepreneur Launch grants. www.ystark.org, 330-456-7253.
Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce
PARTING SHOT CantonINC
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Photo by Bob Rossiter
RAINBOW OVER THE COURTHOUSE ANGELS On the National Register of Historic Places, the Stark County Courthouse sits in the heart of downtown Canton. Referred to locally as the “courthouse angels,� these robed figures stand at the very top of the building, and are representations of commerce, justice, agriculture and industry.The courthouse was built in 1895 and has undergone major renovations over the years to maintain its original splendor.