Businesses honored for bringing more than $200 million in investment to Portage County
Several businesses that are investing a total of more than $200 million and planning to create and keep 773 jobs were honored by the Portage Development Board, which recognized the businesses for their decision to locate, stay and grow in Portage County.
More: New 1 million-square-foot building taking shape in Shalersville
Businesses that were recognized during the Locate. Stay. Grow. awards event Wednesday include Aurora Plastics, which recently expanded in Streetsboro; LG Chem America, which is constructing two buildings behind the GE plant in Ravenna, and Renewable Lubricants, which opened a new facility in Kent.
The board also recognized Diana Fierle, economic development specialist, who recently marked 30 years of service in economic development with the county, and honored David Dix and Jack Kohl II, who are stepping down from the Port Authority board.
"In 2022, Portage Development Board and its partners worked on 12 projects that brought in over $227.7 million in new investment to Portage County," said Brad Ehrhart, president of the board. "This investment will create and keep over 771 jobs in Portage County, which represents an annual payroll of more than $39.5 million."
Businesses receiving Locate awards included the Boston Group, which designs and manufactures custom retail displays from the former GE Warehouse in Ravenna, bringing 80 jobs; Lightspeed Hosting, a data center bringing 80 jobs to Ravenna; Geis Companies, which is building a 1.1 million square foot building in Shalersville, which is expected to create 375 jobs; and LG Chem America. LG Chem, recipient of the best overall award in the category, is building two new structures at the Chestnut commerce Center, focused on the production of ABS plastic. The business is expected to hire 72 people when it opens later this year.
Those who received Stay awards included Chuck's Cultured Marble in Mogadore, which plans to retain three jobs; Shaeffer Metal Products, a family business that repairs and maintains tank trailers in Ravenna, creating two jobs and retaining seven; and Aurora Plastics in Streetsboro. Aurora Plastics received the overall best trophy in its category for its expansion, which added 29 jobs and retained 68.
Businesses that received the Grow award included AlphaMicron in Kent, which is creating 20 jobs and retaining 34 with its expansion; The Davey Tree Expert Co., which is creating 20 jobs with the SEED Campus, the company's research and development expansion off state Route 43; Eric Does Data,, a data analytics company in Kent that plans to create six jobs; and Renewable Lubricants, which received the best overall trophy in the category. Renewable Lubricants is adding 15 jobs with the new facility.
John Ryan, president of the Port Authority Board, presented the board's award to Singleton Reels, which is building a new facility in Rootstown, retaining 20 jobs and creating seven.
Ryan said 2022 was "a tremendous year" for Portage County. A lot of people, he said, ask what the Port Authority does.
"We're here to help," he said.
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Businesses honored for investing more than $200 million in Portage
