The Leader - January/February 2009 - (Page 46)

H eart la nd H o l d i n g S tr on g: M idweSt la yS gr ou ndw o rk fo r e co no Mi c re bo und offers many examples of how macro trends, energy and commodity prices and the global economy are shaping the supply chain. Within a day’s drive of most primary East Coast ports, eastern and central Ohio continues to attract a wave of corporate distribution operations and third-party logistics providers (3PLs), especially around Columbus. Once-rural areas a few minutes outside Ohio’s capital are among the most vibrant logistics points in the country. “Ohio’s economy has been strong, and a great deal of the growth is in exurban Ohio,” said Dennis Mingyar, director of economic development at Buckeye Power, the power generation and transmission company for 24 Ohio electrical cooperatives. “No project is dependent on just one source. It’s the community, the state economic development team, utilities. Economic development is truly a team effort, and we hope to be one part of that effort in Ohio.” Just outside Columbus, the Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park is a master-planned, 1,526-acre (618-hectare) campus with the capacity for 20 million sq. ft. (1.9 million sq. m.) of logistics development. The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Capitol Square Ltd. and Indianapolis-based Duke Realty Corp. have combined to develop Rickenbacker Global Logistics Park, which includes a free-trade zone, an international air cargo airport and a Norfolk Southern intermodal ExUrban Ohio. The best of both worlds. For more information, contact the ExUrban Experts at 1-800-282-6962 or www.buckeyepower.com/natl OHIOʼS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BUCKEYE POWER terminal, making it a distribution hub that ensures efficient movement of goods anywhere in the world. Norfolk Southern opened its $68.5 million, 175-acre (71-hectare) terminal in March and has the capacity to handle more than 250,000 containers and trailers annually. Ultimately, the railroad hopes to develop another 125 acres (51 hectares) and handle 400,000 containers at the site. Nearby, Pizzuti Cos.’ Rickenbacker West industrial park attracted one of the largest logistics requirements in the U.S. last year, landing Whirlpool’s 1.6 million-sq.-ft. (148,645-sq.-m.) distribution center. After signing the deal, Columbus-based Pizzutti developed the buildto-suit in 12 months. East of Columbus, Avon Products Inc. developed a 600,000-sq.ft. (55,742-sq.-m.) distribution in Zanesville, Ohio. Avon expects to employ 500 workers at the $117 million development, which will handle 50 percent of Avon’s U.S. sales. As well as distribution, Ohio has served as a U.S. manufacturing center since the late 1800s, and, despite reports to the contrary, many of its manufacturing industries continue to thrive. Central Ohio attracted Honda of America Motors in the early 1980s, and the Japanese automaker and its suppliers play a major role in the state and region’s economy. In Fairfield County, south of Columbus, U.S. Corrugated recently opened a 315,000-sq.-ft. (29,265-sq.-m.) box plant in Lancaster, where it will employ 100 people. In a sign of local authorities’ and business’s ability to get things done, the $20-milion project was announced in February and completed and operational by October. U.S. Corrugated acquired the property from local consumer glassware manufacturer Anchor Hocking, which played a significant role in bringing rail access to U.S. Corrugated’s new plant. The Ohio Rail Development Commission also worked with Rail America and CSX to develop the rail spur serving U.S. Corrugated. “I can’t remember a situation where a company announced in February and was in production by October,” said Bill Arnett, Fairfield County’s economic development director. “It’s a significant project for Lancaster and the state of Ohio.” Existing manufacturers are also defying pessimistic forecasts. Anchor Hocking closed for two days over the holidays where it usually shuts down for two weeks. In the Fairfield County town of Bremen, Westerman Cos., which manufactures tanks for agricultural, petrochemical, waste water and other uses, is adding 100 new employees, as well. With its economic development efforts, that spirit of collaboration is taking hold in Fairfield County. Chambers of commerce for three of the county’s municipalities a well as the county itself and the private sector have formed the Fairfield 33 Alliance, named for U.S. Highway 33, which bisects the state and runs through Fairfield County. Combining economic development efforts enables the municipalities, chambers and private sector to make a bigger impact, Arnett said. The initiative kicked off in 2008 and will be front and center in Fairfield County’s global economic development efforts in 2009. 2 0 0 9 tH e le ade r Leader ad_4x4.937_4c 1 46 january / february 7/28/08 11:18:03 AM http://www.buckeyepower.com/natl http://www.buckeyepower.com/natl

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Leader - January/February 2009

The Leader - January/February 2009 Contents Leadership Message from the CEO Real Estate in the News Mergers and Aquisitions Assessing Green Building Performance Measuring Space You Actually Use Global Trends in Sustainable Real Estate Whirlpool’s Lee Utke Northmarq’s Kevin Farrell Plastics: Hoping for Resiliency in Resins Regional Profile: Heartland Holding Strong Industry Profile: Ascendas Brings New Age Business Space to Asia-Pac Industry Tracker From the Applied Research Center Discovery Forum Findings Capital Corner Career Development Young Leader Economic Development in the News Learning Spotlight Connect With CoreNet Global Index of Advertisers A Look Ahead In our Next Issue Calendar of Seminars

The Leader - January/February 2009

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