As published in the July 1, 2008 Toledo Business Journal
Jamie Beier Grant
Ottawa County
Improvement Corporation (OCIC)
Successes of one county will enhance entire region
Supplier Recruitment Program to advance business retention and expansion efforts
Toledo Business Journal recently interviewed Jamie Beier Grant, director of the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (OCIC). She shared the following thoughts.
Toledo Business Journal: Can you share with our readers some information about Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development Association (NORED)? Who are the members of NORED?
Jamie Beier Grant: NORED is an alliance of 12 counties in northwest Ohio. The NORED association firmly believes in the idea of “Twelve Counties – One Voice.”
Today, NORED encompasses Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Seneca, Williams, and Wood Counties. The charter members of the NORED board of trustees include the directors of each county economic development organization, along with representatives from the City of Toledo and the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP). In addition, membership also includes private sector and public sector representatives who have a stake in the economy of northwest Ohio; engineering firms, general contractors, financial institutions, and universities are just a few examples.
TBJ: How long has the association been in existence, and what is its purpose?
JBG: NORED was established in 1988 when 10 northwest Ohio counties came together with the purpose of creating a synergistic alliance within the region. This alliance would be an integral part of creating a region where business growth can thrive.
NORED strongly believes that the successes of one northwest Ohio county will enhance the successes of our entire region. Today, that synergy remains very strong and the alliance has allowed northwest Ohio to gain influence with the State of Ohio and develop a more visible identity, both nationally and internationally.
TBJ: What are some of the major programs or activities of NORED?
JBG: NORED’s initiatives are based on the opportunities and needs identified by our members. Through Team Ohio, we are active in attending trade shows and other sales programs to promote our region as a strategic location to do business. In addition, NORED has worked in collaboration with the Center for Automotive Research on sales and trade show activities on an international level.
From an advocacy perspective, NORED has assisted the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) with the development of a transportation legislative agenda, which advocates the maintenance and development of a tremendous regional asset. NORED members strongly supported the US 24 highway improvement project that crosses several member counties.
With the new administration coming on board earlier this year, NORED has made it a strong priority to communicate our region’s assets and needs to the State. The (Ted) Strickland administration has also made it a strong priority to reach out to the regions for assistance and ideas on ways to make Ohio even stronger. As an organization, NORED has welcomed this opportunity and is excited about the future.
TBJ: Can you discuss the efforts that NORED initiated and the impact it had on the US 24 project?
JBG: The US 24 highway runs through Defiance, Paulding, Henry, Wood, and Lucas Counties. Major improvements had been proposed to the State, which would create a safer and more accessible route for motorists. In the evaluation process at the State level, the situation arose where the US 24 project was in jeopardy of being eliminated as a priority project for funding. Having such an important safety and economic impact on the northwest Ohio region, NORED firmly believed this project had significant merit for funding and worked hard at the local and state levels to advocate for this project moving forward.
In the end, the US 24 project successfully began moving forward. While we understand NORED was just one of many in support of this project, we believe that the “Twelve Counties – One Voice” showed significant support from the entire region.
TBJ: A new program was launched at NORED’s Annual Meeting called the Supplier Recruitment Program (SRP). How are participating members using elements of the program in meetings with area businesses?
JBG: The Supplier Recruitment Program (SRP) is an exciting concept developed through the NORED marketing committee, as a program that enhances the business retention and expansion efforts of member counties. NORED members that are participating in the SRP program are introducing the concept to their local businesses during retention and expansion (R&E) calls. We all recognize that the business world is constantly changing, and we must adapt to and stay one step ahead of that change.
The SRP program builds off of the supply chain network that existing northwest Ohio companies currently utilize. Through SRP, we are looking for potential opportunities to locate that supply chain closer to home.
Are there Suppliers that a company would like to see closer to their northwest Ohio facility? Can the northwest Ohio business work together with their local economic development organization to attract the Supplier to our region? Would this Supplier be presented with other business opportunities with northwest Ohio companies?
These really are the concepts we are hoping to capitalize on, in partnership with the business community.
TBJ: The Supplier Recruitment Program is an effort to obtain new project leads from area business professionals. What benefits will result if private sector companies become more involved in supporting the process of economic development by providing potential project leads from their Suppliers and others?
JBG: It has always been my belief that if a community works together to create an environment where businesses can thrive, other businesses will want to be a part of that community. The involvement of private sector companies in the economic development process is an integral part of that belief. It is one thing for an economic development professional to market the benefits of doing business in northwest Ohio – that’s our job! It is even more profound when the private sector communicates that same message – come to northwest Ohio, this is a great place to do business and a wonderful place to live.
TBJ: Is our region in a position to win new investment and new jobs as the result of Suppliers locating new facilities in proximity to their customers already located in our area?
JBG: Northwest Ohio is a very diverse region, which I believe makes us very competitive for new investment opportunities. We have a strong infrastructure system in our highways and rail systems that runs north to south and east to west. We have natural attributes, such as Lake Erie and the Maumee River, that connect us to the eastern seaboard. Our industry base is diverse, as seen in a strong manufacturing / industrial, agricultural, recreation, and technology base. We have a network of higher education that leads the field in so many specialties. And we have a workforce that is second to none.
I firmly believe that northwest Ohio is in a strong position for new investment opportunities. The opportunity for Suppliers to locate here, through the efforts of the SRP program, is just one of many ways the NORED region is working to promote investment.
TBJ: Are there any other issues that you wish to address?
JBG: NORED has been a benchmark for the development of other regional associations around the State of Ohio. NORED members and communities understand that we are competing on a much different playing field than we were a few years ago. While we all work hard to promote our respective communities, NORED firmly believes that we must work together to support and advocate for the success of our entire region.