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Planning
for the Future The economic security of not just the present but the future is the primary concern of the Chamber of Commerce as well as our citizens at large; several industrial parks have just been built or renovated, and more are in the works. The future is bright, as everyone here is working hard to ensure that our reputation is positive and that opportunities for commercial success are available. Manufacturing makes up the largest payroll in Highland County, but the retail trade industry has the largest number of establishments. The potential for success in Highland County is being recognized by big business, as several major restaurant companies are constructing buildings to house new, local operations. Manu- facturing, too, continues to grow, offering fine potential for both blue- and white-collar workers. The number of businesses in Highland County continuously grows, as interest in operating from the quaint yet accessible area is recognized. Greenfield's 200-acre industrial park provides sites with full utilities already in place, including broadband Internet technology. These sites are available for immediate occupancy. Successful businesses already located in the park include American Made Corru-gated Packaging, Banta Publi-cations, C Mold, Greenfield Products, Johnson Controls and Weastec Inc. Last fall, the 90-acre Leesburg Industrial Park finished construction, and space is available for lease with the amenities any business requires, including full utilities and broadband Internet services. Located adjacent to Leesburg High School, the park offers Ohio Enterprise Zone incentives that are available for businesses relocating there. Also just last year, the Highland County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) renovated an 86,000-square-foot vacant building to create a modern office structure with space for sale. The building is designed to run like a condominium; businesses purchase their space, then pay a much smaller fee for upkeep and maintenance. Production businesses operating anywhere in the county can take advantage of Ohio's Manufacturing Machinery & Equipment Investment Tax Credit, which is designed to enhance companies' competitiveness by encouraging investment in new manufacturing equipment. Claiming the investment credit is a simple process, and the state legislature has approved it to be available until at least 2015. For companies expanding to include Greenfield as a new location for business, the city offers attractive tax savings. From 1990 to 2000, employees in Highland County saw an increase in personal earnings that was above the national level and far above the state level. Rising consistently, along with the improved income, were the number of jobs, while the poverty rate dropped dramatically. All this is made possible by dedicated work and results in Highland County, offering strong commercial security and advancement potential. HIGHLAND COUNTY EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY 2000
Source: Ohio Department of Development, Office of Strategic Research 1995 2000 AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS BY INDUSTRY SECTOR
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