When it comes to economic development, you have to know where you’ve been to chart a course forward. You need to learn from past experiences, separate what’s worked and what hasn’t, then show the courage needed to take decisive action to adapt to change. That takes an empowered team, with business, academia, government and nonprofits all working toward a common goal.

In a nutshell, that’s exactly what Lorain County has done to become an economic leader in our region, if not all of Ohio.

As a part of an area-wide initiative called “Bend the Curve” designed to accelerate economic development and growth across 14 counties in Northeast Ohio, Team NEO recently partnered with Lorain County Community College (LCCC) to break out and evaluate economic data for Lorain County. The results were surprising, even for the county’s most ardent supporters.

Over the next seven years, Lorain County’s projected growth in domestic product, population, industry and employment will outpace that of our state. Not only that, the county’s growth in most areas of economic development will outpace the nation.

“Team NEO was launching a forecast for the entire region, so we asked them to help us localize the data for Lorain County,” says Tracy Green, vice president of strategic and institutional development for LCCC. “We wanted to know what Lorain County’s economy looks like moving forward, so we can make sure we are serving the needs of our business community as well as the hopes and dreams of our residents moving forward.

“We are thrilled that Lorain County is poised to be the pacesetter for Northeast Ohio’s growth.”

“Team NEO’s ‘Bend the Curve’ initiative has helped cast a defining light on the importance of a strong talent base within a vibrant economy — it's one of their key vibrant economy indicators,” adds Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D, president of LCCC. “For LCCC, that means higher education and industry-recognized credentials are not just affordable and accessible to the population, but they’re strategically aligned to today’s in-demand jobs and the jobs of the future.

“That’s where the data gathering, strategic foresight, goal-setting and benchmarking become vital. Because in order for us to ensure that the skilled workforce we produce is going to contribute to the long-term economic vitality of the broader community, we need to be diving into all the aspects of where our industry growth lies now and where it’s headed. LCCC has been doing that for six decades — we’re out into the community and we’re talking to business and industry leaders to understand what they need now and what they'll require in the future.”

Just this past summer, LCCC rolled out a bold new vision to deliver 35,000 more degrees and credentials of value by 2035. Called “THRIVE 2035” the initiative is designed to advance economic mobility for individuals and families to create a thriving community and economy.

“We have some bold goals when it comes to THRIVE 2035,” says Ballinger. “When our region as a whole reaches that milestone, we will stand among Ohio’s most rapidly advancing regions in terms of economic mobility, economic growth and vibrant communities. And it all stems from that educational attainment piece, because that’s what unlocks real tangible opportunities for our community.

“Earning credentials leads to high quality careers, rising wages and intergenerational transformation. And with that baseline of talent —again the foundation of any vibrant economy — the community can grow in terms of business innovation, expansion and attraction.”

Led by manufacturing, healthcare and professional services, Lorain County’s GDP (gross domestic product) is projected to increase by 17% from 2023 through 2030, while the rest of Ohio is expected to grow at 14%. The growth will come across many industry sectors, led by information technology (IT), manufacturing and healthcare. Within manufacturing, expansions in electric vehicle production, resin production and aerospace part production are expected to drive significant growth.

Employment across Lorain County is expected to increase at a rate of 6.4% from 2023 through 2030, while Ohio’s overall employment is projected to grow at a rate of 1.6%. Over that same time period, national employment is expected to grow at a 3.4% clip.

It’s not just the folks at Team NEO who have noticed that Lorain County is doing an excellent job when it comes to economic development. It should come as no surprise that the base of that future economic growth starts with workforce development.

“Earlier this year, I went to Lorain County Community College and had a tour of their CHIP lab,” says Jim Tressel, Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor, who is taking a lead role in our state’s economic and workforce development plans. “We also had a nice conversation with around a hundred or so professionals that included a lot of people from the local school districts as well as business and industry.

 “Lorain County Community College is doing a great job of aligning the needs of the workforce, with business and industry and K through 12 students. They are pivoting to the kind of training that is needed for today’s jobs as well as the jobs of the future.

“Dr. Ballinger and her staff, including Tracy Green, have been doing a great job in the workforce space and a great job of tracking their outcomes. They will be leaders as we get into this workforce playbook by region. They will be the leaders in this region that show best practices and help others understand how they have been able to align so well.” 

Workforce development starts with education, and the perceptions surrounding education are changing. Traditionally, four-year colleges were seen as a main driver of workforce talent. But industry needs are changing, and there has been an increasing focus on career technical education through both two-year degrees and stackable credentialed programs.

 “For years, we have always looked at four-year degrees as a talent engine for workforce development,” says Mario Codispoti, director of marketing and communications at Lorain County JVS, which has been around since 1971. “We’ve been programmed to think of four-year colleges as the primary engine for workforce development. But Ohio’s economy has pivoted. Today we need more people coming out of high school with stackable, industry-recognized credentials. Today, we have sophomores moving into positions with major companies. Yes, we want people to still go to four-year colleges, but the perception is changing. Where once the community’s perception was that vocational studies were secondary, they have now become primary. And that is because Ohio’s economy has changed.”

In the last four or five years, the workforce talent development engine has seen major changes, adds Codispoti. Demand has grown so much from a talent development standpoint, “that we are now offering non-traditional vocational studies in fields like allied health, engineering, technology, advanced manufacturing and a lot of other programs that you would normally see in a four-year post-secondary college,” adds Codispoti, “and we are starting our talent development in high school.

Located on a 100-acre campus in Oberlin, LCJVS is one of the largest career tech schools in the state. As such it plays a key role in Lorain County’s workforce development, empowering high school and adult learners with career technical education and skills training. Its programs and educational pathways are designed specifically to address the needs of local employers. And it is extremely active in its partnership with the state through Ohio’s College Credit Plus program, which allows students to earn college and high school credits at the same time. The program has become very popular as an engine for workforce development, especially in Lorain County. Both LCJVS and LCCC are major partners in the program.

“One of the best things about College Credit Plus, especially for young people who may be the first generation in their families to attend college, is the belief factor,” says Tressel. “By the end of high school, many have gotten themselves part way toward a college degree, and some actually graduate from high school with a two-year degree. These students have the belief that they can go to the next level, not to mention that they have saved a lot of money by attending the courses for free. It’s really a win-win situation.”

“So it’s essential that we work with the 13 associated school districts in our county, as well as LCCC,” adds Codispoti. “We are also working with business, philanthropic and civic organizations so everything is working in alignment with a strategic approach. We are not working vertically in silos but have an understanding of where our county and state economies are heading.”

While workforce is at the forefront of economic development, Lorain County has other factors that make it attractive to businesses. Perhaps the most important other than workforce development is a spirit of cooperation which creates a synergy among organizations that reside and operate within the county — as well as their relationship with the state.

“Obviously, LCCC has done a great job of laying the groundwork for workforce development and LCJVS is doing more than just picking up their end of the load,” says Tony Gallo, president and CEO of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce. “We really are focused on making sure our talent pipeline is filled, starting in grade school and going up through college. But employers also consider our partnerships and the collaboration between business and industry, academia and government. And we also work well with organizations like Team NEO and OhioMeansJobs. Potential employers all seem to know that they only need to give us a call, and we can plug in people who are looking for the kinds of jobs that are available. Or we can create training programs for future jobs when they become available.”

Lorain County has an aggressive strategic plan for development including: innovative industry and economic development; transportation; workforce development and education; housing; and natural resources. However, the entire county’s population is only about as big as the City of Cleveland. Being a little smaller, it’s easier for the county to pivot when suddenly in-demand jobs change slightly, or if there is a big influx of jobs or positions.

“The folks at LCCC and LCJVS can change curricula a lot faster because we are a little smaller,” adds Gallo, “so that’s a positive thing.”

PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY 

When locating or building in a new community, businesses often look to the relationships among local organizations, as well as their relationship with state organizations.

“The one thing a lot of people don’t usually consider is the level of coordination that all the entities in Lorain County have,” says Lisa Hutson, president and CEO of One Lorain County, a nonprofit economic development organization. “We work together very well. When I talk with my counterparts in other counties, you don’t usually see the level of collaboration and cooperation that we have here, which is really an asset for our county.

“We work toward common goals. I couldn’t go out and attract new businesses if I didn’t already have a good relationship with LCJVS and LCCC, which are building our workforce. I couldn’t attract new businesses if I didn’t work well with the county, city and townships that are working to improve sewers or utilities that are making energy available.”

Understanding and addressing the needs of business is also key, says David Greenspan, special projects coordinator and manager, who oversees the Lorain County’s office of community and economic development. Greenspan credits the county’s commissioners, Jeff Riddell, David Moore and Marty Gallagher, as well as Lorain County Administrator Jeff Armbruster, with having the kind of business acumen that lends itself to economic development.

“Our county commissioners have all been executives in the private sector before, so they understand the needs of businesses, the needs of the market and how business grows,” Greenspan says.

The approach has already attracted world class manufacturers and businesses that include: Skylift, Cutting Dynamics, Dura-line and Beckett Thermal Solutions.

“We do have some really good manufacturing and business partners here,” adds Gallo. “We have done a good job of working with these businesses so when they need to skill, or re-skill workers, we can simply plug them in.”

Other major Lorain County companies include Ford, Republic Steel, Ridge Tool, Parker Hannifin and Duck Brand Duct Tape, to name but a few.

“From a future business perspective, you have to look at the reasons why someone wants to invest in Lorain County,” says Greenspan. “Companies invest in an area for two major reasons. The first is quality of product and the quality of management. Clearly, we have quality of product. We have available real estate. We have access to the lake. And we have an available, willing and trainable workforce to fulfill jobs needs.

“But we also have quality of management in terms of our civic leadership. They know how to put Lorain County in a strong position to attract new businesses.”

In addition to manufacturing and industry, Lorain County is also enjoying development from major healthcare organizations like Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals and Mercy Health. Indeed, Cleveland Clinic just announced plans to expand both Avon Hospital and the Richard E. Jacobs Family Health Center as part of a $340 million project that will almost double the size of its campus, which is located just north of the I-90/Nagel Road interchange in Avon.

“So we have great collaboration in all of our business sectors, from manufacturing through healthcare,” says Greenspan.

While maintaining a ready workforce is a strong positive, another very important driver for economic development is maintaining a “quality of place,” says Greenspan.

“It’s a huge driver for economic growth. We need to talk not only about providing more jobs, which is clearly happening, but we also want to improve the quality of place which attracts potential employees to locate or stay in the area. That includes housing and education, public safety and recreation activities.”

Examples of these include the events and developments that are going on in the City of Lorain with the expansion of its riverfront and lakefront.

“Those are great examples when we talk about quality of place,” says Greenspan. “Employers are already coming here, but we want their employees to live, recreate and raise their families right here as well.”

NATURAL ASSETS 

When it comes to future development, one of Lorain County’s strongest assets is land that can be developed, says Hutson.

“We have access to water and highway infrastructure,” she says, “but we also have a lot of land that can be developed. If you look next door at Cuyahoga County, they really don’t have a lot of developable land.

“It’s true that a lot of our sites need work to get done to make them shovel ready, like zoning and proper utilities and those kinds of things. But those are issues that can be addressed.”

Lorain County has one of only two sites considered a “mega site” in Northeast Ohio and perhaps the state, adds Gallo. The good news is that over the summer funds have been cleared to develop the site.

In making the announcement last July, Lt. Governor Tressel, along with Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik announced that four properties have been cleared for future economic development with support from the All Ohio Future Fund (AOFF). More than $225 million in AOFF funding will be used to improve infrastructure at sites in Lorain, as well as Coshocton, Montgomery and Muskingum counties.

“When major corporations are looking for somewhere to build, they want sites that are prepped and ready for construction,” says DeWine. “By investing to build infrastructure at the Conesville, Lorain, Dayton and Frazeysburg sites, we’re making Ohio more competitive and positioning those regions to attract projects that create good-paying jobs and boost the state’s economy.”

“There's a lot of work that goes into preparing a site for development, so we're literally laying the groundwork for future jobs and economic development in these communities,” adds Tressel. “We've already generated interest in these locations, and by proactively preparing them with needed infrastructure, these sites won't be vacant for long.”

As a part of the state-wide developments, the Lorain County Board of Commissioners will receive $67,412,580 for infrastructure improvements at the 1,000-acre Lorain County Mega Site, which is located near the Lorain County Regional Airport. The funding will expand water capacity to deliver up to 10 million gallons per day, improve wastewater service, and support design and engineering for a new wastewater treatment plant. Plans also include expanding the airport runway to 6,500 feet.

Multiple organizations contributed to the project, including Lorain County Rural Wastewater District, Lorain County Sanitary Engineer, JobsOhio, Team NEO, the City of Vermilion and the City of Avon Lake.

 “It was great working with Commissioners Moore, Riddell and Gallagher on this collaborative effort with the Department of Development,” says State Senator Nathan Manning, who worked alongside State Representative Gayle Manning on the project. “Along with the commissioners, Lorain County Administrator Jeff Armbruster and his team have been working on this project to get it shovel ready for years, and we are excited to continue working with them.” 

With any kind of development, there is a certain amount of resistance. Lorain County leaders say they will be sensitive to the needs of residents.

“We need to make sure we have utility infrastructure in place and roads and bridges to support growth and expansion in a managed and thoughtful way,” says Greenspan.

With these development projects continually taking place, leaders who work together and programs that are innovative and encompassing, Lorain County stands to stay ahead of the curve.