$830 million in 10 years

Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023. Although Executive Director Aaron Montz said there aren't a lot of records from past years, TSEP has drawn $830 million of investment to Seneca County in the last 10 years, an average of $83 million per year. Since 2014, he said there have been 3,467 jobs created, an average of 346 per year. In 2023, Montz said "capital investment was well above the average," while the number of jobs created was below the average. Instead of hiring more people, he said industries are investing in new technologies that often require fewer people to operate. "We're seeing a lot of automation," he said. Montz hinted that Seneca County will be in the top 10% nationally this year in Site Selection magazine's rankings for economic development projects. But he wasn't at liberty to give details. "It was a very busy year," he said. "We did extremely well last year. It was a very good year in the Tiffin community. "We continue to rank in the very top," Montz said. "Things continue to look up when it comes to manufacturing in Seneca County. They're taking up every available worker we have. Every person who wants a job in our area has one." Examples of expansion include: • Webster Industries, $6 million expansion. • American Plastics, $2 million expansion. • Sutton Bank, $2 million renovation of its building on West Market Street. • Aldrich Electric purchase of the latest spec building, and looking to invest further. • TPC saved a historical manufacturing site and invested $6 million in renovations before moving in. • Heidelberg fieldhouse, a $27 million project that the public will have use of in addition to the university. • Tiffin Community Kitchen, which is to begin construction on the $2.8 million project this spring. • Heavenly Pizza's construction of new headquarters and beginning franchise opportunities. Montz said TSEP is looking to expand the property available to future manufacturing plants by about 100 acres. "Hopefully by the middle the year it will be annexed in," he said. He said it's difficult to attract new industry when there's only 18 acres to work with. Also, Montz said TSEP and Fostoria Economic Development Corp. are working together in hopes of drawing a large business. "Our organization and FEDC with Renee Smith are working hand in hand for the first time," he said. "It would be the biggest investment ever in Seneca County." However, Montz said new business and industry is only a small part of the overall work of TSEP. "Eighty to 90% is retention and assisting folks," he said. In the rural areas, Montz said Development Coordinator Adam Gillmor has been working several businesses. In January, Price Manufacturing announced the completion of a 2,400-square-foot addition to its facility outside Bloomville. Also, Tavern 19 opened in Bloomville. Montz said the Bloomville Development Group is "doing some awesome things." "Adam is working on a couple pretty substantial projects in the rural areas right now," he said. "And agriculture is a huge part of what goes on here in Seneca County," Montz said. "We can't lose sight of that fact." Downtown Tiffin Another aspect of TSEP is development of Downtown Tiffin. Downtown Tiffin Main Street Manager Donna Gross said 10 new businesses opened downtown in 2023. New businesses are: Wildflower Salon and Studio, Mood Hair Studio, Crop Beauty Salon, Evolve, The Glo Company, Spoke Life Cycles, Coastal Swing Golf & Bar, The Deli Café at Frost Village, The Secret Seamstress and Collaboration Therapy LLC. Companies that expanded last year were Events by Rose & Co. and Ralph's Scratch, Dent & Delight, while three others relocated and WSO and Clover Club got new owners. Two restaurants have plans for opening in 2024. Wild Bunch Wellness, to open on East Market Street next to Reino's Pizza and Pasta, is to offer health foods such as organic smoothies. The Turntable is to open this spring at 116 S. Washington St. offering small plates featuring locally grown food, wine, beer and saki. Downtown Tiffin was recognized for the seventh time by Heritage Ohio as a National Main Street Community. The program works with communities across the state to revitalize historic commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, it focuses on four points: organization, design, promotions and economic vitality. "We are literally considered one of the model communities," Montz said. "It's a very good feeling." Every year, he said five or six downtown groups from other Ohio towns visit Tiffin, as recommended by Heritage Ohio, to find out about Tiffin's success. "It feels great to be a model community for downtown," he said. "Donna's done a great job since taking over, and Amy Reinhart laid the ground in her eight years here." The Façade Improvement Grant program assisted 12 businesses to make improvements to their buildings for a total investment of $230,000. Since the program started in 2014, Montz said there has been $2.7 million invested in downtown. Gross said the monthly Third Thursday events are estimated to attract $250,000 in spending downtown. According to the national average, she said people spend around $20 when they attend that kind of event, whether they buy food, beverages or an item in a store. "That's a nice number to see that our town is still blooming and vital," she said. However, Gross said inflation hit local businesses hard, and it's more important than people realize for local people to buy from local businesses all year round. "We continue to remind people to shop small businesses," she said. Gross said downtown special events are possible only because there are volunteers to help. Last year, she said 1,193 volunteer hours were donated. Whether volunteers take part in litter cleanup days or serve on a committee, she said they're all important. "We wouldn't have the success we have in Downtown Tiffin without our volunteers," she said. And donors are another reason. In 2023, TSEP led a project to put new Christmas lights downtown. Through $27,000 from TSEP and private donors, Montz said 82,000 lights were sparkling during the holiday season.