Campbell Soup makes donation to STRICT Center

Campbell Soup Company has agreed to donate $25,000 for the construction of Findlay's STRICT Center. The $1-million center will be a city-owned training complex located behind Findlay Fire Station 4 on Hancock County 236. That brings the total amount of money donated for the construction of the center to about $650,000. Other donations include funds from the Findlay Hancock County Community Foundation, Valfilm, Marathon Petroleum, the Hancock County Firefighters Association, the McComb Fire Department, the Hancock County Board of Commissioners, the Washington Township Fire Department, and Whirlpool. Additionally, Findlay City Council has allocated $250,000 towards the project. STRICT is an acronym for Simulated Tactical Response & Incident Command Training. The project calls for the construction of a countywide multi-agency training complex. The STRICT Center's conceptual drawings show two buildings, including a "Burn Building" and a "Tower Building." These structures will allow for live-fire training, technical rescue, law enforcement, EMS, and other training scenarios. Construction is expected to begin this year. "As a member of the Findlay community, Campbell is proud to join with the city to support our first responders," said Cassandra Green, vice president of supply chain, meals, and beverages for the Campbell Soup Company. "The safety of our employees is our top priority at Campbell. Ensuring that local public safety teams including law enforcement, EMS, and the fire department have access to the resources and training they need to do their jobs well, is equally as important and helps improve the safety of everyone." The $44 million, 740,000-square-foot Campbell Soup Company Distribution Center, 1000 Campbell Drive, is located south of Hancock County 212, near the McLane Distribution Center. Construction of the center was completed in 2018. Mayor Christina Muryn said she is thrilled with the contribution. " ... They are a newer business in Findlay, but they continue to step up to support public safety services, first responders, and law enforcement in our community. Organizations like Campbell, and so many others, is why our community is what it is today," said Muryn. "We would not be able to have so many unique resources that set our community apart."The center, brainchild of Findlay Fire Chief Joshua, is meant to clear the common obstacles to training that area first responders encounter. Right now, each area agency trains on their own, encountering common problems such as location, cost and availability. Eberle said the center will alleviate most of those obstacles, and allow for training that otherwise would not be possible. "A really exciting aspect of the STRICT Center is the ability for our safety agencies to train together. At almost every emergency, there is a fire department, law enforcement, and an EMS component all working alongside each other," Eberle said. "Currently it is difficult to train together, even though we respond together. The STRICT Center will allow that joint training to happen on a more regular basis than ever." More information about the center is available on the city's website: www.findlayohio.com