Housing, production drive local economy

A strong local economy starts at home. Attraction of new businesses and retention of the existing ones have long been rightly recognized as vital to keeping a strong local economy. But local officials are keenly aware of another key component for economic growth: somewhere for people to live. It's a concern that Findlay has about a 98% occupancy rate for apartments, said Tim Mayle, director of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development. "We don't even have anywhere to absorb more people moving to the community. We have to do that," Mayle said. The easiest way to address the workforce shortage, which other communities across the nation also face, is to have more people living in the community, he said. "That's more people visiting the hospital, that's more people going to retail, that's more students attending local school districts to drive revenue, so all that is a good piece to work through," Mayle said. A variety of housing projects, for single-family and multi-family, are underway to accommodate everyone from entry-level jobs through peak earning years to empty nesters to senior housing, Mayle said. "We're trying to do it across the demographics," he said. Construction of 50 affordable apartment units for senior citizens near Birchaven Village is expected to be completed this year. Horizon Pointe, just northwest of Findlay, has 70 more apartment units under construction, Mayle said. Apartments containing 28 units are under construction west of West Main Cross Street between Adams and Putnam streets. Blanchard Station, apartments containing 50 units, are under construction in northeastern Findlay. Crawford Station, also in northeastern Findlay, was recently completed. Liberty Ridge, with 92 units, is being completed this year just west of Findlay. Some single-family housing is in the process of being developed in the area. 'A really good number' Findlay-Hancock County had $148 million in investment in 2020, a 37% percent decline from 2019 and 27% decline from 2018. But considering the economic ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, Findlay-Hancock County's investment last year was a "really good number," Mayle said. He pointed back to March 2020, when the pandemic first struck and temporarily shut down automakers like Honda, Ford and General Motors. That then forced production cutbacks in their supply chains, automotive parts makers like those in Findlay. Parts makers, too, need parts. Sometimes they come from companies in Europe, which also had shutdowns. "Sometimes U.S. companies couldn't get parts they needed for production," he said. "So we did not see nearly as much production from automotive companies. Now they are coming back strong." Others fared better. "Plastics and packaging were huge winners," Mayle said. A new Valfilm product to be produced in Findlay kills coronavirus on contact. It will be used on products, like bottles and medical masks, gowns and other equipment, Mayle said. GVS Filtration produces N99 masks and P100 respirator masks. Packaging companies that fared well were Graham Packaging, Rowmark and Ball Corp., Mayle said.