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Greetings!
In this edition of our newsletter you will find great
examples of Ashland companies re-inventing themselves through new products and
new markets. We are proud of these
strategic, aggressive approaches in a very difficult economic climate. As you will find in the Business Spotlight
story on National Pride Car Wash, and in the articles on business support
programs, there are several resources available to help you achieve your goals,
whether they include launching new products and services or sustaining your
current customer base. Now is the time
for all stakeholders in our local economy to work together to achieve new
heights. We look forward to continuing
to work with all of you, so please contact us to discuss any of the programs or
ideas described in the articles below.
As for our own agency's strategic efforts, we are striving
to constantly align our efforts with our 2009-2010 Action Plan. The Plan calls for us to reach out to our
industrial base in mid-to-late 2009 for our bi-annual industrial survey. We will begin our survey process in late
Summer, and I am confident it will result in many opportunities to assist
companies in seeking new customers, investments, or market segments. The Plan also calls for creative marketing of
key business sites, including rail-served assets like the Ashland Business Park
and Loudonville Industrial Park.
Barbasol's expected investment in the Ashland Park will include a new
rail spur to their facility, thus opening up the park to additional rail users. Finally, we are focused on marketing some key
business sites, along with our county's impressive industrial sectors, to
consultants and companies around the world.
For example, in late Summer 2009 we are coordinating a visit from
PolymerOhio, the State of Ohio's agency that is educating our plastics industry
with best practices, as well as marketing the State for future plastics
investment. We welcome any opportunity
to discuss these strategies in greater detail.
Thank you for your interest in the economic development of Ashland
County.
Sincerely,
Evan Scurti, Director
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National Pride Car Wash
New Ownership Guides Company into a New Era of Growth
National Pride Car Wash opened in Ashland
in 1963, when the company began assembling commercial car wash equipment and
manufacturing some cleaning chemicals.
The company is poised for consistent success under new owner-managers
Charles Collins and Trent Walter. Since
the acquisition in 2007, they have applied their experience as corporate
manufacturing and chemical engineers to their small business venture. Along with five employees, they are committed
to the tradition of assembling and selling a wide array of car wash equipment
from the facility at 1266 Middle Rowsburg Rd. (see all products at www.nationalpridecarwash.com). But they are also committed to new product
development and new markets for their current products. They are engaging many community partners to
strive for creative growth.
AACED met Charles at the February 2009 Groundhog Day
Breakfast. He explained that he was new
to the "entrepreneurial world" and was interested in learning about support
services. Charles and AACED Director Evan
Scurti created a list of various resources to aid in the
pursuit of growth and a strong team culture at National Pride. To date, Charles and Trent have worked with
the following agencies on some exciting initiatives:
The
area's SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter
(SBDC). Manufacturing Director
Ken Cline and Business Counselor Kathryn Goon have introduced National
Pride to planning ideas and financial resources. Ken and Kathryn are coordinating a Fall
2009 class project at Ashland University,
where students will analyze the company's marketing plan.
AshlandCounty Job &
Family Services. Erv Howard,
Regional Workforce Director for the Ohio Department of Development,
introduced National Pride to the incumbent worker-training program at JFS;
an application is pending.
AshlandCountyWIA
Youth Program. National Pride
is researching this great program through which the company would provide
summer work experience for high school students. In exchange, WIA Youth funds would cover
the students' wages.
Ohio
Department of Development (ODOD) Global Markets Division. AACED refers many companies to this
Division, which has offices in over 10 locations around the globe. The offices perform detailed research
and present sales or distributor leads to Ohio
firms. Charles reports that the
process has yielded results by identifying candidates for product
distribution in South Africa. This will add to current exports to Japan,
Canada, Mexico,
and Australia.
It is our hope that these resources are becoming a great
addition to the National Pride team, which can already boast of increased sales
and the following accomplishments:
1) Creating/trademarking new products like the coin-operated
4 Paws Pet Wash. Approximately
200 of these systems are sold per year.
2) Expanding into other product lines, such as custom pressure washing units and
a full line of hot and cold water pressure washers.
3) Exhibiting at Car Care World Expo 2009. The tradeshow resulted in over 100 strong
sales leads.
4) Created
an Asphalt Sealcoating division of National Pride called NPE
Sealcoating to diversify the company's services and generate new revenue.
5) Currently developing plans to sell boat and car towel
products from the Ashland
facility. Creating this new product line
is forecasted for late Summer 2009.
We congratulate National Pride for showing us all that
NOWis the time to
establish the direction of your business.
National Pride is also becoming a premiere example of engaging business
support agencies in projects that become beneficial to all involved-the greater
community, area students, and the company.
Please contact AACED or National Pride to learn more about these
strategies and how they might apply to your business |
Ashland Precision Tooling Adds
to Its Service Offerings
Congratulations to another Ashland
company that is diversifying to gain penetration into new markets.
Since its inception Ashland Precision Tooling has refined
cutting-edge heat treating and coating strategies to help their customers
extend the useful life of their tooling.
These services are new being marketed and offered to other customers
under a separate brand name-Ashland Surface Engineering-at the Baney
Road facility.
As opposed to their competitors, Ashland Surface Engineering focuses on
small batches of similar sized parts.
The result is high quality with much tighter tolerances. The team also strives for quick turnaround of
your parts, typically 24-48 hours from the time it comes through the door.
The creation of Ashland Surface Engineering is a wonderful
example of building upon the skills of a company's workforce to create an
entirely new business unit.
Congratulations to the entire team!
AACED will continue to spread the word about these unique services to
manufacturers throughout the region, state, and beyond.
Call Ashland Precision Tooling today for a tour of the Baney
Road facility or visit www.aptooling.com for more information
about Ashland Surface Engineering.
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The Guy C. Myers Memorial Bandshell adds to Ashland County's Quality of Life
This year
marks the 60th anniversary of the Bandshell providing live music and
entertainment to Ashland.
All performances are open to the public with a suggested $2.00 freewill donation.
The Guy C.
Myers Bandshell is one of the sometimes overlooked treasures in AshlandCounty.
The Bandshell was dedicated in 1949 as a gift from Mrs. Myers to the
City of Ashland in honor of her late husband (Guy Chase Myers). Since then the residents have enjoyed the
uplifting music and quality entertainment provided to citizens.
As the
Bandshell celebrates its 60th anniversary, once again its history
will intersect with the story of the entrepreneurial and industrial Myers
family. The 10TH ANNUAL ASHLAND CHAUTAUQUA will focus on the theme: AMERICAN DREAMS: Progress in Business
& Industry. Along with presenting four evenings of performances from professional
Chautauquans, the event will also feature a local history performance about AshlandCounty's historic leaders in Business
& Industry (Charles Kettering,
Hugo Young, F E Myers, T W Miller and J L Clark). The
event will be held Tuesday, June 23
through Saturday, June 27 with all evening performances held at
the Guy C. Myers Memorial Band Shell.
For
more information on Ashland Chautauqua please visit the Web site at www.ashlandchautauqua.org or for
more information on the bandshell, please go to:. www.ashland-ohio.com/parks/bandshell
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Ashland County resident starts new consulting firm.
Sullivan resident, Pat Loyacona has recently created Lean
Concept Solutions, LLC, which specializes in coaching and consulting
manufacturing firms in the principles of Lean Manufacturing.
Mr. Loyacona spent 30 years working in manufacturing firms. This includes his experience as Plant Manager
at Hydro Carbide Inc.; Manufacturing Manager at Alside Premium Building
Products; and Senior Manufacturing Manager at both Scienda Building Sciences
LLC-and Concurrent Technologies Corp.
Pat combine his experience with his education and training
(BS Mechanical Engineer,Certified Manufacturing Engineer License and Six Sigma
Green Belt designation) to launch his entrepreneurial venture.
Mr Loyacona stated that "today's manufacturers cannot simply
'purchase' a lean system to improve their production process. It takes hard work, commitment and a pyridine
shift in company management to be successful going Lean." Pat focuses on helping his clients create a
culture that inspires all employees to commit to lean principles. He also focuses on coaching management teams
to see lean processes as a sustainable, consistent drive toward perfection, not
a one-time project.
Following these general principles, Lean Concept Solutions
incorporates the Six Sigma-Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control
(DMAIC)-in all projects. This is coupled
with Value Stream Mapping of processes in order to lead the client to
high-quality production that eliminates waste and exceeds customer
expectations.
We wish Mr.
Loyacona the best of luck with his new venture.
For more information, please contact Mr. Loyacona at: Lean
Concept Solutions, LLC, 447 Twp. Rd. 462, Suite 222, Sullivan, OH44880, 419-736-3396 or
724-875-0480-cell.
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AACED, Ashland County and Jackson Township win Economic Development Award
 AACED, Ashland County and Jackson Township recently won the Team NEO Economic Development award for Business
Expansion for the American Augers project.
The project started in 2006 when American Augers, AACED, the State and
First Energy began discussion on how to fund the construction of a new
substation. The energy supply at the
plant was not sufficient for their needs nor was it sufficient for their
planned expansion.
It was conveyed to us that
the energy utility could not construct and own the infrastructure due to rules
in the energy deregulation bill. In
addition to that, American Augers' parent company would not authorize the
expenditure for infrastructure in Ohio that they wouldn't have had to pay for
in Tennessee should they consolidate with their TN plant.
Representatives from the Ohio
Department of Development worked with AACED on a plan to apply for grant monies. The only stipulation was that the grant money
only applied for infrastructure owned by a local Government or the
Utility. AACED approached the CountyCommissioners and Jackson Township Trustees for assistance. The Commissioners agreed to own the
infrastructure for a period of time with the condition that there was a neutral
effect on the County's budget (meaning that the expenditures from the County
did not exceed the grant revenue). The CountyProsecutor's office and Auditor's office worked diligently on the details of an
agreement to assure that the additional expenses were paid by American Augers
and to remove any liability on the part of the County.
Through the Environmental
Review process, bidding process and monitoring process countless State, County
and Township agencies and officials have assisted with the project. The Township Trustees and zoning inspectors
have continued to expedite and assist with any required paperwork or
permits. The Engineer's office,
Commissioners' Office and CountyPlanning have all assisted greatly with the bidding process.
This project was truly
exemplary of local Governments and agencies working together for business
retention. AACED wishes to thank
everyone for their assistance and thank the management team at American Augers
for their commitment to AshlandCounty.
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SBA Launches New 100-Percent Guarantee ARC Loan Program to Help Struggling Business
WASHINGTON - Starting today, June 15, SBA will begin accepting loans for a temporary new program called America's Recovery Capital. "ARC" loans of up to $35,000 are designed to provide a "bridge" for viable small businesses with immediate financial hardship - to keep their doors open until they get back on track.
"These ARC loans are another tool in the SBA toolkit which will provide critical support to small businesses struggling to make it through these tough economic times," said Administrator Karen G. Mills.
ARC loans are deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000, available to established, viable, for-profit small businesses that need short-term help to make their principal and interest payments on existing and qualifying business debt. ARC loans are 100 percent guaranteed by the SBA and have no SBA fees associated with them.
Click here for the full press release from SBA
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