Positive trends for Holmes County business outlook
By Kyle Valentini
February 11, 2013
346
A cursory look around Holmes County and growth and expansion are apparent. When one takes an even closer look, that growth and expansion are a direct result of the entrepreneurial spirit found in so many Holmes County business owners.
According to Tom Wilke, Holmes County Economic Development Council executive director, Holmes County has plenty of reasons to be cautiously optimistic about the economy as 2013 is under way. First and foremost, the county is very fortunate to have entrepreneurs and business leaders who operate some of the finest manufacturing, retail and hospitality businesses you can find anywhere, said Wilke. As a result, many of their businesses are growing when others elsewhere are contracting or faltering. These leaders are willing to take measured risks and invest in expansion that leads to job growth.
Holmes County is privileged to have elected officials and agencies that are pro-business and who utilize programs and policies to facilitate growth, rather than slow it. Holmes County commissioners and school board officials work closely together to make possible Enterprise Zone agreements for manufacturing facilities to provide partial tax abatement on new property taxes resulting from investments in expansion. They recognize these agreements are advantageous for the county as the business receives some relief on new expenses, the county the school board still generate new property tax revenue and county residents receive new job opportunities that are always a component of these agreements.
An active and effective Job and Family Services agency in Holmes County provides workforce development through various state programs and through the Ashland County- West Holmes Career Center.
The Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau work closely with retail and hospitality business leaders to promote a thriving tourism industry that generates four million visitors per year to Ohios Amish Country. They strategically place advertising in prominent publications and actively solicit bus tours to add to the influx of tourism dollars to the county, said Wilke. Having this large and growing industry provides a welcome diversification in the economy that sets Holmes County apart from most others in Ohio.
Holmes County experienced some positive trends in 2012 that should facilitate even stronger economic development in 2013. Six new Enterprise Zone agreements were executed, leading to significant manufacturing and warehousing expansions linked to job creation, with the largest ones at ProVia Door, F.D. Hardwood and Troyer Cheese.
The unemployment rate for the county trended down throughout the year, ending at 4.2 percent in December and was second only to Mercer County with a rate of 3.9 percent, the lowest of Ohios 88 counties. Bed tax collections were up 16 percent for the year, indicating that overnight stays increased as more and more guests visited Holmes County. This increase in tourism traffic has led to several retail and hospitality expansion projects in the county, including a modern, energy efficient, European-styled 60-room hotel in Walnut Creek.
While all of these indicators bode well for the economy in 2013, it is not time to take anything for granted and the Holmes County Economic Development Council will be working alongside our county officials and agencies to continue to make sure we have an environment that fosters growth of our existing businesses and that also attracts new business, said Wilke. However, our biggest asset has been and will continue to be the Holmes County entrepreneurs that operate world-class businesses that generate growth in the economy.
