Huron County Economic Forum Brings Leaders Together to Chart the County’s Growth

 The Huron County Growth Partnership hosted its inaugural Huron County Economic Forum on August 27, bringing together 150+ local business leaders, state and local officials, and community stakeholders for a full morning of data, panel discussions, and firsthand investment stories focused on the county’s economic future. Speakers returned to a common thread: Huron County’s manufacturing-driven economy is strong but sustaining that strength will depend on addressing a growing workforce and housing challenge.

“This event was a strong step forward in aligning the executives and elected officials in the room and motivating them to take the next steps together for planning together for our community’s future”, said Sarah Ross, Executive Director of Huron County Growth Partnership. “Everyone in the room had open minds and an eagerness to collaborate, centering around the data, policies, and economic environment we have to work in. I’m energized by these leaders’ passion for the future of our community.”

Opening Remarks: Norwalk Mayor Dave Light

Norwalk Mayor Dave Light opened the forum by framing the day around partnership. “Not every challenge can be conquered alone,” Light said, “Without partnerships, we cannot grow together.”

Regional Economic Snapshot: Jacob Duritsky, Team NEO

Jacob Duritsky, Vice President of Strategy, Research & Talent for Team NEO, delivered a data-driven look at Huron County’s place in the broader Northeast Ohio economy. Duritsky highlighted manufacturing as the county’s defining strength; the sector makes up roughly 16% of Huron County’s economy, four times its regional share, and employs 2.5 times more workers locally than the county’s next-largest sector, government. He also pointed to a looming workforce transition, noting that an estimated 100,000 manufacturing jobs across Northeast Ohio will need to be replaced within the next five years, and that 40,000 to 50,000 regional jobs currently go unfilled due to gaps in the talent pipeline.

View Jacob’s Presentation Here

Legislative Panel: State Priorities & Local Impacts

Huron County Commissioner Tom Dunlap moderated a panel featuring State Representative Kellie Deeter (House District 54), State Representative DJ Swearingen (House District 89), State Senator Theresa Gavarone (Senate District 2), and Huron County Auditor Roland Tkach, covering the state and local policy issues shaping business growth in the county.

Rep. Deeter pointed to infrastructure and zoning as the practical hurdles facing new development, calling for collaborative growth over a “not in my backyard” mindset, and raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of keeping rural, independent hospitals independent.

Rep. Swearingen tied the workforce conversation directly to K-12 education. “It’s called workforce, but really it’s getting kids jobs,” Swearingen said, adding that the state’s school funding formula still needs to be tackled. Swearingen also noted that municipalities’ outdated zoning codes often discourage the kind of creative redevelopment that revitalizes communities.

Sen. Gavarone highlighted several state tools available to local businesses, including Ohio’s brownfield remediation program, which she called “a huge success” for turning blighted real estate into developable land, and the state’s Cut Red Tape Ohio initiative, which lets businesses flag state regulations for review. She also pointed to the value of continued state investment in workforce credentialing programs like TechCred and touched on House Bill 15, which she noted has been a win for Ohio consumers. “We’re going to need housing, workforce housing,” she said, naming it as a priority alongside continued investment in credentialing and permitting reform.

Auditor Tkach spoke to the county’s fiscal foundation, noting that real estate taxes remain a dependable, consistent revenue source and citing the county’s success repurposing the former Commercial Vehicle Group site at 55 N. Garfield St. in Norwalk into a multi-tenant manufacturing and warehousing building. “We need to have folks with vision,” Tkach said.

Inside Lakeside’s Investment in Willard

Eddie Dozier, HR Manager at Lakeside Book Company, walked attendees through the company’s $22.5 million investment in its Willard facility, anchored by the installation of a new, high-speed LITHOMAN press and a commitment to 100 new jobs in partnership with JobsOhio. Dozier reported that Lakeside has already filled 99 of the 100 positions tied to that workforce commitment, supported by a certified apprenticeship program that cross-trains employees rather than displacing them with automation. Community investment, he said, is central to that strategy: “It’s not just a corporate duty to give back to the community; we want to,” noting that giving back is a key part of Lakeside’s employee retention strategy.

Panel: Investing in Huron County – An Outlook From the Ground

Dr. Brent Burkey, President and CEO of Fisher-Titus, moderated a panel of Huron County business and financial leaders: Keith Mainzer, Controller at Extol of Ohio; Tony Whitacre, CFO of Oglesby Construction; and Judy Mosher, Partner at Payne Nickles & Company. Mosher outlined tax strategies available to growing businesses, including R&D tax credits that can offset income taxes and new federal rules around qualified production property and first-year bonus depreciation that allow manufacturers to fully expense qualifying facility investments in the year they’re placed in service. Mainzer cited Ohio Manufacturers’ Association data showing that roughly 20% of manufacturers plan to make capital investments in the next year. Dr. Burkey, moderating from a regional healthcare vantage point, raised concerns about how many Huron County residents commute outside the county for work.

Workforce Was the Word of the Day – Resources for Employers

HCGP helps local employers secure resources to address workforce development. Their staff recommends working with them if any of these resources sound like a good fit:

• TechCred: TechCred reimburses employers up to $1,000 per employee, per credential (up to $30,000 per application), for tech-focused upskilling. The next application window opens Oct. 1–30, 2026.
• JobsOhio Earn & Learn: JobsOhio’s new $300 million Experiential Learning Initiative will offer employers up to $10,000 per employee enrolled in an approved apprenticeship, technical certificate, or associate degree pathway.
• JobsOhio Relocation Incentive: Helps employers offset the cost of relocating STEM and technical talent.
• DoD SkillBridge: Department of Defense program lets employers host transitioning service members for on-the-job training in their final months of service at no wage cost, to hire them on afterward.
• Huron County Business Advisory Council (BAC): The BAC connects local businesses, educators, and community leaders to strengthen workforce development and career opportunities.
• HCGP Membership: HCGP members receive monthly Resources & Membership newsletters connecting them to programs like these as they become available. Not a member yet? Join HCGP

A Diverse Economy Wins

The morning made one thing clear: Huron County’s economy is strong because it isn’t built on any one industry. Agriculture remains one of the county’s top economic drivers, its productivity measured differently than sectors like manufacturing or construction, reflected more in land value and generational investment than traditional employment counts, and it continues to add diversity and resilience to the local economy.

HCGP plans to keep the momentum going, with Network After Work set for Thursday, October 7, from 5–7 p.m. 

Thank You’s in Order

This impactful event would not have been possible without the support of generous sponsors & partners including Donald Graham & Associates, Fisher Titus Health, Janotta & Herner, Team NEO, Payne Nickles & Co, Extol of Ohio, and contractors Design Engineering.