Noble County officials announced $4.8M business park east of Caldwell

Rick Stillion, The Daily Jeffersonian
·4 min read
The Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park will be built on a 60-acre site located east of Caldwell adjacent to Ohio 78. The $4.8 million project will be designed to attract new logistics, light manufacturing, and oil and gas support industries to the park located approximately a mile east of Interstate 77.
The Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park will be built on a 60-acre site located east of Caldwell adjacent to Ohio 78. The $4.8 million project will be designed to attract new logistics, light manufacturing, and oil and gas support industries to the park located approximately a mile east of Interstate 77.

BELLE VALLEY — State and Noble County officials joined together last week at the OSU Extension Southeast Regional Operation Center near Belle Valley to officially announce plans for the creation of a business park along Ohio 78 east of Caldwell.

The $4.8 million investment is designed to attract logistics, light manufacturing, and oil and gas support industries to the park, located approximately a mile east of Interstate 77.

"I would like to take a deep breath, because in some way, shape or form, we have made it," said Noble County Commissioner Brad Peoples during a press conference at the OSU facility. "Not since the 1950s, have we had such an announcement.

Noble County Commissioner Brad Peoples joined state and local officials to unveil plans for the $4.8 million Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park to be constructed adjacent to Ohio 78 east of Caldwell. The project will include six sites averaging 3.06 acres and a 10,000-square foot building with an access road and utilities in place for development on an additional 18.37 acres.

"We appreciate your time today to gather and celebrate with us for the unveiling of the plans for the East of I-77 Caldwell Business Park," added Peoples of the project in partnership with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development and locally Crock Construction.

The project includes the construction of a 10,000-square-foot commercial speculative building, a new access road, site work, full utilities, and extension of water and sewer to six commercial sites within the park.

"The last few years, we have had a belief that the circumstances of our distressed rural county required collaboration and flexibility by all partners," said Peoples. "This Noble County collaborative of local public officials and private business worked to create a public-private business park project reflective of the realities of our market.

"We believe that we are well suited to compete for, and win, smaller projects, particularly small manufacturing and energy sector-related projects, if we had ready sites. The fact is Noble County has turned away projects because we do not currently have ready sites.

"Well, that is about to change," added Peoples.

The site where work has already started is owned by Crock Construction and Caldwell Mobile Home Sales, a third-generation family-owned company that will be developing the site with more than 100 years of combined experience.

"This project would not be feasible without the investment and partnerships with JobsOhio, Noble County commissioners, Ohio State University Extension, Olive Township Trustees and the Village of Caldwell," said Brandon Crock, co-owner and operator of Caldwell Lumber Do It Best and Crock Construction, in a press release.

"The landscapes of Noble County are some of the most beautiful you will see, but that beauty also brings forth challenges that make development difficult. This public-private partnership is the embodiment of a team that has worked hard for three years for one common goal — the benefit of Noble County."

Plans for the Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park were unveiled on April 27 during a press conference at the OSU Extension Southeast Regional Operation Center on Ohio 215 near Belle Valley. This overview shows the location east of Caldwell, approximately one mile from I-77.
Plans for the Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park were unveiled on April 27 during a press conference at the OSU Extension Southeast Regional Operation Center on Ohio 215 near Belle Valley. This overview shows the location east of Caldwell, approximately one mile from I-77.

Funding for the site improvement was made available through the JobsOhio-Ohio Southeast Site Initiative, a program started in 2018 to assist southeastern Ohio counties by creating competitive sites capable of winning new business investments.

JobsOhio is assisting the project with more than $2.4 million in grants.

"This project is an incredible example of why Ohio is winning right now," said JobsOhio CEO and President J.P. Nauseef. "Nothing gets done by any one person or any one jurisdiction. It takes a team focused on a common vision and common objectives that believe in their product and are always seeking a way to get to yes.

"JobsOhio has now invested in all 88 counties in Ohio, and we are optimistic that the Caldwell Business Park will establish Noble County as a magnet for businesses looking to succeed."

Additional funding includes $1.2 million from the Ohio Department of Development's Rural Industrial Park Loan fund, which was approved by the State Controlling Board earlier this month.

"We are dedicated to bringing jobs to every county in Ohio, and this new business park will have a major impact on economic development in this important area of the state," said Gov. Mike DeWine in a press release. "I appreciate the great partnerships we've developed without local partners in Noble County to bring this project to fruition."

All of the speakers praised the collaborative efforts of state and local officials.

"The vision and unity of people working together...people wanting to get things done...it's really exciting to see," said Mike Jacoby, Ohio Southeast Economics and Development president. "This project today is not just about economic development. It's not just about tax base. It's not just about keeping people working or finding more jobs.

"I think it's an opportunity to keep more young people in your community that don't necessarily want to leave for other economic opportunities. And, that's maybe the most exciting thing about this. I'm so encouraged about what is happening in Noble County."

Others who spoke during the press conference included John Carey, Governor's Office of Appalachia director; Ohio Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-30th); Ohio Rep. Don Jones (95th District); and Gwynn Stewart, Noble County Community Development leader with the OSU Extension office.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Noble County officials announced a $4.8M business park east of Caldwell