State Leader help celebrate Tuscarawas economic success
STRASBURG – The Director of the Ohio Department of Development was at ProVia in Strasburg Friday to present a governor’s proclamation and help recognize the area’s recent economic development success.
Lydia Mihalik congratulated Tuscarawas County leaders on being ranked third in the country by Site Selection Magazine for business growth among micropolitan areas.
“This is a really big thing,” Mihalik said. “There are more than 570 micropolitans across the country, so to be the No. 3 out of 570-whatever is a lot. It’s a really big deal. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the win.”
The New Philadelphia-Dover micropolitan area had 15 significant business investments in 2024 that either added 20 or more jobs, added 20,000 square feet of facility space or invested at least $1 million. Expansion at ProVia is among those projects.
Mihalik says Tuscarawas County political and business leaders are taking advantage of state initiatives to draw more business to the Buckeye state.
She says local leaders have helped make Tuscarawas County “an inviting place that is welcoming to companies like Pro-Via so that they can have jobs for families that call these communities home.”
Micropolitans have a population between 10,000 and 49,999. The Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation wants to overtake Findlay, Ohio, for the No.1 spot in the ranking.
They are asking Tuscarawas County businesses to report their expansion projects to the Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation.
“I think it’s Tuscarawas time, too,” said Tuscarawas County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Marla Akridge. “I think we have finally realized the importance of a diversified economy. We finally have realized the important of our manufacturing base, and our diverse manufacturing base.”
Each community received its own version of the governor’s proclamation.