THE ECONOMIC EDGE
RICHLAND COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATES
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Project Highlight: Area 10 Workforce Development Board Invests $25,000+ in Local Workforce Training
Did You Know... About Richland County
Community Momentum: In the rolling hills of North Central Ohio, two world-class motorsports facilities attract race fans from across North America!
Available Property Spotlight: 1750 Airport West Road
Welcome
Across the country, successful economic development efforts tend to have several things in common. They have skilled workforces, sound infrastructure and defined paths for taking projects from concept to operation. They also have leadership capable of both articulating visions and developing teams to fulfill them.
At Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, we remain diligent in this mission. Jessica Gribben, OhioCED, was recently named President & CEO following a successful two-year engagement by former President Ellen Heinz. Jessica has been with the Chamber since 2018 and has helped lead successful efforts in Shelby and Ontario in addition to broad countywide initiatives.
While Jessica turns her focus toward elevating organizational capabilities, Jeff Parton is stepping in to her former position as Shelby’s Economic and Community Development Director. In this role, Jeff will rely upon 25 years of financial business development to build upon the city’s economic wins and Main Street momentum. To bolster staff internally, Evan Stuart was promoted to Operations & Government Affairs Manager and Yvonne Smith was hired as Front Office Coordinator & Member Services. Both are versed in organizational efficiencies, and they join Barret Thomas, Clint Knight, Tom Vanderhorst, Donnie Clark and the entire Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development staff to completely support development efforts.
As Mansfield’s Main Street project nears completion and local businesses gain momentum, our team remains dedicated to bringing great jobs, ideas and projects for all Richland County residents. Reach out for a conversation today!
Our staff at a golf outing.
Project Highlight
Area 10 Workforce Development Board Invests $25,000+ in Local Workforce Training
The Area 10 Workforce Development Board invested more than $25,000 last quarter to support incumbent employee training across Richland County — a direct commitment to strengthening the region’s workforce and the businesses that depend on it.
The funding comes through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult and Dislocated Worker Grant, a program designed to help employers stay competitive by upskilling their existing teams. Rather than simply filling open positions, the initiative focuses on developing the people already contributing to local businesses — helping companies adapt and grow as industry demands continue to evolve.
Training offered in the region has spanned a wide range of disciplines, from management and leadership development to process management and CDL licensing. This breadth reflects the diverse
needs of Richland County’s business community and ensures that workers across multiple sectors can access meaningful professional development.
By investing in the people already embedded in local workplaces, Area 10 is helping businesses build resilience from within — positioning both employers and employees for long-term success.
Did You Know...
circle-check Since its foundation in 1808, agriculture has always been a staple of Richland County’s economy.
circle-check Every year, Richland County contributes $215 million in produced goods, like corn, soybeans, beef, honey, and syrup.
circle-check Of Richland County’s 318,080 total acres, nearly 160,000 is agricultural.
circle-check Agriculture occupies 51.65% of all ground.
circle-check Conservation matters. Area farmers were among the first in the nation to adopt no-till conservation efforts, reducing erosion impact and minimizing soil stress.
Towns, schools, churches, and industries grew only after agriculture established stability.
– A.A. Graham, History of Richland County, Ohio (1880)
circle-check Notable landmarks include Malabar Farm, a State park and home to noted conservationist Louis Bromfield, and Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, a non-profit therapy center housed on the historic Frank Black estate. Ohio’s oldest continually operated feed mill, built before the Civil War, can be toured in Bellville at Elzy Milling & Trade.
Community Momentum
In the rolling hills of North Central Ohio, two world-class motorsports facilities attract race fans from across North America!
Founded in 1962, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is “The Most Competitive in the U.S.,” hosting the biggest names in open-wheel, sports car and motorcycle racing. It’s challenging 15-turn, 2.4-mile natural
1750 Airport West Road
Available July 2026
Businesses looking for room to grow will soon have a new opportunity in one of Richland County’s most established industrial corridors.
Available in July 2026, the industrial facility at 1750 Airport West Road offers approximately 160,000 square feet of expandable space within a mature industrial park home to more than 100 businesses. The location benefits from a strong manufacturing workforce supported by area educational institutions and developmental partners.
terrain road course features elevation changes, fast corners and tremendous spectator viewing areas throughout the 380-acre property. Featuring five major spectator events, numerous club days and a full livery of driver training options, Mid-Ohio can work with your business to develop corporate days designed to build teamwork and encourage bonding. Sponsorship opportunities exist as well. Hot on the scene is the newly reimagined Mansfield Speedway. After purchasing the historic dirttrack facility in 2025, NASCAR driver Matt Tifft and wife Jordan have invested millions of dollars to completely rebuild the northside gem, including track surface redevelopment, new lights, a huge fan screen, revamped spectator areas, new concessions, and so much more. In addition to hosting national modified and sprint car series, the 200+ acre facility will also have motocross and trail riding. Numerous sponsorship and corporate event opportunities exist. Reach out to either world-class facility the next time you’re looking for unique ways to grow your brand and reward your employees!
Designed to support a wide range of industrial and manufacturing operations, the facility features 32-foot ceilings, 7-inch concrete floors, 17 dock doors and four drive-in doors. Its strategic location provides convenient access to transportation networks, situated just three miles from US-30 and eight miles from I-71, while also offering close proximity to Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport.
The property is adjacent to additional SiteOhio Certified acreage, providing opportunities for future expansion and long-term growth.
For companies seeking a modern industrial facility with excellent infrastructure, workforce access and transportation advantages, 1750 Airport West Road represents one of the region’s premier development opportunities.
Area News & Recognition
CNG Grows in the Northeast Ohio Region Creating 125 New Jobs
CNG is expanding operations at its Lexington campus, and adding additional capacity in Ontario. Continue Story
Why Richland County?
Advantages to Doing Business Here car
Central location within a one-day drive of 60% of the U.S. and Canadian population.
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Access to Interstates 71 and 30 and proximity to major metropolitan markets.
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Diverse manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and professional services sectors.
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Affordable land and facilities compared to larger markets.
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Competitive utility costs and infrastructure capacity.
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Strong partnerships between business, education, and government.
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A skilled workforce supported by local schools, career centers, and higher education institutions.
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Available incentives and financing tools to support growth.
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High quality of life with affordable housing, parks, and cultural amenities. users
A collaborative approach to economic development with local communities working together.
John and Mimi Fernyak are making an “extraordinary gift” of their downtown properties to the Richland County Foundation. Continue Story Fernyaks Donate Downtown Properties to Richland County Foundation
Get Involved
Learn more about Richland United 2050, the Comprehensive Land Use Plan guiding how our county grows over the next 25 years. This community-driven effort will help shape housing, infrastructure, conservation, and economic development. Read the full story on page 3 of this newsletter, explore the plan, and discover ways to share your input. Your perspective can help guide thoughtful, coordinated growth across Richland County.
Explore Richland United 2050
About Us
The Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development is an organization focused on strengthening the regional economy through business retention, expansion, attraction, and community collaboration. We connect site selectors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to resources and opportunities across Richland County and beyond to help them thrive in our region!
Ask an Expert
This montrh’s expert: Jessica Gribben, OhioCED What is the organizational structure of Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development? It seems like a big operation!
There are three primary organizations housed at Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development (RACED). Our chamber - the bedrock of our mission - is over 1100 members strong, making it one of the largest Chambers in Ohio. Programming, member services, business opportunities and more all helped us earn Ohio’s Outstanding Chamber of the Year in 2023. We were also one of three semifinalists for the 2023 national Chamber of the Year award, too!
Richland Community Development Group also falls under RACED’s purview. The mission of RCDG is to encourage development by working with established companies to expand, site selectors to develop new projects and local leaders to foster additional growth.
The third organization is the Mansfield-Richland Area Educational Foundation. Recently rebranded Richland LEADS (Learn, Engage, Aspire, Develop, Serve), this group is the workforce and talent development division that manages leadership programs, student education and local training pipelines.
Our Economic Development Team
Jessica Gribben
President & CEO
Donnie Clark
Economic Development Project Manager
Clint Knight
Workforce Development Director
Barrett Thomas, Sr.
Economic Development Director
Tom Vanderhorst
Finance Specialist
