TIFFIN, OH (Toledo News Now) - Tiffin leaders have been saying for two years that their city is on the rebound when it comes to jobs and economic development. Now, their progress is being recognized nationally.
Site Selection Magazine ranked Tiffin 10th on a list of 576 micropolitan cities for large, private economic development projects in 2013. The magazine looked at cities with a population between 10,000 and 50,000 and ranked them based on businesses making investments and jobs created.
Last year, Tiffin was 30th on the list.
"You better believe that we're going to be hammering this home when we're talking to anyone from factories looking to locate here, current factories that are looking to expand – the sky is the limit for Tiffin," said Mayor Aaron Montz. "We're continuing to go up and up and it's a great selling point for the future for us to continue to build on that momentum, and hopefully it turns into a snowball effect."
In 2013, multiple companies made multi-million dollar investments in Tiffin. For example, American Fine Sinter made $14 million in investments alone, Arnold Machine invested $1.7 million and created 10 new jobs, Ameriwood Industries had 73 new jobs and invested $2 million.
In all, 210 jobs were created and just over $26 million was invested in Tiffin last year. City and county officials are hoping to keep the ball rolling.
"The demand for our services to help companies find places to go, find a workforce they need, look at potential incentives to invest here – it's at an all-time high," said David Zak, president and CEO of Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corporation. "I am having a lot of discussions with companies that are looking at additional expansion or attraction projects in this area, so I'm pretty optimistic about 2014."
