Darke County Business News

Greenville Industrial Park Expands

February 2003, Greenville, OH - The Greenville Industrial Park recently broke ground on a $1.1 million industrial park expansion.  The project is a joint venture between the Greenville Community Improvement Corp. and the City of Greenville.  Major funding was secured through the Rural Industrial Park Loan Program of the Ohio Department of Development.

The project will encompass water, sanitary, storm and road improvements.  The expansion will enable the industrial park to better accommodate both large-scale and smaller-scale industrial development.  The new road, Progress Street, will offer five new industrial sites varying from 2.5 to 17 acres.  

 Sites are attractively priced and ready for sale.  For more information contact Jim Hill at 937.548.3250 or view site information here.

All About Plastics Opens in Greenville

October 2003, Greenville, OH - All About Plastics LLC, a custom injection molding facility, held its Grand Opening on October 15, 2003.   The firm is the combined effort of two women, Kelly Baker and Cheryl Buicher.

 The company’s partners have over 100 years’ experience in the plastics industry. The business began operating in August making parts for the consumer, medical and industrial markets. The 24,000 sq. ft. facility is located at 5339 St. Rt. 571 East in Greenville and has five employees.

All About Plastic offers competitive pricing and excellent quality while utilizing American-Made tooling and materials. The company can complete outsource runs for larger manufacturers as well as help a customer make his new product idea become a reality.  Phone All About Plastics at 937.547.0098.

Nittsu Shoji USA Expands in Greenville

November 2003, Greenville, OH - Nittsu Shoji USA, Inc. recently selected Greenville to expand its warehouse/distribution operations.  Nittsu Shoji is leasing a 44,600 sq.ft. facility on Pine St. in Greenville and has hired 5 employees.

The company, with U.S. operations in Troy and Greenville, focuses on shipping and receiving, warehousing, hard pack recycling, and packing for companies in the automotive, plastics and other industries.

“We will be expanding and hiring additional personnel early next year to accommodate growth in our business,” according to Jason Lake, Coordinator for Nittsu Shoji.  “Our major clients include Greenville Technology, F & P America and Matsushia (Panasonic) and Fuji Xerox." 

For more information contact Nittsu Shoji USA at 937.547-0751.

County Unveils Economic Development Strategy

July 2003, Greenville, OH - Darke County Commissioners took action today approving an Economic Development Strategic Plan that will guide the county’s economic development efforts for the next twelve months. Approval marks the culmination of a process that began in late 2002 with a series of community input meetings and ended with a final work plan session in May of 2003.

" I’m really pleased to see all the months of work come together in a plan that I feel will help Darke County create and retain good jobs," said Mike Rhoades, President, Darke County Board of Commissioners." This plan is attainable, measurable and should yield results in the area of economic development," Rhoades said.

From September to November 2002, Darke County solicited input from the public during eight community meetings held throughout the county. The discussions at those meetings reinforced the need to enhance countywide business retention and expansion efforts and targeted industrial attraction.

Darke County then engaged the services of two firms to assist in the development of the strategy. Brian Connair of Organizational Systems Development in Greenville and Mark James, CEcD, of ED Solutions, Inc. in Columbus were both engaged to guide the process.

A 23-person task force was then selected, representing a broad base of business, community and government. The task force participated in several interactive sessions in strategic planning and visioning. The overall purpose was to establish consensus on various strategic development issues and create a plan to facilitate future economic development.

The exciting thing about this plan is that it focuses on work items that are achievable for our community," said Jim Hill, county development specialist. " In addition, the initial vision came from our individual communities, so it is based on priorities set at the grassroots level," added Hill. "The next challenge will carry out the work plan items and produce results."

The resulting work plan focuses on six areas of targeted economic development strategy:

The County Commissioners will receive periodic updates and the task force will be updated on progress ever 6 months. Since strategic planning is a process, the elements of the plan will need to be revisited annually.

" Economic and business development does not come easy these days," said Hill. " A good strategy is a critical part of our community’s economic future. We have the roadmap, we now need to get moving on implementation," said Hill.

For more information, contact: Jim Hill, 937.548.3250 or Email

Download a Summary of the Strategic Plan (101 KB pdf file)

GTI Expands Operations, Research & Development

May, 2003, Greenville, OH – Greenville Technology Inc. (GTI) announced an $3.2 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in the Greenville Industrial Park. These expansions are the latest growth for the company that started operations in Darke County 16 years ago.

Construction of a 14,000 square foot warehouse addition is currently under way on the south side of the facility. The warehouse expansion is necessary to keep up with sales and product growth.

GTI also will be expanding the engineering, development and quality testing labs. In order to accommodate growth in the engineering staff, the north side of the facility will be expanded by 3,600 square feet.

" GTI is responsible for product testing for our North American operations, which now includes facilities in Ontario and Alabama," said Bill LaFramboise, executive vice president. " This requires an enlargement of our quality testing lab along with the purchase of additional test equipment," said LaFramboise.

Employee growth has also created the need for a larger locker room. " The locker rooms must grow to handle the increasing number of people, which is the direct result of an increase of our sales," said LaFramboise. GTI currently employs 660, and will increase by an additional 30 this year.

" It is great to see GTI growing and adding jobs in our community," said Jim Hill, county development specialist. " GTI’s growth in sales, equipment and employment is a fabulous success story for the company, Greenville and Darke County", added Hill. " I’m always excited to see a local company investing in technology, engineering and development. We really appreciate the continual investment Greenville Technology has made in our community"

When the construction is complete, GTI will have more than 382,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space. The company, which started business in 1987 with 76 associates, is a subsidiary of Moriroku Co., Ltd., in Tokyo, Japan. GTI manufactures plastic automotive parts for several customers, including Honda and Subaru.

NAPCO Relocates to Greenville

November 2002, Greenville, OH – The City of Greenville and the Darke County Board of Commissioners approved an Enterprise Zone Agreement with NAPCO, Inc. that will lead to 50 new jobs to the county.

The Connecticut based manufacturer of industrial equipment anticipates relocation to Greenville pending final approval of state incentives. he business will be moving into the former Textron Facility on Jaysville St. Johns Rd. in the Greenville Industrial Park.

"The City of Greenville is very pleased to welcome NAPCO to our City." said Greenville Mayor Richard Rehmert. "We definitely welcome the new jobs to our community, especially in a time of slow economic growth," said Rehmert. "I think that NAPCO will be a fine addition to the numerous world-class manufacturers in the City of Greenville."

" We looked at several locations and picked Greenville because of its location and available workforce," said NAPCO President Scott Brooks. " Greenville also had an available building that met our needs," added Brooks. " The Greenville location will help us to be more competitive since 70 percent of our products are sold in the Midwest."

"This project is a great example of our community’s ability to respond quickly to meet the needs of a business client," said Jim Hill of Darke County Economic Development. "When business conditions suddenly narrowed NAPCO’s project timeline, our team of City, School, County and State officials approved the project in record time," said Hill. " Not many communities can say they have negotiated and approved an incentive package in less than a week," said Hill.

Brooks expects all of NAPCO's manufacturing to move to Greenville if the deal is approved. "The City and County have really been helpful throughout the relocation process," Brooks said. "We anticipate that all the NAPCO manufacturing and operations will be there in Greenville, added Brooks.

A school compensation agreement with the company will assure that the Greenville City Schools are " held harmless" on the tax abatement, said Hill. hat makes this project a win-win for the schools, community and company.

For more information visit NAPCOINC.com

Dickman Supply Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Greenville Store

November 2002, Greenville, OH – Dickman Supply, a local electrical and industrial wholesaler, celebrated the opening of their brand new facility at 1425 Sater Street this past week with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by numerous Greenville and Darke County officials. This new facility, built by NuWay Builders of Greenville, effectively doubles the size of their previous location, which had opened in 1996.

" We simply outgrew our building," said Mark Winner, Greenville Branch Manager. " The Greenville area has been very good to us, and we’ve experienced such an increase in business over the past 5 years that we needed a bigger facility to best serve our customers."

When asked to what he attributed this growth, Winner explained, " It all comes down to people doing business with people. We feel we have one of the most experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly staffs in the industry, and they help drive our growth every day. Our average associate’s experience is well over 20 years! hey live here, have roots here, and are involved in their community’s activities."

Dickman Supply is a locally-owned wholesaler of electrical materials used by construction and manufacturing businesses. They distribute such products as lighting fixtures, electrical power control devices, wire, and conduit. They also sell many industrial metal-cutting devices such as saw blades, drills and taps, abrasives, files, and tools.

Company President and owner Tim Geise stated, " We can’t say enough about the cooperation we received from the City of Greenville and the Darke County Economic Development Association. They made it very clear from the beginning that they wanted us to remain in Greenville when we chose to build a new store, and worked with us very closely to make it happen."

In addition to doubling the size of their warehouse, the new location also affords Dickman Supply the opportunity for expanded offices for additional new personnel recently hired, plus a new 1000 sq ft residential lighting showroom that services the area’s retail lighting needs. On display are the latest product offerings from the top names in the lighting business, enabling homeowners to choose first-hand the fixtures they desire for their home.

Dickman Supply recently made the Dayton Business Journal’s " Dayton Inc." list of the largest privately-held companies in the Dayton area, and also their " Fast 50" list of the fastest growing companies. Dickman Supply is also ranked as one of the top 250 Electrical Wholesalers in the United States by Electrical Wholesaling Magazine. Other locations for Dickman Supply are in Sidney and Celina. Hours of operation are 7:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 to noon on Saturday.

Wayne Builders Supply Expands in Greenville

August 2002, Greenville, OH - Wayne Builders Supply, Inc is constructing a new 17,000 square foot retail showroom and warehouse at their present location, 5410 State Route 49 in Greenville. he new facility will include a customer drive thru, an expanded product display area, offices and product warehousing.

" The new facility will allow Wayne Builders Supply to display many more masonry and masonry-related products like sealers, paints, hardware and fireplaces," said Mike Homan of Wayne Builders Supply. This expansion will enable us to better serve all our customers in the Darke County area."

Wayne Builders Supply manufactures and sells masonry and related products to contractors, industrial customers and the general public. he company was established in 1960 in St. Henry, Ohio. he Greenville operation was opened in 1991.

The new facility is scheduled for completion in October of this year. For more information, phone Wayne Builders Supply at 937-548-1101.

Midmark Announces Construction Of New French Facility

July 2002, Versailles, OH - Midmark Corporation today announced that it has reached an agreement with the council of Pounce, France to begin construction of a new facility for its Promotol subsidiary.

The new 32,000 square foot facility located fifty miles outside of Ernée, is about a third bigger than the current location and will house Promotol¹s manufacturing and assembly functions for the Beaumond line of products. The new building is located on three acres of land in an industrial park in Pouncé, giving Promotol the ability to expand its operations in the future.

"This new facility provides numerous benefits over our existing location and will allow us the opportunity to enhance our service to our valued customers. Additionally, this furthers our commitment to the European medical community to provide quality products that supports efficient patient care," Richard Bunce, Vice President, Finance and CFO for Midmark. "We will be consolidating from two existing plants into the new facility and updating the majority of our equipment which will include installation of a state-of-the art paint shop."

Midmark secured the new location thanks to an agreement with the local Pouncé council. The council agreed to build the new facility in order to maintain the current number of employees at the company. Construction is expected to be complete by this August.

Midmark bought Promotol in 1998. The Promotol subsidiary is a leader in the French healthcare market and produces power tables, stretchers, casework and seating. In addition, Promotol imports Midmark medical products and distributes them throughout Europe and the Middle East. The company's Beaumond division, acquired by Promotol in 1993, manufactures beds for the home care market, as well as chairs and exam tables.

Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is a leading worldwide manufacturer of a full line of medical and dental equipment including power and manual examination tables, sterilizers, dental operatories, casework, lighting and seating. Midmark continually focuses on bringing connectivity and improved productivity into the exam room carrying a full line of digital ECG, Holter and Spirometry testing devices. Headquartered in Versailles, Ohio, Midmark also has subsidiaries in Torrance and Clovis, California. For more information about Midmark or any of its products, visit the company's Web site at www.midmark.com.

Union City Breaks Ground on New Commerce Park

June 2002, Union City - The Union City Community Improvement Corporation recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the development of a Commerce Park north of the Village along State Route 47. The property, which was recently annexed into the Village, will be marketed for light industrial use.

" This Commerce Park is part of Union City’s effort to move forward and grow our community," said Mayor Scott Stahl. " The Commerce Park will aid us in retaining and growing the tax and job base for the Village of Union City, Ohio, said Stahl. " I commend all those who have helped us make this project a reality."

Phase II of the project will include the extension of water lines, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer into the park. It will also include the installation of entrance improvements along State Route 47 into the Commerce Park. Phase II improvements are scheduled to be completed in the fall of this year.

It is the Community Improvement Corporation’s intent to market the Commerce Park to new or expanding business facilities. he interior layout can be customized to meet the needs of a specific projects and businesses. The park will offer all utilities including natural gas, three-phase electric and telecommunications.

The park is available and ready to meet the needs of business and industry in the community. For more information contact Darke County Economic Development at (937) 548-3250 or click here for more site information

Governor Taft joins Versailles in Celebrating Downtown Renovation

May 2002, Versailles - Governor Bob Taft joined Versailles and Darke County residents in celebrating the completion of a $1.7 million downtown renovation project."

I have not seen a more beautiful downtown anywhere in Ohio," said Taft to a crowd of residents and officials at the fountain square. Taft praised village officials, residents and businesses for cooperating with the Ohio Department of Transportation on the $920,000 grant for the project.

The village celebrated the completion of the seven-month project that has brought back a historic look to the downtown district. The project included a renovated fountain, new streets, trees, street lamps, ornate signs and planters. Local officials say the project has and will continue to spur significant private investment by the merchants and building owners in the downtown.

Ovations Conference & Banquet Facility Opens

May 2002, Greenville – Ovations Banquet and Conference Center recently opened on North Main Street in Historic Downtown Greenville. This beautifully decorated facility can accommodate groups of up to 500 people for all types of events and conferences.

Ovations invested $1.5 million to renovate the former location of Edison College into a premier banquet and conference facility. In addition, Ovations offers an event coordinator to assist in the planning of your special event. The company employs 4 full-time and 30 part time employees.

Contact Ovations at 937-316-5331 or email ovationscatering@earthlink.net

Edison College Expands at New Darke County Campus

May 2002, Greenville - The Edison Community College Darke County Campus will have a positive economic impact on the area, U.S. Rep. John Boehner told those gathered Monday morning for the dedication ceremonies at the new Wagner Avenue location.

The college's Darke County campus recently moved to 601 Wagner Avenue. The move more than doubled the floor space, allowed for two additional computer labs, a videoconference room, a dedicated learning lab and a manufacturing lab.

The move also means more courses and programs, including additional technical courses in engineering technology and computer information technology.

" It's absolutely essential that students receive some kind of post-secondary training," Boehner said. "We're trying to prepare students for life."

Boehner, who represents the 8th Congressional District including Darke County, is chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

"I think the investment here in Greenville is an important one," he said. He said the Darke County Campus shows businesses looking to expand or to relocate here that Darke County has a commitment to post-secondary education.

During his welcoming remarks, Edison President Kenneth Yowell said the campus will stand as a sentinel for community and economic growth.

Lab facilities at the Wagner Avenue location enable Edison to offer, for the first time, Darke County courses in plastics manufacturing, engineering graphics and hydraulics and pneumatics. In addition, 200-level prerequisites for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering (MCSE) Program are also available. Full associate degree programs in business management and human services also can be completed at the Darke County Campus.Visit Edison College at www.edisonohio.edu

Greenville - One of America’s Top 100 Small Towns

March 2002 - Greenville Ohio was again rated among America’s Top 100 Small Towns for Corporate Facilities by Site Selection magazine, the official publication of the International Development Research Council (IDRC). Greenville has garnered this honor for three consecutive years, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Each year, Selection ranks small towns on the basis of new plant and expansion announcements from 1989 to present. According to Site Selection, small towns have not only become "hot spots" for fast growth businesses, but they are also homes to various types of industries.

"I am very excited to see that we are benchmarking among the top small towns in the country," said Jim Hill, Darke County Development Director. "Greenville has benefited from new company investment and continued expansion of our existing industrial base," said Hill. "Our local and state officials work hard to create an environment that is conducive to business development."

Also in Site Selection, Ohio was ranked 10th in the United States for total new corporate facilities and expansions. Ohio has continually ranked at the top of the national rankings over the past decade.

For more information on Greenville/Darke County, contact Jim Hill, Development Director.

Greenville Technology Expands

September 2001 – Greenville Technology Inc. (GTI) announced an $8.9 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in the Greenville Industrial Park. GTI, a producer of plastic injection molded parts, plans to purchase new injection mold machines and make modifications to its present 357,000 square foot facility.

The company will be adding 30 new associates, bringing their total employment to more than 600. The expansion will enable GTI to supply parts for three new Honda automotive models next year.

GTI received tax incentives on new personal property investment for a period of 10 years. The company will make annual contributions to the Greenville City School District to assure full tax revenues to the school district.

Greenville Technology Inc. located in Greenville in 1986 and has expanded significantly over the past 15 years. GTI has facilities in Greenville, Alabama, and Listowel Canada. The company is owned by Moriroku Company, Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan.

Monsanto Expands in Greenville

October 2001 – Monsanto Corporation recently broke ground on a 12,000 sq. ft. research and development facility in the Greenville Industrial Park. The new R&D facility is part of Monsanto’s cutting-edge seed research programs. The focus is producing better corn hybrids for the agricultural industry. The company will employ eight full-time employees and an additional 50 seasonal jobs.

Monsanto is a $5 billion global leader in biotechnology and agricultural research.

KitchenAid Experience Opens in Downtown Greenville

Greenville, OH - The KitchenAid Experience is an interactive shopping adventure where you can see, touch and feel the entire line of KitchenAid appliances.. This upscale retail outlet offers home enthusiasts a place to experience the history of the legendary Stand Mixer and other KitchenAid Small Appliances manufactured in Greenville, Ohio. Patrons can learn how to use the full-line of KitchenAid products and purchase refurbished products at discount prices. You can also assemble your very own KitchenAid stand mixer.

Store hours are 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sundays. To contact the store, call 937-316-4777. To contact Nikki Nealeigh, Store Manager, call 1-800-850-4703 ext. 710 or visit www.kitchenaid.com/experience

Midmark Corporation Acquires Apollo Dental

Leading Manufacturer Broadens Product Portfolio with Addition of Dental Compressor and Evacuation Systems

Versailles, OH – Midmark Corporation today announced that it has acquired the California-based Apollo Dental Products. For more than 18 years, Apollo has been a leading manufacturer of air compressors and evacuation systems for dental environments.

Founded in Vacaville California, later purchased by Dr. Eugene Warner and moved to Fresno California, Apollo has distinguished itself from the competition primarily through its determination to continue developing and building better products that make a difference in performance, product life, and price.

Apollo manufactures compressors and evacuation systems. Midmark will incorporate these products into its existing dental product line, which includes operatories, lighting, sterilizers, and casework.

" Midmark is excited about the synergy we will create with this extension of our product line and the opportunity to provide increased service and product selection to our dealer partners" said Midmark President Anne Eiting Klamar, M.D. " The acquisition of Apollo Dental reaffirms our commitment to providing quality products to dental professionals and enables those professionals to offer better services to their patients."

Midmark hopes to leverage its manufacturing and distribution capabilities to make what is already a good quality product even better. The company has no current plans to relocate the Apollo facility and expects the transition to be completed over the next six months to a year.

Midmark Corporation is a leading worldwide manufacturer of a full line of medical and dental equipment including power and manual examination tables, sterilizers, dental operatories, casework, lighting and seating. While committed to serving the traditional equipment needs of the medical and dental industries, Midmark continually focuses on bringing connectivity and improved productivity into the exam room. Headquartered in Versailles, Ohio, Midmark also has subsidiaries in Ernée, France and Torrance, California.

For more information about Midmark or any of its products, please contact a Midmark Representative at 1-800-MIDMARK. Or visit the company’s Web site at www.midmark.com.

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