Tiffin-Seneca Micropolitan Ranks 4th Nationally for Economic Development

Site Selection ranking is the community’s highest ever

Nick Dutro
Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership

Cover of the March 2021 edition of Site Selection magazine.

TIFFIN, OHIO – MARCH 1, 2021 – Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership and the Fostoria Economic Development Corp. jointly announced today that Seneca County has placed No. 4 nationally in Site Selection magazine’s rankings for large, private economic development projects out of the 581 micropolitans in the US. Site Selection has been annually ranking states and cities since 1978 and top non-metro counties with an urban center between 10,000 and 50,000 since 2004.

This is the 10th year in a row that the Tiffin-Seneca micropolitan area has ranked in the top 100 nationally, and the sixth time it has placed in the top 10. In 2020, Seneca County was ranked No. 6. Qualifying projects must involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, create at least 20 new jobs or add at least 20,000 sq. ft. of new floor area.

Seneca County had 11 qualifying projects including American Plastics and Church and Dwight in rural Seneca County; Dorel Home Furnishings, MBDS, TH Plastics and Webster Industries in Tiffin; and Ohio Logistics, Mennel Milling Company and Roppe Holding Company in Fostoria.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz was excited to hear the news. “This ranking is further proof of the great things happening here in Tiffin. We are proud to be recognized again by Site Selection Magazine.” Fostoria Mayor Eric Keckler agreed, “I’m proud that Fostoria was again recognized by Site Selection for the continued growth in our community.” Seneca County Commission President Mike Kerschner added: “I’m proud that Seneca County has achieved its highest-ever ranking, and I congratulate everyone who contributed toward this great success.”

“Despite the disruptions of 2020, Tiffin, Seneca County, and all of Northwest Ohio stayed focused in putting the needs of businesses first while continuing to build a conducive climate for their success. And the results of those efforts show in the outstanding rankings in Site Selection magazine,” said Dean Monske, president and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership.

This year, Ohio and Texas won the Governor’s Cups, Ohio for most projects per capita in 2020 and Texas for having the most qualified projects of any state for the ninth straight year. The entire Northwest Ohio region posted strong numbers, with Findlay and Hancock County taking the number one micropolitan slot. Sandusky County placed seventh, Crawford and Defiance Counties were tied for 55^th, Lima tied for 4^th place for metropolitans with less than 200,000 population and Toledo tied for first for mid-metropolitans.

To mark the occasion, Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation and TSEP hosted a joint press conference today at Terra State Community College. Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague; State Sen. Bill Reineke; State Rep. Gary Click; the mayors of Bellevue, Clyde, Fostoria, Fremont and Tiffin; Ron Schumacher, President of Terra State Community College; Dean Monske; Beth Hannam, Executive Director of SCEDC; and David Zak, President and CEO of TSEP, all spoke during the event.

More information can be found at siteselection.com.

About the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership
Started in 1983 as the Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. (SIEDC), the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to driving positive economic, downtown, and community development in Tiffin and Seneca County, Ohio, which consistently ranks among the top communities nationally for economic development. Learn more about the great things going on in Tiffin and Seneca County at www.tiffinseneca.com.

About the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation
Established in 1956 as the Fostoria Community Industrial Association, the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to driving positive economic, downtown, and community development in Fostoria and surrounding area in Hancock, Wood, and Seneca Counties, which consistently rank among the top counties nationally for economic development. Learn more about the great things going on in Fostoria at www.fostoriaedc.org.