Marion County and

The Automotive/Transportation Products Industries

by Dave Claborn, President, Marion Can Do!

January, 2000

It is fair to say that the automotive/transportation products industry is a major factor in the Marion County economy.  At least 14 percent, and probably more of the industrial employment of the area is involved in this sector. There are at least 13 companies making components, packaging and materials for the OEM or aftermarket sectors of the automotive and/or truck industries.  If you extend transportation products to rail and construction equipment, the numbers grow even larger.  The companies directly associated with automotive and trucks account for over 1400 employees and over 2.6 million square feet of manufacturing and distribution space in Marion and Marion County. 

Marion County Companies Involved in the Auto/Transportation Products Industry

This information was compiled by Marion Can Do!, January, 2000.

It is no surprise why this would be the case.  Marion is centrally located to both the highest concentration of automotive manufacturing in the United States as well as the huge eastern US and Canadian markets.  Just-in-time delivery of product is easily accomplished from a location here.  US 23 provides high speed, four-lane access to the interstate system.  In addition, the intersection of three major rail lines in the city guarantees competitive rail access for companies using rail for inbound or outbound materials.  Both CSX and Norfolk Southern serve the city with two north-south lines and a major east-west line. 

Marion has prepared for future development through addition of infrastructure such as the 30 inch northwest interceptor sewer, which has opened up hundreds of acres of industrial development ground.  Further, the community, within the last two years, has established a unique industrial park, situated between the CSX and NS rail lines.  Marion’s Dual Rail Industrial Park has proven to be a highly attractive location for three new automotive enterprises.  LTV Copperweld has built a new state-of-the-art welded tube mill in the park.  They receive raw material via the NS railroad.  Using tax increment financing, a heavy-duty industrial road was built through the park.  Close on the heels of that construction, Japanese-owned US Yachiyo started construction of their new 120,000 square foot facility to manufacture new technology plastic fuel tanks for Honda.  Shortly after their announcement, Ernie Green Industries announced their intention to build a 144,000 square foot manufacturing plant to produce suspension assemblies for Honda.  The operation has been named “Marion Industries,” a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ernie Green Industries, based in Dayton.

In the Dual Rail Park, presently, there has been $113 million in private investment, that will create 380 good-paying jobs when all three plants are fully operational.  Over 200 acres remain to be developed in this park.  All infrastructure has been built into the park, including a new electric sub station, 16 inch water line, sewer extensions and road.  In the future, a connector rail is planned that will connect the CSX system to the NS system, giving companies in the park the ability to access either railroad from their site.  This will give companies the ability to negotiate competitive freight rates from the railroads as well as reach all markets served by these two carriers in a one-line move.  CSX and NS are the major Class I carriers serving the eastern half of the United States.

Marion also features another industrial park, the Airport Industrial Park, located adjacent to the Marion Municipal Airport.  Like the Dual Rail Park, this park features easy access to US 23, as well as the CSX rail system.  It is 180 acres of flat, ready-to-develop ground owned by the City of Marion.  All utilities and infrastructure are in place.  This park is more suitable for lighter industries, warehouse and distribution operations, and industries associated with aircraft or air transport. 

Both the Dual Rail Park and Airport Industrial Park are in enterprise zones, allowing local property tax abatement.  In addition, the State of Ohio makes a number of financing and incentive programs available, including the Ohio Jobs Creation Tax Credit, which is a refundable credit of new employees’ state income taxes back to the company. 

Marion also benefits from a long history of industrial activity, specifically in the metal trades and heavy equipment fabrication.  For 114 years, Marion was home to the Marion Power Shovel Company, which built drag-lines, steam shovels, and even the NASA shuttle crawler currently in use at Cape Canaveral.  A residual pool of talent resides in the community that can be tapped by current employers.  The City of Marion is designated a “Labor Surplus City” by the Ohio Department of Development.  This means, in addition to an ample supply of labor, employers locating in the city or adding equipment to an existing plant can take advantage of a 13.5% discount on the cost of the new equipment through Ohio’s Manufacturing Equipment Investment Tax Credit.

Marion also features a variety of educational institutions focused on the training needs of new and expanding companies.  Tri-Rivers Career Center, Marion Technical College, and the Ohio State University, Marion Branch offer a variety of technical and business courses designed to keep employees up to date with the latest technologies.  In addition, the schools can and do design specialized training programs to meet the specific employers’ individual needs.

Honda’s Marysville and East Liberty, Ohio assembly plants are just 30 minutes from Marion, which means Marion is a logical choice for plants producing just-in-time inventory for Honda.  In addition, a dozen other major automotive assembly and engine plants are within a two hour drive of Marion.

When you combine Marion’s location, labor force, available ready-to-go sites, training assets and can-do spirit, you have the right combination for automotive-related projects.