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About Zanesville Ohio Transportation and hand crafts were Zanesville's original reason for being. And transportation and hand crafts are propelling Zanesville into the future. A major stopping point on the old National Road in pioneer days, Zanesville developed in the valley created by the convergence of the Muskingum and Licking rivers. Today, Zanesville, bisected by I-70 and with service by three railroads, still has major appeal for any firm that needs to distribute to a wide market. New Bakery of Ohio, for example, distributes hamburger buns to Wendy's restaurants in 29 states. And after aggressively pursuing AutoZone, Muskingum County recently landed that company's largest distribution center. Owens Brockway Glass Container recently invested in a 300,000-sq. ft. distribution center. Armco Steel, which makes stainless steel used in auto exhaust systems, also cites Zanesville's favorable transportation picture. Says Plant Manager Stu Cole: "We do a lot of shipping by truck and rail, and we've found this location to be ideal for both." And, adds 5B's director of corporate communications, Rob Kaminski, "We think of Zanesville as the gateway to the world. It's a natural for distribution." In days of old, Zanesville was the glass and pottery capital of Ohio. Now the community of 28,000 is a hotbed of creativity, much of it based on the handcrafts of yesteryear. And it is in entrepreneurship, particularly related to crafts, that the Zanesville area tells its most unusual stories. Many upstarts born in garages, basements and kitchens are now billion-dollar businesses. To wit: The Longaberger Co. turned crafts into a multi-billion dollar business. The company, which makes handwoven baskets, pottery and woodcrafts with 5,000 associates, is today the area's largest employer. It operates over a million sq. ft. of production and distribution space. 5B's started in a basement of a former steel industry executive who lost his job in the wave of downsizing. The company now employs 1,200 in production of embroidered sweat and tee shirts sold in its own retail stores, as well as to Disney World, the NFL, NBA and others. The company's new headquarters, plant and distribution facility were sited at the Airport Distribution Park, adjacent to Zanesville Municipal Airport. Bloomer Candy (Star Chocolates) began in the kitchen of the owner's grandmother. Ritchey Produce evolved from a tiny fruit stand to become a multi-state supplier of salad to such restaurants as Wendy's. "We promote the entrepreneurial spirit and support small companies to boost them along the way," says Mayor Marilyn Swope. Those examples suggest two things about Zanesville. First, the small community has the kind of environment that fosters big thinking, and, second, the area workforce supports quality craftsmanship, where innate skills are more important than mass production. A survey of 62 top managers of local businesses rated Zanesville's work ethic as the "best feature" of the area. "There is a highly skilled labor pool in this area," says Steven G. Brock, plant manager of Anchor Glass Container, a tool and die shop that makes forming molds for glass containers. "You don't have to establish a work ethic when you hire from the area. The people grew up on farms, and the attitudes they developed as youngsters carry over into the factory floor. The absentee rate is very low." Muskingum Tech has put up an off-campus center at Anchor to train workers in tool and die-making skills. The two-year program is the only one of its kind in Southeast Ohio. The company also counts on Ohio's tech prep program, the new way to drive technical skills down into the education system, starting in the ninth grade. United Technologies Automotive, which employs 1,600 in two plants in Zanesville to make automotive wiring harnesses, switches and relays, echoes Anchor's praise of the work force. "Our work force is an excellent group of people," says Human Resources Manager Lanny Walters. "These people care about their product." Adds Mark Litten, executive director of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority: "Costs of doing business are much lower here than in metro areas, from land costs to labor. For a given wage an employer can find a better qualified employee than in a larger city." Zanesville is a job center for six surrounding counties. Thousands of residents of neighboring countries travel to the area for employment opportunities. The Zanesville area is also a hub for education, with three colleges. Attracting students from throughout Southeast Ohio are Muskingum College, a four-year liberal arts college, plus a branch campus of Ohio University and a two-year technical college. The four-county joint vocational school has one of its two campuses in Muskingum County. "Education is important to people in this community -- not only to the parents but also to the businesses," says Mayor Swope. "Local businesses give several million dollars a year in scholarships for our children." A remarkably high 95 percent of the area's seniors graduate from high school. AutoZone is an example of another local quality: aggressive, hurdle jumping, team pursuit of new industry. Gene Poole, the company's director of distribution services, says it was the tenacity of community officials that won the project. "There were times when we thought it might fall apart," says Poole of the massive half million-sq. ft. distribution center, "but the port authority and commissioners put it back together." In its hunt for industry, Zanesville and Muskingum County make innovative use of incentives. In one example, the county floated a $4.5 million bond to allow Ballas Egg Products Corp. to merge with Wabash Valley Farm, which supplies the baking needs of Sara Lee and others. Zanesville is playing off the tremendous growth of Columbus, the Midwest's fastest-growing metro area. Less than an hour's drive east of Columbus, Zanesville is being eyed with interest by a number of firms who need well-developed sites and elbow room for expansion. The county is developing a 368-acre distribution park adjacent to the dual runways of Zanesville Municipal Airport. Companies like 5B's and Ritchey Produce have already found homes there. Zanesville Industrial Park's 437 acres, four miles from I-70, house such companies as Anchor Glass and Worthington Foods, a maker of vegetarian foods, such as meatless burgers under the Morningstar label. The company, which is currently adding a 37,000-sq. ft. frozen foods warehouse, came to Zanesville for a little elbow room after being crowded out in Columbus. Zanesville has some big city attributes, such as regional shopping centers and sophisticated health care. Its two hospitals serve a multi-county area. "There are a lot of people coming here to work, get educated, spend their money and benefit from quality health care," says Port Authority's Litten. The Muskingum River, the only navigable river within Ohio, is the centerpiece of recreation in the community. Local residents and visitors also enjoy four state parks, 15 city parks, eight golf courses and restored historic districts. (The town was named for the grandfather of popular American author Zane Grey.) A stable, religious community where family values are strong, Zanesville houses more than 40 churches. Citizen commitment to community affairs is a way of life in Zanesville. Says Brock of Anchor Glass: "The community is small enough so that you're well-connected to what's happening and your involvement is welcomed." For example, Zanesville's beautiful auditorium, which hosts live theater, was refurbished by the citizens. |
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