ASHTABULA, Ohio – The Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County is developing new opportunities for business, creating high-quality jobs, enhancing workforce development and improving the quality of life within the region, says Greg Myers, executive director.
“The Growth Partnership has made significant strides in advancing its mission to foster economic development through business retention, expansion and attraction,” he says.
Among its 2025 goals are promoting Ashtabula’s regional strengths, emphasizing the county’s strategic location and infrastructure to create business growth, collaborating with educational institutions and the private sector to create industry training programs, and supporting efforts to improve amenities and living standards in the county.
Critical to achieving this is working with regional and state partners from the private and public sectors to attract new investment, Myers says.
In 2024, the Growth Partnership spearheaded the expansion of Plastpro 2000 Inc., Myers says. The company, a maker of fiberglass entry doors, plans to invest $52.75 million in its plant along Kister Court, just off state Route 45. The project will add an interior door line and boost production capacity. It is expected to create 145 jobs, doubling the company’s local workforce.
Working with the Ashtabula Port Authority, the Growth Partnership stepped up efforts to redevelop industrial land through enhancing infrastructure and site preparation.
Leveraging these resources, Meyers says, can set the stage for future investments in an economy driven by data centers and energy development. Last year, the initiatives garnered “significant interest” from companies considering new, transformative investments in Ashtabula, he says.
Pictured at top: Conneaut Harbor. Image: Growth Partnership of Ashtabula County.