SIDNEY — Mayor Mike Barhorst observed National Manufacturing Day by hand-delivering proclamations to company officials at several local manufacturing firms, Friday.
National Manufacturing Day is observed annually across the country on the first Friday in October. It is the opportunity for the country to celebrate those who make the products manufactured in America. Americans continue to develop products and unlock new technologies that grow our economy.
Barhorst was accompanied by City Manager Mark Cundiff, Sidney-Shelby Economic Partnership Executive Director Mike Dodds and Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Raible to visit Baumfolder, Peerless, Stolle Machinery, American Trim, Electro Controls and Ply Gem.
“Sidney is the epicenter of manufacturing in Ohio. There are more manufacturing jobs per capita in Sidney than in any other city in Ohio,” Barhorst said. “Every day, Sidney has a net inflow of more than 5,000 people who come into the city to work — it’s almost as if the entire population of a city like Saint Clairsville, Ohio, or Lawrenceburg, Indiana, moved into Sidney each day.”
“Many residents don’t realize it, but Shelby County is the home of two of the top three manufacturing employers in the Dayton Region,” Dodds added. “Manufacturing has a larger multiplier effect than any other major economic activity. Every $1 spent in manufacturing generates $1.35 in additional economic activity in the community.”
“Each visit was a bit different,” Barhorst said. “We took plant tours at Baumfolder, Peerless, Stolle Machinery, Electro Controls and Ply Gem. At each location, we met with members of the management team to discuss issues they face, particularly with respect to the critical workforce shortage they each face. At both Peerless and Electro Controls, we had the opportunity to meet with all of their employees as the proclamation was read.”
“All of the employers we visited were very positive,” Raible said. “Despite the difficulty of finding qualified employees to fill current vacancies, the executives with whom we visited were bullish about their futures in Sidney.”
“Two of the companies we visited discussed their need for additional space,” Cundiff said. “Currently, Emerson, Everyday Technologies, Freshway Foods, Mama Rosa’s and Aunt Millie’s are expanding their facilities. Before the end of the month, we anticipate an additional expansion announcement that will have a major impact on the community.”
“Last year, we visited Baumfolder, IAC, Cargill, SAPA and Norcold,” Barhorst said. “We returned to Baumfolder this year because they are observing their 100th anniversary. Fewer than 1 percent of companies survive for a century, and we wanted to be a part of that celebration! We hope to eventually visit every one of our manufacturers as we pay tribute to our employers and their employees.”
“We are home to the world’s largest soybean processing plant, the largest manufacturer of air conditioning compressors and America’s number one refrigerated pizza. Half of the refrigerators that are in recreational vehicles are manufactured in Sidney. We make things in Sidney and are proud of that long tradition,” Barhorst said.
National Manufacturing Day is promoted by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International.
