SIDNEY — “2022 was a historic year, especially for industrial growth in Sidney and Shelby Count. Many of the strategic initiatives we set out to accomplish reached the tipping point last year,” said Mick Given, president of Sidney-Shelby County Economic Development. “Our housing, branding, placemaking and brownfield clean-up initiatives are yielding results due to private and public leaders working together to better our community.

“The progress that we have seen does not happen because of a few people, we are blessed to have a verity of individuals that are extremely focused on working together and making things happen. It is a pleasure for me to see this energy level as well as the commitment from so many,” Given said.

Electric Vehicle Projects

“We saw a significant number of prospects in the EV battery and related market throughout 2021 and 2022,” said Jim Hill, SSEP executive director. “The first commitment was made by SEMCORP and Honda followed with a major announcement late last year.”

SEMCORP’s decision to invest $916 million to build their first electric vehicle separator film facility in the U.S. is the largest initial foreign direct investment ever in the state of Ohio. “After looking at numerous sites throughout North America, SEMCORP chose Sidney and we want to welcome them to Sidney and Shelby County,” said Hill.

Separator film is one of the four key components in lithium ion batteries that are used in electric vehicles and so many other electronic devices. SEMCORP is the global leader in EV separator film production, with production facilities around the globe. Demand for EV batteries is projected to grow 29% annually over the next 10 years.

Honda’s decision to invest $700 million in EV will include retooling several Ohio locations, including the Anna Engine Plant. “It is great to see that Sidney-Shelby County will be a key location for the next generation of automotive production,” added Hill.

2022 was also a historic year for industrial projects and community development:

• Anna, Sidney, Botkins, Fort Loramie, Jackson Center and Russia are experiencing expansion of new housing opportunities, which is key to fulfilling SSEP’s housing initiative that was established in late 2018.

• 2022 major investment projects reached a historic milestone with commitments of more than $1 billion in industrial expansion, primarily in electric vehicle manufacturing.

• Downing Community Advisors was hired to carry out an 18-month scope of work on housing and housing revitalization, with plans to launch a new housing portal in early 2023, SidneyHousing.com

• After securing funding for brownfield clean-up, SSEP is working with the Land Bank, city of Sidney, and Burgess & Niple to clean up and redevelop the former Wagner Manufacturing site.

• Downtown redevelopment initiatives continue throughout the county, including the implementation of the $1 million-plus Downtown Enhancement in Historic Downtown Sidney.

• SSEP continues to support expanded workforce programs, including the hiring of a Career Coach and Program Coordinator by the Workforce Partnership to increase student-employer career engagement.

Micropolitan Ranking

The Sidney-Shelby Metropolitan Area again ranked as a Top 100 Micropolitan by Site Selection Magazine last year. This is the 5th consecutive year being named to the prestigious list. The micropolitan area that includes Sidney and Shelby County moved up four spots from 15th to 11th.

The Sidney-Shelby Micropolitan Area also ranked 24th in the 2021 POLICOM Economic Strength Rating. That puts Sidney-Shelby as the second highest ranked Ohio community in 2021.

“While Site Selection looks at an annual snapshot of economic investment, the POLICOM ranking shows economic strength over the long haul,” said Hill. “It is great to see our area recognized for long-term economic achievement.”

We look forward to continued business and industrial expansion in 2023.