State government officials visit local meat processing company

LITCHFIELD TWP. — Director of the Ohio Department of Development Lydia Mihalik and state Rep. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, went on a tour of a local meat processing company, TL Keller Meats, on Wednesday because after the business received a state grant. Gov. Mike DeWine gave out about $10 million in grants as part of the first round of the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program. TL Keller Meats received slightly less than $250,000 in February. "These programs were a priority for the Farm Bureau," Ray said. TL Keller Meats is a butcher shop and meat processing company. A variety of beef, pork, poultry and lamb products are cut and sold in-house. The company's owner, Tom Keller, said he started in the industry when he worked in a slaughterhouse in Cleveland at 19 years old. After working for others for many years, he decided to start his own business in the 1990s. "Then I went on my own, and I wish I'd done it sooner," he said. "Sure, it's a lot of work. It's not 40 hours a week. (It's) 70, 80 hours or better." The state funding will help out with his company because of how expensive new machinery is as well as other business expenses, Keller said. Work could get done faster with different equipment. Mihalik said it is important for the state to provide funding for meat processing because it is a meaningful part of Ohio's economy and there is plenty of opportunity to grow in this industry. "We want to make sure that these strong, family-owned, small businesses continue to have the opportunity to grow and prosper," she said. "You don't have to look far to see what opportunity is here." Shopping local is important for his company and others, Keller said. "It keeps these mom-and-pop stores like ours busy." he said. "My daughter has a very good passion for it. That's why she's got her meat market going in Medina. We're here to support the local families." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.