Economic development hits record level in 2022

MEDINA — Record levels of economic development activity in Medina County were reached in the first three quarters of 2022. At the Medina County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Medina County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Bethany Dentler said 132 companies and organizations have made $453.5 million in new capital investments in Medina County this year so far. The development also showcases the creation of about 1,300 new jobs in the area. Capital investment is determined through looking at new construction, the purchase of land and investment in a building, machinery or equipment. She said the previous record was in 2018, when there was $330 million in capital investment in the county. The investments this year come from a variety of businesses with a focus on warehousing and logistics operations, Dentler said. The challenges local businesses are facing are inflation, supply chain and the workforce, she said. Companies have noticed more people seeking jobs over the past few months. "I think people are being impacted by inflation and the costs of not working," she said. Dentler said during a past meeting, the executive director of the Summit and Medina Workforce Area Council of Governments, Christine Marshall, provided insight into what benefits influence job seekers the most. Across generations, having a flexible schedule and being able to work remotely were high factors. Around 20 percent to 30 percent of people seeking a job have a strong consideration toward having unlimited paid time off. To bring missing workers back into the labor market, it's best to understand their reasons for not working, she said. "There's been concerns with toxic workplaces, discrimination, a lack of training or just difficulty finding interested employers because of their backgrounds," Dentler said. "I think there's some good lessons there for companies that need workers." Medina County Economic Development Corp.is working toward creating events that connect businesses to high school students, she said. Each high school will have its own event, which could be an expo for engineering and health care, a senior career exploration event, career fair or soft skill classes. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.