Message from the President
Moving On Up
The Regional Growth Partnership’s annual meeting offered us the opportunity to recognize the previous year’s successes across Northwest Ohio as well as to look ahead at new initiatives in 2026 presenting possibilities to further elevate the region.
We celebrate the new jobs and investment created by businesses across the 17-county region. And we celebrate in collaboration with our economic development partners in Northwest Ohio and across the state – all of them critical to our regional accomplishments.
Our preparation for tomorrow allows us to realize, welcome and embrace new opportunities, with a prioritized effort to attract technology and white-collar jobs. We continue to develop and nurture a growing, innovative community of tech-minded entrepreneurs and professionals, committed to fostering innovation and collaboration.
Certainly, an incredible opportunity before us is the attraction of data centers which present extraordinary benefits for our communities and the people living here. Because of our inherent assets, Northwest Ohio is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this generational moment to welcome prosperity and growth that we haven’t experienced in decades.
The RGP will also continue focusing on our historic strengths – our core industries where we have a competitive advantage. And we know that new technologies and innovations will only improve our position – and we confidently anticipate ongoing success.
Our plan is to position this region where we enthusiastically embrace new initiatives, build on our current professional ecosystem, and draw targeted businesses to Northwest Ohio.
Dean MonskePresident & CEO
Metric Overview
The Numbers Are In
The Regional Growth Partnership is the lead economic development organization representing 17 counties in Northwest Ohio. As a 100% privately funded corporation, the RGP is committed to attracting new investment, new business and new high-quality jobs to the region.
Those efforts are accomplished through:
- Proactive outreach and engagement with companies and site consultants
- An aggressive, robust and targeted marketing strategy
- Effective Business Retention & Expansion Program
- Tangible programs incentivizing site development
- Targeted efforts to drive workforce development
The RGP also serves as Northwest Ohio’s Regional Network Partner for JobsOhio to facilitate economic development efforts as well as manage the incentive process.
In collaboration with our local, regional and state economic development partners, the RGP reports the following results across Northwest Ohio for 2025:
4,895
New Jobs
16,177
Retained Jobs
$3.3B
Capital Investment
115
Projects
Metric Overview
A Deep Dive Within RGP’s Core Industries
Inside the NumbersAdvanced Manufacturing
Making it Right
Northwest Ohio is a region born out of innovation and built on ingenuity with a purpose to make things better. It’s been at the heart of industrial activity since its founding, and now with a cutting-edge mindset, determination and commitment, this region has taken its place at the forefront of advanced technologies. Over the last five years, companies in this industry have created more than 10,000 new jobs while investing more than $5.6 billion.
2025 Results:
2,528
New Jobs
$1.8B
Capital Investment
Building Blocks
- GRP for Adv Mfr in NW Ohio $11.6 billion, representing 24% of state total
- More than 1,700 manufacturing companies operating in Northwest Ohio
- $138 million in new industry payroll added through new job creation last year
- RGP and partners executed 60 Advanced Manufacturing projects in 2025
“Being located in NW Ohio means a lot more than geography, a lot more than the location. It’s also about the people that live here, that reside here, that make this happen.”
— Jonathan Jakubowski, President & CEO, SmartSolve Industries
Advanced Manufacturing Spotlight
SmartSolve Industries
A leading zero-waste packaging technology company, SmartSolve Industries announced in 2025 plans for a new R&D Center designed to facilitate the development and commercialization of new alternative packaging solutions. The project has been fueled by SmartSolve’s strong pipeline of product developments and the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions. The Bowling Green company serves a wide range of industries including dish, laundry, personal care, industrial and dry foods.
Project Highlights:
30 New Jobs $3.7 million Investment $1 million JobsOhio Research & Development Grant 10,000 SF R&D buildout
Inside the NumbersAutomotive
Auto Know-how
Throughout Northwest Ohio and across the state, Ohio offers an innovative ecosystem delivering next-generation resources and collaborative partners investing in ongoing electric and autonomous vehicle research, testing and development. With rapid advancements across the industry, the Northwest Ohio automotive network has recognized, adapted and evolved to meet the new workforce and production needs. Over the last five years, this robust industry has generated more than 3,600 new jobs across Northwest Ohio with investment exceeding $2.2 billion.
2025 Results:
1,370
New Jobs
$805M
Capital Investment
Nuts & Bolts
- Nearly 1,000 automotive businesses operating in NW Ohio
- NW Ohio industry GRP of $5.4 billion represents 31% of state total
- Regional industry saw a 400% increase in job growth and 560% increase in total investment from previous year
- Ohio has the second largest workforce for motor vehicles and parts manufacturing
“We have been in business in Northwest Ohio for approximately 30 years, and we’ve built a great partnership with this community which continues to support our consistent job growth.”
— Jeff Roe, Assistant Vice President of Administration, IB-Tech
Automotive Spotlight
Imasen Bucyrus Technology
A world-class automotive manufacturer of power and manual seat adjusters and recliners has announced plans to expand its Northwest Ohio facility to better serve a growing customer base with future volume increases and EV line expansions. Imasen Bucyrus Technology (IB-Tech) will invest more than $15 million into its Bucyrus (Crawford County) location. The company produces power and manual seat adjusters and recliners for automotive seat assemblies. The automotive supplier serves global OEMs including Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Acura, Mazda and Jeep. Company representatives cited numerous factors in choosing to expand operations, including geographic location, proximity to customer base, strong infrastructure and talent attraction.
Project Highlights:
170 New Jobs $15 million+ Investment Project mitigates tariff and shipping risks by bringing production in-house 53,000 square-foot plant expansion
Business Development
This is Us
Charged with attracting new business, investment and jobs to Northwest Ohio, the Regional Growth Partnership’s business development team continuously develops and implements aggressive, targeted strategies aimed toward promoting the assets, sites and opportunities this region offers.
The proactive efforts include direct engagement with businesses, site consultants and corporate real estate professionals, both nationally and internationally. Business development works in collaboration with the RGP’s marketing team in creating and executing the most effective programs for each audience.
Business DevelopmentData Centers
Factual Data
Because of its inherent assets, Northwest Ohio has been identified as a leading location for high-tech energy users, including hyperscale data centers. These assets include an abundance of reliable, cost-effective energy, robust pipeline and transmission infrastructure, and an excessive supply of fresh water.
Understanding the incredible potential this presents, RGP Business Development has worked to communicate and promote these advantages to developers and companies across the country, as well as to communicate the next-generation opportunities for Northwest Ohio communities.
The benefits for our region are like nothing we’ve ever experienced in this generation. The benefits include:
Massive revenue generation for communities and schools High-paying, direct tech jobs Long-term construction employment Attraction of a new high-growth industry Infrastructure extension allowing for future development Evolution of a tech ecosystem
Business DevelopmentAutomotive
Driving Ahead
The proud and long tradition of the automotive industry in Toledo and Northwest Ohio brings with it an incredible array of innovative manufacturers and suppliers, making this region one of the primary locations in the country for this sector. With that, the automotive industry continues to be a primary area of focus for business development at the RGP.
In 2025, the RGP continued its partnership with the Center for Automotive Research, attending and sponsoring the Management Briefing Seminars, recognized as the industry’s most essential, policy-driven event. In addition, the RGP attended NATT BATT, which focuses on advanced battery manufacturing in North America.
Business DevelopmentAutomotive
Identifying the EV Talent Pool
The RGP has adapted in understanding changes in the automotive industry, including corporate strategies tied to the EV industry. While federal policy has led to a gradual settling of EV vehicle sales, there is still increased demand for more workers and EV professionals. And similar to the challenge with many industries, the EV cluster faces a talent shortage in identifying and recruiting people.
To that, the RGP commissioned a study with HWA Analytics to identify a potential labor pool of EV workers in Northwest Ohio. The study found 138,000 people in the Northwest Ohio region that can crosswalk into the EV industry. Examples found occupations such as computer programmers, electrical contractors, designers, engineers and battery technicians. Businesses and communities recognizing those cross-cutting skillsets will realize reduced costs for training.
The HWA Analytics study produced a two-folded benefit: identifying a potential labor pool for the EV industry and also identifying companies with capabilities to transition operations to support that industry.
“Communities and economic development organizations can initiate these types of studies to determine their place in the EV market. That information can then be leveraged as a tool when recruiting EV-related companies to your region.”
— Kim Hill, President, HWA Analytics
Business DevelopmentTarget Audience Engagement
Meeting the Target
Our region’s ability to achieve significant job growth and investment requires an aggressive approach in developing an effective sales and marketing strategy.
The RGP’s business development team traveled extensively in 2025, meeting with prospective businesses, site consultants and corporate real estate professionals. These direct outreach efforts helped in generating last year’s totals but are also laying the groundwork for future potential opportunities.
These outreach trips included:
- IAMC Spring/Fall Forum – Gathering of industry leaders, visionaries and changemakers to explore how organizations can activate real estate as a catalyst for competitive advantage.
- Site Selectors Guild Forum – Knowledge sharing, discussion panels, breakout sessions with Economic Development professionals and investment promotion agencies.
- Live Xchange – Conference bringing together site selectors and economic developers for focused, private conversations about active and upcoming projects.
The RGP’s engagement and relationships with conference leaders at different venues has helped Toledo land upcoming events right here in 2026, including Live Xchange Fall Forum and EVIS America, an International Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit.
“It’s imperative we build relationships with companies and consultants across the country on a personal level. We don’t wait for the phone to ring. It’s our responsibility to get out there, understand the needs of our audiences, and communicate our regional assets. And we expect even more in 2026.”
— Gary Thompson, Executive Vice President, RGP
Business DevelopmentInternational
A Global Feel
With excellent research and educational facilities, multiple funding sources, every form of transportation, lower operating costs and a strong, experienced workforce, the Toledo/Northwest Ohio region has become a premier location for international investment. In addition, billions of dollars of goods are exported annually from Northwest Ohio.
The Regional Growth Partnership takes a lead role for Northwest Ohio in developing new international investment and trade opportunities. In 2025, the RGP’s international efforts focused on Germany, Canada, Japan, Italy and Brazil.
A significant win for the region was the attraction of La Linea Verde, an Italian food processing company that’s investing $15 million and creating 77 new jobs in Wood County. The company will operate in a newly constructed spec building funded in part through JobsOhio’s Ohio Site Inventory Program.
An International Call Out
1,647
2025 FDI New Jobs
$621M
2025 FDI Investment
Business DevelopmentInternational
An International Honor
Through its proactive, steadfast commitment and collaborative outreach and partnerships, the RGP has helped establish Northwest Ohio as a leading location for international development efforts.
Recognizing that, in 2025, Financial Times ranked Toledo #27 in the U.S. for international business. The ranking measures cities across more than four dozen metrics important to foreign investors. In the business environment category, Toledo ranked #1 overall, earning a 100/100. Toledo also ranked #7 overall for Quality of Life.
"This illustrates the strength of RGP’s direct engagement with hundreds of companies around the world to attract and retain foreign direct investment into our region. The whole team at RGP, our partners at JobsOhio and throughout our region have been valuable assets to promote FDI and have left a very positive and productive impression on the global business communities."
– Paul Zito, VP of International Development, Regional Growth Partnership
It was only recently in 2024, the Regional Growth Partnership received the coveted President’s “E” Award for excellence in export service, recognizing the organization’s achievements in making significant contributions to an increase in U.S. exports.
And in 2023, the RGP was a proud recipient of the Certificate of Appreciation for Export Promotion by the U.S. Commercial Service, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce/International Trade Administration. The award was presented during the reopening ceremony of the U.S. Commercial Service Office in Toledo.
Marketing
Shining the Spotlight on Northwest Ohio
The primary objective for Marketing at the Regional Growth Partnership is promoting and communicating the business assets of Northwest Ohio to targeted audiences across the country. Marketing prioritizes the continuous development of valuable and timely content which is then incorporated into dynamic programs, distributed through a variety of channels, to best deliver the messaging in an effective and efficient manner.
MarketingAI and Data Centers
Data Driven
The case has clearly been made Northwest Ohio is an ideal location for data centers. And with that, the once-in-a-generation benefits for communities are indisputable. For RGP’s Marketing department, its charge in 2025 was taking that message and effectively packaging and communicating to key audiences. This included the development of marketing/collateral materials, digital assets, new webpage content and case study videos.
Through this, marketing discovered positive stories of regional companies, not just the communities, who are benefitting from this technological AI explosion and resulting construction of data centers.
Manufacturing Extension
Yarder Manufacturing
Toledo, Ohio
- Sheet metal fabricator
- Diversification in Data Centers: production of metal frames for power system units
- Being a supplier to data center industry will become #1 sector for business; grew from 0% to 20% in one year
“These data center customers are the largest growth sector we’ve seen. We continue to give opportunities and jobs to people who are taking on new roles we never had before. This is all coming from the data center industries.”
– Matt Yarder, Executive VP, Yarder Manufacturing
MarketingAutomotive Marketing
Automotive News Marketing Program
Technological innovations continue to drive increased national and global adoption of green and smart mobility. Analysts forecast EV and hybrid sales exceeding 22 million vehicles worldwide in 2026, more than a quarter of all new car sales and up 25% from 2024.
With that increased demand comes a need for more workers and EV professionals. And similar to the challenge with many industries, the EV cluster faces a talent shortage in identifying and recruiting people.
In 2025, the RGP initiated a marketing program with Automotive News, highlighting the region’s ability to meet industry’s needs in the every-changing sector. This program included an email campaign and digital advertising, focusing on how Northwest Ohio can offer 138,000 workers who can crosswalk into the EV industry.
Examples the marketing campaign offered from a study it conducted found workers from such occupations such as computer programmers, electrical contractors, designers, engineers and battery technicians can easily transition into the EV space. Businesses and communities recognizing those cross-cutting skillsets will realize reduced costs for training.
As part of the campaign, the RGP produced a video recognizing the engineering department at the University of Toledo and its efforts in training students for EV work.
“Companies rely on UT to supply engineering talent for exactly these in-demand mobility fields. They view the training we’ll be providing as essential to their future workforce. So, really there's a pipeline there between the University of Toledo and many industry partners.”
– George Choueiri, Asst Professor - Mechanical, Ind & Mfr Eng., University of Toledo
MarketingSocial Media
Social Impact
To break through, you have to show up—and you have to have something worth sharing.
For the RGP, social media is more than a presence. It’s a platform to showcase momentum, tell the story of Northwest Ohio, and put real results in front of the audiences that matter. That means consistent, high-quality content centered on what’s happening across the region—project wins, industry growth, and business investment.
In 2025, that strategy delivered.
RGP Marketing maintained a disciplined and active social media program, producing and distributing content designed to inform, engage, and extend our reach.
The impact went beyond awareness.
Social media became a major driver of website traffic, increasing more than 700% year-over-year. Key announcements and investment stories didn’t just generate attention—they brought audiences to our site and kept them engaged.
The formula is straightforward: strong content, consistent delivery, and a clear focus on what matters.
In 2025, we turned content into measurable impact.
Socially Speaking
- LinkedIn surpassed 6,200 followers, consistently delivering engagement rates 3x industry benchmarks
- Facebook saw significant gains in visibility and interaction, driven by increased posting frequency and highly shareable content, with engagement rates 4x industry standards
- On X, the RGP outperformed broader trends with double-digit gains in impressions and engagement
RGP & JobsOhio Partnership
Small Business Grant
In 2025, the Regional Growth Partnership facilitated 31 Small Business Grants for area companies, which resulted in 133 new jobs and $925,000 in program funding.
The JobsOhio Small Business Grant helps businesses accelerate growth by providing funding for projects where JobsOhio’s support plays a key role in making the investment possible.
As the lead economic development organization serving 17 counties, the RGP facilitates this program in Northwest Ohio, connecting local entrepreneurs and communities to valuable resources that drive growth and strengthen the region’s economy.
“Small businesses are the foundation of the Northwest Ohio economy,” said Dean Monske, president and CEO, Regional Growth Partnership. “We are proud to offer our support to these companies, particularly with the JobsOhio Small Business Grant which provides financial assistance to businesses looking to invest and grow their operations.”
Eligible businesses include those with annual revenues between $100,000 and $25 million, at least one year of operating history within one of JobsOhio’s 10 targeted industries that primarily serve B2B markets, and are planning a qualified investment.
Since JobsOhio introduced the program in 2020, the RGP has helped 138 Northwest Ohio businesses secure $4.3 million in grant funding, leading to the creation of 562 new jobs.
For more information about the program, visit rgp.org/jobsohio-small-business-grant.
RGP & JobsOhio Partnership
JobsOhio Small Business GrantA Case Study
New American Reel
Antwerp, Ohio (Pauling County)
- Provider of repair and manufacturing services for cable reels
- $65,000 Investment
- Purchase of new equipment allowing for expansion of customer base
- Key Partners: Paulding County Economic Development, RGP, JobsOhio
RGP & JobsOhio Partnership
Ohio Site Inventory Program
The Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) was created by JobsOhio to fill gaps in Ohio’s real estate inventory with real estate targeting near term sector wins to ensure the state is more competitive for site selection projects. OSIP provides grants and low-interest loans for speculative, job-ready development projects with no identified end user.
The Regional Growth Partnership has utilized this program to the benefit of Northwest Ohio by presenting the opportunities of OSIP to developers and communities across the 17-county region.
Since the program’s inception, the RGP has helped facilitate 14 OSIP projects. More significant, and to the ultimate purpose of OSIP, 11 of those spec buildings are now occupied with an end user. The program value of these projects is more than $10.6 million, representing more than 2.1 million square feet of space.
RGP & JobsOhio Partnership
OSIPA Case Study
Ohio Logistics
Lima, Ohio (Allen County)
One of the largest privately held logistics companies in the Midwest is taking a lead role in spearheading further development in Northwest Ohio. Ohio Logistics announced plans to develop two 100,000 square-foot facilities in Lima. The construction of these spec buildings is expected to generate immediate interest and ultimately attract new business to Allen County.
- Recipient of OSIP Grant
- Buildings will be located in Gateway Commerce Park, right off I-75
- Spec buildings meet speed-to-market needs of business
- AEDG, RGP, JobsOhio key partners
Investing in Our Region’s Future
80+
Investors & Supporters
100%
Privately Funded
- Investors help drive Northwest Ohio’s economic development strategy
- Investors are afforded greater opportunities for engagement in business development activity
For more information about supporting economic development in Northwest Ohio, contact:
Tom Hamway
419-356-3536
hamway@rgp.org
RGP Staff
Dean Monske
President and CEO
Meg Adams
Business Development Manager
Morgan Bowers
Research Analyst
Bill Burkett
Senior Project Manager
Matt Davis
Vice President, Real Estate
Chase Eikenbary
Vice President of Project Management
John Gibney
Chief Marketing Officer
Tom Hamway
RGP Foundation President
Patrice James
Vice President, Marketing & Research
Colleen McCray
Administrative Program Coordinator
Sarah Perrigo
Real Estate Coordinator
Mikah Pransky
Regional Grant Manager
Jessica Sattler
Senior Project Manager
Kevin Schuster
Manager of Information Technology
Jeff Sprague
Regional Talent Manager
Karin Stever
Administrative Assistant
Gary Thompson
Executive Vice President - COO
Tim Wisnewski
Chief Financial Officer
Paul Zito
Vice President, International Development
Contact Us
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Contact Info
Regional Growth Partnership
Two Maritime Plaza
Toledo, OH 43604
Phone: 419-252-2700
rgp.org