Ohio Southeast
Economic Development (OhioSE) held its annual meeting March 3, in Chillicothe, sharing
the impact made across Southeast Ohio in 2025 and celebrating the
accomplishments of local economic development partners and regional businesses.
The event welcomed more than 200 guests at the Bell
Manor in Chillicothe. Honored guest speakers included JobsOhio President and
CEO J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio Energy and Chemicals Managing Director Matt
Cybulski, Centrus Energy Corporation Enrichment Operations Plant Manager Matt
Snider, and OKLO Corporate Chief John Hanson.
The event kicked off with a welcome from Tammy
Eallonardo, economic development director of the Greater Chillicothe & Ross
County Development, and Eric Braun, president of Shawnee State University and
member of the OhioSE Board of Directors. “We are in a position to attack
economic development from a position of strength,” said Braun to the crowd.
OhioSE President and
CEO Matt Abbott then shared an overview of the organization’s impact over the
past year. OhioSE experienced growth again in 2025, adding new team
members, programs, and initiatives to better serve the Southeast Ohio region.
Last year, OhioSE in partnership with JobsOhio and local economic development
partners, assisted 25 company expansions and new locations, creating 822 jobs
and leveraging $1.6 billion in fixed asset investment.
“Those jobs
represent $64.5 million in annual payroll flowing into the communities of
southern and eastern Ohio,” Abbott said. “These are strong wages that support
families and strengthen local economies.”
Jason Kester, regional
development director for Agracel, Inc., then took to the stage to announce the
winners of the 2025 OhioSE Annual Awards, recognizing outstanding economic
development efforts within the region.
For project of the year,
Centrus Energy Corporation was honored for expanding advanced uranium
enrichment operations in Piketon, positioning Southern Ohio as a critical hub
for domestic nuclear fuel production and energy security. Finalists Fox Tank
Company and U.S. Bridge Corporation were recognized.
For small business project
of the year, Midwest Air LLC was honored for expanding agricultural drone sales
and application services from Peebles, helping farmers adopt precision
agriculture technology across the region. Finalists Good Boy Bakery and Milo’s
Whole World Gourmet were recognized.
For community development
project of the year, The Coshocton Collaborative was honored for redeveloping a
historic downtown building into a hub for coworking, entrepreneurship, and
maker space that supports innovation and local businesses. Finalists Athens
Armory and Midtown Market were recognized.
For building development
project of the year, the Jackson-Grandview Builders was honored for
constructing a new speculative industrial building in Jackson that expands
modern space options for growing manufacturers. Finalists the ACPA
Manufacturing Spec Building at Bill Theisen Industrial Park and the Marker Spec
Building at National Road Business Park were recognized.
For best workforce culture,
Kraft Foods Group Inc. and Intermountain Electronics were recognized for
fostering workplace cultures that focus on growth and opportunity and give
employees a voice. Finalist EZ Grout Manufacturing was recognized.
For partner of the year,
the Ross County Paper Mill Response Task Force was honored for mobilizing an
extraordinary public-private partnership to respond to the Chillicothe Mill
closure, support displaced workers, and position the site for future
redevelopment. Finalists Building Bridges to Careers and the Muskingum County
Commissioners were recognized.
For local economic developer
of the year, Mollie Fitzgerald of Athens County was honored for leading
strategic initiatives that align infrastructure, workforce development, and
business attraction to support long-term growth in Athens County. Bill Arnett
of Guernsey County and Tiffany Swigert of Coshocton County were recognized.
Three local economic
developers were recognized for their efforts to conduct business retention and expansion
visits in their counties: Bill Arnett, executive director of the
Cambridge-Guernsey County CIC, Gwynn Stewart, community development director
for Noble County, and Sam Brady, president and CEO of the Jackson County
Economic Development Partnership.
“We congratulate all
of our award recipients,” Abbott said. “Recognition like this reminds us that
economic development isn’t just about statistics or announcements – it’s about
people. People who are building businesses, creating jobs, and investing in the
communities that make this region special.”
Looking ahead, Abbott said the organization will
focus on stronger regional alignment and greater collaboration. He revealed the
outline of OhioSE’s new strategic plan, which focuses on four core strategic
priorities: regional leadership, talent, competitive assets, and economic development.
“But ultimately, the goal of this plan is something
very simple,” he said. “Unity. Bringing together the strengths of our
communities, companies, and organizations across southern and eastern Ohio.”
The strategic plan also lends a heavier focus on the
energy industry, as a topic that continues to surface in conversations about
the future of the region. “Energy has long been a defining part of the economy
of southern and eastern Ohio,” Abbott said. “It supports our industries. It
shapes natural conversations. And it continues to create opportunities for
economic growth across our region. Energy will remain an important part of the
discussion about how our region competes and grows.”
Abbott then introduced Matt Cybulski, who
facilitated a panel discussion on the growth opportunities in Southern Ohio
within the nuclear energy industry with Centrus Energy Corporation Enrichment
Operations Plant Manager Matt Snider, and OKLO Corporate Chief John
Hanson.
JobsOhio
President and CEO J.P. Nauseef gave the keynote address, speaking to the
region’s economic development momentum, leadership in advancing the state’s
energy infrastructure, support for the Chillicothe community, and key pillars
of JobsOhio’s five-year strategic plan.
“OhioSE
and its partners across 25 counties are a critical driver of Ohio’s economic
resurgence and its position as the Midwest’s leading state for GDP,” Nauseef
said. “Over the past six years, the region has experienced nearly a 150 percent
increase in economic development projects, fueled by strong collaboration and
alignment with Ohio’s energy and manufacturing industries.”
