Zahn’s Corner hopes for boost from AEP designation

WAVERLY - Pike County officials are hopeful a recent certification will help boost Zahn’s Corner as an economic development site.

AEP Ohio on Thursday awarded Ohio’s first AEP Quality Site Certification to the industrial park, which is located at the intersection of U.S. 32 and U.S. 23. The designation means the industrial park ensures businesses thinking of landing in that location that the site is development ready.

“We are thrilled to receive the certification. All the hard work by so many has helped get us to this point and now we’re able to bring much needed jobs to an area of hard working individuals,” Steve Shepherd, executive director of Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative.

To get the certification, Zahn’s Corner was evaluated by nationally recognized site consultant firm McCallum Sweeney Consulting. The process, which includes obtaining engineering plans, environmental studies, and researching site qualities, can take up to two years and results in certification.

“AEP Ohio is proud to be a strong partner to the communities that we serve,” said Tim Wells, manager, Economic and Business Development. “By working with businesses and chambers in our local communities to certify sites and help businesses quickly get their business up and running, we are helping communities flourish by attracting new jobs, maintain existing jobs.

With this designation, Zahns Corner Industrial Park is positioned to attract industries such as fabricated metals, general machinery, light industrial and assembly.

“The demand for project ready industrial sites continues to grow as decision-making timeframes for companies continue to shrink,” Lindsey Myers, Director of Site Readiness Programs at McCallum Sweeney, said.

The more development ready a site is, the lower the start-up costs and better the chances for development, she added.