County names new economic development leader
FREMONT - The Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation will have a new leader for the first time in 13 years.
Mark Litten, 57, was announced as the new executive director at the organization's annual meeting Thursday morning at the Neeley Center at Terra State Community College.
Litten takes over for Kay Reiter, who resigned after 13 years when she was elected as a Sandusky County Commissioner in November.
Litten previously served as Erie County Economic Development executive director from 2001 to 2010. Most recently, he was president and CEO of Bay Future, Inc., in Bay City, Michigan — a nonprofit organization facilitating economic growth and development in Bay County.
"I just want to continue the momentum that is going on in Sandusky County," Litten said. "We've had a great past couple of years and I want to continue that."
Sandusky County has been proactive under Reiter, with the implementation of such programs as THINK Manufacturing that pairs high school students and local industrial businesses at Terra to learn robotics trade jobs that are available in the community.
A tearful Reiter addressed the room of business owners, community leaders and friends Thursday, thanking them for their work to bring projects and jobs to the community.
Litten brings 25 years of experience working in economic development and is familiar with Sandusky County from his days working in neighboring Erie County.
"I've been in economic development for 25 years, and I am looking forward to coming back to Ohio and to start work," Litten said. "Sandusky County has a great industrial base and great employers."
Litten, who begins as executive director Feb. 27, said he will get his feet on the ground and begin to assess the needs of the county as the SCEDC begins to implement a strategic plan for the next five years.
The county has seen growth over the past two years.
In 2015, the SCEDC reported 910 new jobs filled in the community and increases in capital projects in excess of $295 million.
The county has continued that growth, with several companies reinvesting in local businesses and creating new jobs.
Whirlpool Corp. opened a new production line in 2016, adding 60 new jobs to a facility that employs around 4,000.
WSOS Community Action, Apex Green Energy in Bellevue and Crown Battery Manufacturing Co. all reinvested capital improvement funds.
Crown Battery — which spent $5 million in capital improvement funds — created 10 new jobs while retaining 579.
A revamped website has made it easier for job seekers and potential business partners to navigate offerings in Sandusky County.
The annual breakfast featured guest speaker Carol Johnson, a former marketing and financial adviser for Kraft Foods, who speaks to groups nationwide about economic development.
Johnson said job creators must understand the needs of their communities.
"I was talking to a man who said he wanted a Target store in his community. One day on a plane he was sitting next to a real estate executive from Target. He thought his prayers were answered. He told the man he wanted a Target store and the executive asked him for their ZIP code," Johnson said. "The man typed in the ZIP code and said, 'Your community does not want a Target store. They made two online purchases for $19 in one year.'"
Johnson told the room full of county leaders, businessmen and women, and nonprofit groups to "crank your job engines" and make sure they have sites ready for investment, a business-friendly process, and economic professionals with a budget that can create future job opportunities and reinvest into their companies and workforce development.
"It's the young people, you people in this room, and employers that are the pipeline to success," Johnson said. "Workforce training is more important than ever before."
cshoup@gannett.com
419-334-1035
Twitter: @CraigShoupNH