The Toledo and Northwest Ohio region is located within a day’s drive of nearly half the U.S. and Canadian industrial markets.  Within a 300 mile radius of Toledo, our region has access to the most industrial square footage in the U.S. and Canada.  No other site in North America can make a similar claim. The Lake Erie Port of Toledo is a multi-modal transportation hub.  The seaport, rail station, two airports and Foreign Trade Zone 8 are managed by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

 

Transportation and Logistics

Air:  Toledo Express Airport, 9 miles north of Waterville – longest runway is 10,600 feet – air cargo hub and 279,000 sq. ft. sort facility with 24-hour service ground handling  – 30 truck high bays and no pallet height or weight restrictions – within an hour of 3 major rail lines. www.toledoexpress.com

Detroit Metro International, 72 miles North. www.metroairport.com

Metcalf Executive Field, 20 miles East

Rail:  Passenger Station:  Amtrac Station in Toledo. www.amtrac.com
Regional Freight:  Fifth largest rail hub in the U.S.  The CSX Intermodal Terminal serves a double-stack freight rail corridor between East Coast seaports and the Midwest.  This intermodal terminal can handle more than 30 container trains per day and operates on 24,000 feet of working track and parking for 280 units.  The terminal can handle 500,000 to 600,000 lifts per year.

Deep Water Port:  Port of Toledo:  12 miles; accommodates ships to 740’ long, 78’ wide, and 26’6” draft.
Serviced by 15 Seaport Terminals, the Port handles over 12 million tons of cargo and 700 vessel calls per year.  The Port of Toledo has the largest landmass on the Great Lakes and links to global markets through the St. Lawrence Seaway. www.toledoseaport.org

Highways:  The Toledo area is intersected by 3 of the country’s most traveled interstate highways, I-80 (east-west from NY to CA); I-90 (east-west from MA to WA); and I-75 (north-south from MI to FL).  The area is also a center for the trucking industry (UPS and FedEx distribution centers).

Bus:  TARTA throughout Toledo Metropolitan Area, fixed route service and “Call-a-Ride curb to curb service.

 

Education and Workforce

Within a 50 mile radius of Toledo, there are 49 schools of higher education with acclaimed programs in engineering, business, law, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing.  The Toledo region ranks seventh nationally in number of college students and in number of graduate students.  The Toledo region ranks second nationally in number of students pursuing engineering degrees and first nationally in number of students pursuing physical science degrees.  The Toledo region ranks sixth nationally for number of students pursuing masters degrees.

Community colleges in the Toledo region excel in preparing and accrediting students in their state-of-the-art facilities in the area of advanced manufacturing technology including programs in manufacturing materials and processing, automation and robotics, metrology, mechanical design, electronics, renewable energy, welding, and more.  Area community colleges are also working closely with area businesses to help them meet the training needs of existing and future employees.

 

Key Industry Sectors

Advanced & Alternative Energy
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technology
Alternative Energy
Automotive
Bioscience
Healthcare
Transportation & Integrated Logistics

 

Economic Development Partners

Regional Growth Partnership
www.rgp.org

The Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) is a privately led organization committed to meeting the needs of businesses, site consultants and corporate real estate professionals in a confidential, innovative and time-sensitive manner. Being a private economic development group allows the RGP to operate beyond political boundaries and also shields it from freedom of information requests on the part of media. They offer a full range of traditional business development services, working in collaboration with their partners across the region.

As the lead economic development organization for Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, serving the Toledo region and 17 counties of Northwest Ohio, RGP brings forth a commitment to ensure businesses and site consultants take advantage of the many strengths, assets and resources this region offers.

The region’s educated and productive workforce has helped attract major investment in advanced manufacturing, creating and securing thousands of jobs. Such diversity in the local economy has effectively positioned this region to succeed in the knowledge – based market and global economy.  In fact, RGP has recently opened a sales office in Shenzhen, China.


Lucas County Economic Development Corporation
www.lcicoh.com

LCEDC is a private, non-profit corporation that strengthens the economy and enhances the quality of life in Lucas County by strategically connecting resources to opportunities.  They do this by:

  • Connecting local businesses to state and local resources through our Business Outreach and Assistance Program.
  • Providing businesses with the ability to network with other businesses and economic development organizations and develop professionally through our Manufacturers’/ Business Roundtable.
  • Bringing high impact strategic grants into our community from State and Federal funders.
  • Promoting strategic collaboration among regions and economic development organizations.

By working strategically in these core areas, the LCEDC helps retain, attract and grow businesses; aligns workforce development with career opportunities; and facilitates the redevelopment of brown fields and other vacant or under-utilized properties.  They accomplish their mission through partnerships with the private, public, nonprofit and educational sectors.


Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development
www.nwored.com

Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development Association (NORED) is a non-profit association of economic development practitioners and partners spanning 13 counties throughout Northwest Ohio.  It is a forum for the exchange of information among its members and others aimed at increasing job opportunities and improving the quality of life throughout the region.  NORED provides professional development programs for its members, advocates for legislative changes to enhance economic development, and implements programs to market the benefits of locating in Northwest Ohio.


The Lucas County Port Authority
www.toledoportauthority.org

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority’s business is transportation and development. That business is shaped by their mission to move people and cargo through the region while employing innovative programs to stimulate development in the region.
Founded in 1955, The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority was the first port authority in Ohio. Today, we focus on three initiatives – Maritime, Aviation and Development.