Middletown Site is One of State's First Job Ready Sites

Ohio's Job Ready Site program is aimed at creating and building more development sites that can be readily offered to companies who would like to move to or expand within the state and a new Middletown office development by Al Neyer Inc. is one of the first sites to be certified.

The program was approved by Ohio voters in 2005 and was started with a $2 billion bond issue.

In a press release, Lisa Patt-McDaniel, the director of the Ohio Department of Development said, "The Job Ready Site certification requirements have heightened standards, making Ohio an attractive choice for leading industries to relocate for job expansion and company growth"

Smart Offices at East Point Centre, located in Middletown, was among the 18 sites first selected for a grant about four years ago. The state awarded $2.2 million to what is being marketed as a "technology district" near the Atrium Medical Center.

The area includes a 50,000 square foot office building and it has been awarded a Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. In addition, there is room to build two more buildings of up to 90,000 square feet each. Right now, 114 jobs have been created from the site.

In addition to the Middletown site, another technology site has been built and certified in Clark County. Named the Nextedge Applied Research and Technology Park, the 55,572 square foot building is open for leasing and there is room to build an additional 111,000 square feet.

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Housing Prices Up in Metro Cincinnati

Today, the National Association of Realtor (NAR) reported that the median price of homes in metro Cincinnati are up from year-over-year first quarters. That said, prices have dropped from 2009's fourth quarter. In the first quarter of 2010, the price of a home in the Cincinnati-Middletown area was $121,900. Compare that to 2009's first quarter, when houses were $106,500. That's a 14.5% difference. In the last quarter of 2009, the median home price was $125,000.

The median home price for the entire country is $166,100, which is down 1% from 2009's first quarter. The NAR looked at 151 metro areas across the country. 91 of these saw higher prices in the first quarter of this year compared to that of 2009 and 29 even saw a double digit percentage increase.

Even so, NAR's chief economist said this is a positive sign for the economy. "This flattening in home prices is something we’ve been seeing in all of the home price measures lately, and quite clearly in this metro area price report. The tax credit has been very effective in drawing down excess inventory, with about 1 million additional sales resulting directly from the stimulus," Yun said in a press release.

The state of Ohio as a whole saw prices rise from 2009's first quarter. In Akron, the median price of a home jumped an astonishing 90%, while the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor area saw an increase of about 54%. Dayton saw a 23% increase from 2009, while Toledo saw a 13% jump. Even Columbus, whose housing market wasn't as bad off as other cities in the state, saw a 6% increase.

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Remember to call 513-422-1907 for Security Camera Systems in Middletown, Cincinnati, or the Dayton, Ohio areas.

Middletown Among Fastest Recovering Cities

According to Forbes magazine, Middletown is one of the top cities that is recovering quickly from recent economic woes. Ranked at number 55, Middletown was just one of three Ohio cities on the list. The others were Dayton and Columbus. Ironically, Forbes named Middletown one of the fastest dying cities earlier in the year.

Omaha, Nebraska topped the list that included several Texas metro cities, a few other Northeastern manufacturing bases, and a few Southern cities. According to Forbes, "diversified industry and relatively stable housing fundamentals" are what is helping these cities with recovery. Cities where home prices don't fluctuate at extremes and where multiple industries thrived seemed to fair the best.

The list was made by ranking the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas in five categories that included home prices, sales rates, foreclosures, size of a city's economy and unemployment rate.

Middletown to Receive Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund Grant

Last week, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel announced $28 million in Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund grants to be awarded throughout the state. The funding will allow for the usage of of idle industrial and commercial properties and is expected to create over 1,400 jobs for the state.

Middletown will receive a $1.6 million grant to conduct remediation and demolition at the STM Redevelopment Project property. The property, which started out as the Sutphin Wrenn Union Paper Mill in the 1850s, was purchased by STM Partnership in 1979 and several industrial operations have occurred there since. Today, four small storage and light manufacturing operations make up part of the property, but part of it is vacant and owned by the City of Middletown. Once remediation is complete, the city and another owner hope to attract a commercial project that will help the city with economic growth.

"Too many of our workers and businesses are reeling from this global economic recession, which makes our partnerships with local communities and our efforts to improve Ohio's business climate even more important. Clean Ohio investments encourage business development and job creation by revitalizing our communities and previously-used industrial properties," Governor Strickland said in a statement.

The Clean Ohio Revitalization Fund is a statewide competitive program that provides grants to acquire property, demolish structures, conduct environmental cleanup, and improve infrastructure on or serving a brownfield property. It has served 80 projects since it began. Read more about the various Ohio city projects here: Dayton Minority Biz.com

Trickle Down Economy Problems Hits Home

Just a few short years ago in 2006 Butler County hit a record high in creating
new jobs. ( Full Story ) Today the Nation faces economic challenges and effects of the struggles have certainly hit home. For the first time in 26 years Butler County will have to take out a federal loan as soon as next month to keep unemployment checks flowing. Gov. Ted Strickland is requesting federal aid through congress so that doesn't have to happen. ( Full Story Here ) Cuts into Jobs and Family services could go deep and cost hundreds of jobs and the loss of several programs.AK Steel is closing two branches. Hamilton County is reporting as many as 500 jobs could be lost and Nation wide people are getting "pink" slips.

So how is our new President Elect plan to get us out of this? Well the Huffington
Post reports that Total US debt has increased from $5.8 trillion in 2001 to $10.6 trillion today. Obama's plan of deficit spending is reported to be our only way out of our crumbling economy. It is very important to keep the flow going. While many are not fans of govenment involvement in business, times like these offer us little choice ( Read HP story here)