Structures and Projects
The Wood County Port Authority assists the county in a multitude of ways. Below are some projects we’ve been involved with in the hopes to aid in economic development and enhance the recreational mission of the community. Within each project, our goals have been to promote job growth, improve the quality of the community, and improve the economy in Wood County. As you read about each project, you will see how we continually strive to go above and beyond to enhance the quality of life of the people in Wood County.
OI World Headquarters Building
Owens Illinois, the world’s leading glass bottle manufacturer and Fortune 500 company, previously headquartered in downtown Toledo for over 80 years of its history, decided to remain in NW Ohio and to move its Headquarters to Levis Park in the City Perrysburg where it has other research and plant facilities. The forerunner of the Wood County Port Authority, The Rossford/Perrysburg Township Joint Economic Development Authority / Port Authority worked with the City of Perrysburg, and Owens Illinois to help construct and lease a new Headquarters for Owens Illinois in the Levis Park Development. The Port Authority approved the issuance of $24,000,000 in bonds to build the structure and lease it to Owens Illinois.
Home Depot Distribution Center
The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retail chain, worked closely with the Wood County Economic Development Commission and Wood County Port Authority to build a 1.6 million square foot distribution center. This state-of-the-art distribution center is on a 157-acre site in Troy Township off of Pemberville Road south of US 20 in northern Wood County.
The Wood County Economic Development Commission and the Wood County Port Authority worked with Seefried Properties and The Home Depot to locate this 1.6 million square foot direct fulfillment center in Wood County, Ohio. The total investment in this project exceeded over $130 million.
Liberty High Bridge/CSX Terminal in North Baltimore
The CSX Corp. Northwest Ohio Trans-Shipment Terminal, which was completed in 2011 in Henry Township, occupies a 500-acre site along Ohio Route 18, giving it convenient access to Interstate 75. The addition of the top of the line intermodal freight hub to CSX Terminal required about $175 million in capital investment and granted 400 temporary jobs and roughly 200 permanent jobs. This well-connected facility lowered product costs and continues to make products available at cost-effective rates across the United States and Canada.
The Wood County Port Authority assisted in helping facilitate the closure with CSX by coming up with a way that the Liberty Hi grade separation could be done for the targeted number that CSX had set and within the time frame that CSX requested. Without the WCPA building the Liberty Hi bridge, the project would not have been initiated. WCPA brought this project in on time and on budget. This is what Wood County’s Port Authority does. The Executive Director, the Project Director and members of the Board ‘Focus’ on the problem, ‘Dedicate’ the Port’s resources and Board Personnel in solving the problem, ‘Research’ possible solutions, ‘Persevere’ using the ‘Teamwork’ of the Board to make it happen.
Calphalon/Rubbermaid Distribution Facility
The Newell Rubbermaid distribution and manufacturing facility in Middleton Township proved to be another success for the Wood County Port Authority. Newell Rubbermaid chose to plant roots in Northwest Ohio because of the region’s trained and skilled workforce in manufacturing. The 363,000 square foot distribution facility in Middleton Township, at SR 25 south of SR 582, produces and distributes Calphalon products. Calphalon is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing of high-end cookware, cutlery, baking utensils, and kitchen accessories and additions. The ground lease investment required for this facility in July of 2012 was $20 million and the Port Authority issues bonds to fund the Project. This state-of-the-art distribution facility supports manufacturing operations located in PerrysburgTownship. The current facility has 295 employees and created about 33 jobs. Due to the success of the current facility, Calphalon’s developer has plans for a second building at the same site which will be constructed when tenant commitments are collected.
Habitat For Humanity
Wood County Ohio’s Habitat for Humanity builds affordable houses for individuals and families in need. The organization works with construction professionals and volunteers to build homes all throughout Wood County. Habitat for Humanity aims to bring people together to create a loving community where everyone has a home.
Since 2014, Rossford, Ohio has been home to Rock the Block; a Habitat for Humanity event that aims to help homeowners with any exterior home maintenance along with landscaping needs in neighborhoods. Maintenance provided by Habitat for Humanity’s volunteers includes raking, weeding, trimming, or mulching, among other things. Other impactful events include Free Little Libraries, Project Playhouse at Ohio-Illinois, and Home Builders Blitz.
Upper River Bridge Removal/CSX Maumee Bridge
In 2011, the Wood County Port Authority as a result of its participation in a consortium of partners that included Toledo Metro Parks, City of Toledo, The University of Toledo, Wood County Parks District and TAMACOG, have undertaken the development of an urban multi-use hike and bike path to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrians and cyclists within the region’s transportation network. The principal goal of this Plan is to link employment zones, residential, recreational areas, schools, parks, shopping, restaurants, significant transit connections, and other public facilities. Initially, the Consortium, which later became known as the Chessie Circle Trail Committee, felt that the Upper CSX Bridge that crossed the Maumee river could be used as a way to move that multi-use hike and bike path over the CSX bridge after the renovation of the bridge. As a result of that direction, the Wood County Port Authority was gifted the Bridge by CSX.
Following comprehensive research into the ability of the structure to safely support use as a hike and bike trail and after significant environmental analysis about removing the 116-year-old, 1,400 foot, Upper River Bridge, a decision was made by Wood Count Port Authority to remove the Bridge. This decision was also easily reached because the bridge had not been used by trains in over 30 years, and CSX had already removed the tracks along with the age and condition of the structure. Marcy Kaptur, the area regional Congressional representative, worked with the Port and the Chessie Circle Trail committee to find the funds in Washington to remove the bridge. Wood County Port Authority waited years to remove the deck because the cost to do so was astronomical. Miller Brothers Construction received the $2 million contract from the WCPA to take over all demolition and removal work on the Upper River Bridge.
The Pilkington RailRoad
Pilkington North American manufactures and distributes glass and glazing products for architectural and automotive markets. Out of Pilkington’s 5 float glass operations, 2 lines are located in Rossford, Ohio. The Rossford locations are responsible for float glass for the automotive and OE fabrications markets.
In 2017, Pilkington Glass invested $40 million into their plant in Rossford and the Wood County Port Authority was able to help fund the project, along with the Rail Commission, Jobs Ohio, and Wood County Commissioners. The $500,000 project consisted of completely rebuilding the Pilkington Glass Railroad on Superior Street in Rossford after multiple complaints about the difficult, choppy crossing. The Wood County Port Authority’s initiative made a smoother commute possible for citizens that have to cross the Pilkington Railway frequently. The crossing is expected to last 20-30 years before needing repairs.
Old Ford Office Structure Renovation
In 2016, funded a grant to the developers 146 Dixie Highway LLC, which bears the name of the address of the facility. The grant which was provided as part of a Real Estate Purchase Agreement was to be utilized for the purpose of helping defray the cost of demolition. For a long time, this aging building was considered unsalvageable, but $4 million dollars and a lot of hard work proved that the doomsayers were wrong. The Wood County Port Authority made a commitment to help invest in the community of Rossford by providing the grant and helped make this project feasible. Kevin Gray, founder, and owner of ISP operates a 100,000 sq foot fabrication facility across the street and uses the Old Ford Club Building as their office. The building sits at the entrance of the City of Rossford and is now helps let visitors know that Rossford is interested in preserving its heritage and its historical building structures.
