A rural neighborhood in central Lorain County is preparing for what some officials have dubbed “generational change.” A state grant will help prepare Northeast Ohio’s largest mega-site for development.
Frank Poore recalls that the area presently occupied by the Lorain County Airport and residential structures was once covered in farmland.
“It’s changed a lot over the years,” observed Poore, aged 83.
With the evolution of other adjacent villages, he told News 5 that he wasn’t surprised to hear about more changes near his New Russia Township home.
“Look how cities like Avon and North Ridgeville have expanded. “They can only move this way,” he explained.
More than 1,000 acres north and west of the airport are being prepared for additional infrastructure to support potential industrial and housing. The shovel-ready plot of land is known as a megasite.
“Not only will it alleviate the housing pressures that we face, but the employment boom will be massive,” said Lorain County Commissioner David Moore.
This week, the state announced that the Board of Commissioners would receive $67.4 million from the All Ohio Future Fund (AOFF). Governor Mike DeWine established the All Ohio Future Fund to encourage future economic development initiatives by preparing vast locations with essential infrastructure.
The funding, together with a local and private investment, will increase water capacity and improve
Wastewater service and funding for a new wastewater treatment plant.
“You may have a lot of farmland and it’s excellent hunting land. But unless you can flush a toilet, it’s really just hunting ground,” Moore added.
He explained that the utilities project, as well as the planned runway extension at Lorain County Airport, will proceed forward. Expanding it to 7,000 feet will allow larger aircraft, such as freighters, to land at the small airport.
Moore believes that both improvements will make the megasite appealing to potential developers.
“We’re building the foundation and we’re opening up our doors and rolling out the red carpet, saying we’re now ready,” according to him.
Some neighbors told News 5 that they are concerned that the mega site will attract more industries, making the rural town busier and noisier.
Others described the investment as a sign of progress.
“Growth is always positive. But what you really need is controlled growth. “I hope the commissioners and everyone involved understands what they’re doing and thinks it through,” Poore added.
Team NEO, an economic development partner, will engage with JobsOhio to oversee the site assembly project. They believe the mega-site might provide thousands of jobs.
Christine Nelson, Team NEO’s vice president of project management and site planning, said it’s conveniently located near Lorain County Community College and various population centers. She suggested that investing there may benefit the entire region.
“Everybody gets very excited about all the projects that are happening in Columbus, which is exciting for Ohio – but keep in mind that none of those projects, Honda, Intel, Anduril, none of those are in Franklin County, right?” says Nelson. “So, even though this is in Lorain, it benefits Cleveland. It’s still beneficial for Akron.”
Moore believes Lorain County has the ability to recruit another high-tech firm, and the AOFF grant will encourage investment.
“This just kind of seals the deal that we are going to grow, but we’re going to grow in a smart way,” he told me. “We’re creating a foundation. This is generational transformation, and that is what we are implementing.”
