Additionally, highway access is a breeze, as The District is located along the four-lane, limited­ access U.S. 52. Interstate 64 is 20 minutes to the South and 1-70, 1-71, 1-75, I-270, and I-275 (as well as Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio and Lexington, Kentucky) are within a two-hour drive. The Huntington Tri-State Airport (HTS), which also serves a major FedEx Center, is 30 minutes South and the Lexington and Cincinnati Airports are within two hours.

Overseen by the LEDC, The District is a key vantage point for businesses seeking an optimal location for expansion or relocation, especially for those operating in petrochemical or various metal industries. The competitive advantage of The District's logistics showcases close proximity for supply chains and competitiveness of varied modes of transportation and accessibility.

"As I emphasized when serving as Dean at Ohio University, many times a business' failure or success lies within its connection to strong modes of transportation, whether that be road, water, or rail to supply chains and markets," says Bill Dingus. Continuing, he states that, "The potential of Southern Ohio's Industrial District is growing with respect to logistical, financial, and labor force considerations. With over 400,000 residents, the area's workforce continues to develop, and the state of Ohio continues to flourish. The flow of positive economic advantages for the existing and future businesses wishing to locate in The District will progressively increase."

Site Overview & Services

The Southern Ohio Industrial District provides key advantages to a variety of businesses and organizations, and the opportunities for those in the petrochemicals, energy, and metals industries are being capitalized on regularly. The District offers both green-field sites and fully­-developed buildings, complete with everything ready to just flip the switch. With 400,000 sf. of structures of multiple sizes, most small- to medium-sized business facility needs are easily accommodated. The District is currently home to businesses such as Dynegy, Rumpke, AmSty, and Sun Coke.

The Tri-State Area (Huntington, WV, Ashland, KY, Ironton and Portsmouth, OH) surrounding The District provides a vast spectrum of support services. With numerous industrial supply companies, industrial cleaning and rehabilitation services, steel manufacturers, distributorships, machine shops, tool and die makers, and training companies, The District's advantages appear to be unmatched in similar-sized communities. Additionally, varied housing is available to meet the needs of employees from corporate leaders to support staff.

Utilities

The District's local utility providers ensure the presence ofreliable infrastructure resources. With multiple 765 KV lines providing redundant power sources to one of Ohio's largest AEP substations, the 69 KV substation feeding The District offers the comfort of nearly guaranteed uninterrupted power to all District businesses. The District is crossed by an 8" line from Columbia Gas with 320 psi. The existing water line is a 12" 100+ psi line, proving more than capable to supply existing and incoming businesses. Since The District borders the Ohio River, an unlimited amount of process water is available. Along with these resources, The District has liquid process and storage tanks, multiple silos, and broadband services. Beyond economically­ beneficial logistics, The District proves to be economically-beneficial with respect to reliable utilities as well.

Workforce

The District's labor pool is abundant, hailing from within and beyond the Tri-State area
(Huntington, WV, Ashland, KY, Ironton and Portsmouth, OH) to represent a growing population that currently exceeds 400,000. This trained workforce specializes in production and technology to provide solid labor and operations for businesses to thrive. The abundant workforce, along with a low cost of living, has made area labor costs affordable for businesses.
With four universities, four vocational/career centers, numerous 2-year technical and community colleges, and three private schools, the area's training programs have enhanced local workforce skillsets. The educational and training institutions surrounding The District play an active role in following modem industry trends as well as skills required for these jobs. As technology evolves, human input also varies to increase efficiency. It's reassuring for businesses to know that The District's labor force possesses the skills necessary to adapt to their business practices.

Construction Services

The LEDC, which operates The District is accomplished in providing tum-key developments for manufacturing, logistics, and service companies. The LEDC development team, led by Associate Director Jeremy Clay, typically provides a contract guaranteeing both price and completion time. Their last industrial complex was 130,000 sf., 70 ft. at eves, with cranes, and it was completed in 210 days. Additionally, they include options where the owner can utilize the last 60 days of construction time to rough-in their manufacturing equipment. According to Dingus, "Jeremy consistently brings the buildings in 30% faster with 15% less cost than the market."

Incentives

Southern Ohio's Industrial District is a hot spot for growth and, coupled with Ohio's low business tax philosophy, LEDC openly trades land for jobs. The land is sold at a percentage of appraisal with that reduced percentage tied directly to job creation per acre.
Other incentives provided by Lawrence County include grants for infrastructure and partial real estate tax abatement. These County incentives, built upon local incentives, lay a solid foundation that is greatly complemented by the State of Ohio's incentive package-which normally includes low cost loans, training grants, access road support, a job creation tax credit, and numerous other ways to help warrant success for the business. It's easy to see how "The District" is a dream site.