CAN DO Relocating Offices to Marion County Building

Marion CAN DO, the economic development organization for the greater Marion area announces the relocation of its offices to the Marion County building. The move comes following the recent sale of their building which required them, along with the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Marion, Inc, to find new locations.

“This is a win-win for the community,” states Dan Burkhart, Interim Director of CAN DO.  “We will be located in the same facility with Regional Planning, our partner in locating new industrial and commercial organizations to Marion and assisting in the retention and expansion of local businesses. We will be within walking distance of other collaborating partners, Downtown Marion and the Chamber of Commerce,” he added.

Beth Meadows, Downtown Board Chair, states that “Downtown Marion enjoys a wonderful working relationship with CAN DO, and although we’ll be in different locations, Downtown Marion will continue to work closely on economic development issues.  We recognize that the future of Marion relies on the cooperative efforts of all of Marion’s leadership organizations.”

Brad Ridge, Chamber Board Chair, stated “Although the Chamber and CAN DO will not be in the same physical location our collaborative efforts with CAN DO for the benefit of the Marion community will continue.”

Marion County Commissioners approved the use of office space within the County building on Monday and re-stated their support for the organization by offering the offices at an incentive rate.

CAN DO developed the Dual Rail Park at Kellogg Parkway and collaborated with the City of Marion in the establishment of the Airpark at Marion Municipal Airport. Marion County receives over $300,000 in property taxes each year from facilities of companies CAN DO helped locate in Marion.  The one percent transfer fee passed by the County Commissioners in 1992 to fund CAN DO also brings in an average of $130,000 per year for the County.

As a public/private partnership, CAN DO also receives funding from the City of Marion.

“The current payroll from jobs created by the partnership with CAN DO is over $54 million,” states Burkhart.  “That payroll is providing over half a million dollars per year to the City of Marion in income taxes,” he adds.

“With an improving economy in Ohio, we are experiencing a renewed interest in Marion,” says Howard Smith, CAN DO Board Chair.  “The community has a lot to offer in terms of the available manufacturing and commercial facilities and the intermodal rail.”

CAN DO has collaborated in bringing several new companies to the community and in assisting in their expansions since they built their manufacturing facilities here.  Included are US Yachiyo, Silverline, Ohio Galvanizing, SIKA, Marion Industries, Highway Safety, Sakamura, ArcelorMittal, Marcy Industries and others.