Asian Business Executives Tour Valley

[irishbobcat]

You mean a republican alternative in a democratic primary......

[Dan Moadus]

Perhaps you're right Dennis, but we'll let the people of the 17th District decide that. At least I provided them with a conservative alternative to Tim Ryan.

[irishbobcat]

tick tock tick tock....time is running out on the Dan Moadus campaign.....THANK GOD!

[Dan Moadus]

Don't worry. Once they find out that Tim Ryan pays $50,000 per job they'll start moving in.

[irishbobcat]

Asian Business Executives Tour Valley
April 23, 2010 6:42 a.m.
By George Nelson
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Representatives of a "leading" alternative energy manufacturing company in Asia began a two-day visit to the Mahoning Valley that local economic development officials hope could pay dividends down the road.

Citing the need for confidentiality in these early stages, officials with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, who are guiding the company representatives on the two-day trip, declined to identify the company or specific country of origin.

"We have been hosting a very large international advanced manufacturing company that is a leader in their field and is considering sites in the United States for its first domestic production facility," said Walt Good, the chamber's executive vice president of economic development, business retention and expansion

The company's trip to the Mahoning Valley is sandwiched between stops in New York, where its representatives will attend an alternative energy conference to learn about the state of the U.S. market, and Chicago, said Eric Planey, the chamber's vice president for international and national business attraction. The company does not have a physical presence in the United States "so this is an exploratory meeting to get a feel for geographic locations," he said. The firm is a "large company" with a "good reputation" that has been growing over the last several years.

"There is no imminent strategy on their part to open manufacturing or an office or anything yet, but they're just getting a feel for the North American market and they were interested in Northeast Ohio," Planey explained.

A preliminary conference call took place about a month ago, and chamber officials only learned about this trip two weeks ago, Planey said. "But I think we answered their questions well enough that they were intrigued by what we have to offer here," he said.

Chamber officials led a trade mission to China and Taiwan last year to establish contacts. However, Planey said, the referral did not result from that trip. Good confirmed that the lead came through the office of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17 Ohio.

"This is the kind of thing that happens a lot," said Ryan spokeswoman Heather McMahon, who like the chamber officials would not identify the company or its point of origin. Ryan, she said, "works with the chamber to make connections and bring people" to look at the area.

Planey speculated that the supply chain in Northeast Ohio may have gotten the company's attention. "We have small manufacturers to medium-sized manufacturers that are able to make components to support the [alternative energy] industry," he said. State and regional officials "have done a good job" in mapping out that supply chain "so we're able to put that information in front of them."

Normally when these companies come into the U.S. market, he explained, the first step is to open a sales and purchasing office before thinking about having a "manufacturing boot print," Planey said,

"We're very happy to have this opportunity."