First Spec Building Under Construction at Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park

Progress is underway at the Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park in Noble County. Located in the heart of the Utica shale region, the business park is ideally suited for light manufacturing, energy sector-related projects, and logistics. New building sites are ready for immediate construction with the first spec building under construction.

The Appalachian topography that gives southeastern Ohio its beauty makes it especially challenging to construct an industrial park. A series of tiered pads cut into the hillside at different elevations honors the local geography while developing six building sites in the Caldwell East of I-77 Business Park.

“We believed that we were well suited to compete for and win smaller projects, particularly manufacturing and energy sector related projects—if we had ready sites,” said Gwynn Stewart, M.S., Community

Development Educator with Ohio State University Extension, Noble County. “Previously, Noble County had to turn away projects. Now, we have available sites and a spec building due to be completed by year-end.”

The $4.8 million investment includes construction of a new access road, site work, full utilities, extension of water and sewer to six sites, and construction of a 10,000-square-foot speculative building. The developer is committed to a second spec building as soon as the first one is occupied.

Companies making the investment in southeast Ohio will find a low-cost business environment. Noble County offers very competitive wage rates and a lower cost of living. “The math is pretty simple,” said OhioSE President Mike Jacoby. “It costs less to live here, and it costs less to do business here. For a resident, the cost of living is below national and regional indexes. For a business, a lower cost of living, means lower wages.” Noble County’s average hourly earnings are 28% lower than the national average and 20% lower than the state average.