Marker Development Announces Investment Over $13.8 Million in National Road Business Park Spec Building

Marker, Inc. and the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, October 30 for its speculative building project at National Road Business Park. The project will be supported by a $2 million JobsOhio Grant through the Ohio Site Inventory Program.

Project partners in attendance included JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, Mayor Mason, Marker Inc., the Muskingum County Commissioners, and Ohio Department of Development.

“Establishing this facility is another critical step in realizing the full potential the National Road Business Park has to attract more industrial jobs to Muskingum County,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Once complete, the building will be a strong draw for companies looking to quickly and easily invest in a facility with immediate access to utilities, logistical advantages, and Ohio’s outstanding workforce.”

The spec building is designed to accommodate a range of industrial and manufacturing specifications, with over 200,000 square feet of space, 20 dock doors, and a clear interior height of 32’. The building, which sits on 11.5 acres, will be constructed with precast concrete walls and will have the ability to expand trailer parking.

“This state-of-the-art speculative building is being constructed on a foundation we and OhioSE first laid in 2020 through extraordinary collaboration with our partners at the State of Ohio and in Muskingum County,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “The National Road Business Park now has the full infrastructure in place to fully build out top-tier manufacturing space that will attract new businesses and jobs to the region.”

The Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) was established to create property within the state that is not being developed by the market, but that has proven demand and known economic benefit. This program improves the state’s competitive edge with respect to attracting new investment and job creation by filling gaps in the state’s inventory portfolio.

"We are excited to bring this catalytic development to life in the National Road Business Park," Marker Development President Kirk Marker explained. "305 Prosperity Parkway brings much needed Class A industrial inventory to the Zanesville area, which is prime to support a wide variety of uses.  This has been an excellent example of public-private collaboration to foster growth in the Ohio Southeast Region, and we look forward to the project’s impact in the area."  

The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority acquired the site where National Road Business Park is located in 2018. The development of the business park was supported by a $3,090,000 JobsOhio Spec Development Grant.

“This investment will ensure the OhioSE region is competitive for future job creating projects by having prime industrial space ready for growing companies,” said Katy Farber, OhioSE Interim President.

This project was also supported by a $4 million loan through the Rural Industrial Park Loan (RIPL) Program. The RIPL program promotes economic development by providing low-interest direct loans to assist eligible applicants in financing the development and improvement of industrial parks and related off-site public infrastructure improvements.

The Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority has continued to be a leader in land and business park development in Muskingum County. 

“We are fortunate to receive continued financial assistance from the City of Zanesville, the Muskingum County Commissioners, JobsOhio, ODOT Jobs & Commerce, and the Port Authority Board of Directors, allowing us to further develop the National Road Business Park,” said Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority Executive Director, Matt Abbott. “Our partnership with the Perry Township Trustees is invaluable in maintaining the roads in and around the Park. With these partnerships, the possibilities for new business and industry are endless.”

“Developing a public-private partnership with Marker Development brings a level of business attraction potential that will benefit our community and its residents,” said Abbott. “The speculative building project is designed to meet the demands of a manufacturing tenant and significant job creator.”