Findlay, in Northwest Ohio, epitomizes the concept of the micropolitan city.

Located in this community environment are international companies, world-class business and industrial parks, attractive housing in all price ranges, superb highway connections, a corporate airport and plenty of cultural and recreational events.

Best of all, Findlay's size makes it possible for local and business officials to work together and get things done. When the state of Ohio was unable to offer financial assistance for a new road to access land for industrial development, the city of Findlay accomplished the task by creating a Tax Increment Finance District to fit the bill.

The land is now home to Tall Timbers International Business Community, which houses 13 manufacturing plants and four distribution centers for such companies as G.S.W. Manufacturing, Dyson Material, Coca Cola, and Findlex Corporation, a division of Nissin Kogyo of Japan.

'Perfect blend' for business

"Our community of 46,000 is a perfect blend of small, medium and large companies," Born says. "We are diversified and cover all segments of the labor market."

"We have no problem finding people and attracting people to come to Findlay to work for our company," says Patrick Rooney, president of Cooper Tire & Rubber.

Among them are: Centrex Corp., an injection molded plastic parts producer; Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., a tire manufacturer; and Findlay Industries, which specializes in interior trim. Other companies include: G.S.W. Manufacturing, Inc., a Japanese company that makes wire harnesses and lead wires; Hisan, Inc., a producer of specialty tubing; Molten (North America) Corp., a rubber parts manufacturer; and P & A Industries, Inc., a metal stamping and assembling company.

The city is attractive to other industries as well. Hancor, Inc. manufactures corrugated and smooth interior corrugated polyethylene pipe in Findlay. Harris Semiconductor Corp. and Ball Metal Beverage Container have also selected Findlay for their operations.

Findlay is the operations center for Marathon Oil Co., the eighth-largest oil refiner in the United States.

"We coordinate all of our crude oil purchases and movements from Findlay, as well as all of our refinement systems," says J.L. Frank, executive vice president of Marathon Oil.

Whirlpool manufactures dishwashers and electric ranges here. With 1,900 employees, it is Findlay's second-largest employer.

Distribution haven
A plus to these large and small manufacturers is not just Findlay's connections to I-75, U.S. 68, U.S. 224, and the Ohio Turnpike. Norfolk & Western and Conrail Railroads also provide service. The Findlay Airport, which has two 6,000-foot runways that can land any type of corporate jet, is also being upgraded.

Not surprising, the city also has attracted several large distribution centers such as an 800,000 square foot facility for Best Buy and a 400,000 square foot center for Hercules Tire & Rubber.

"Hercules also manufactures here," says Born. "In fact this company, like others, represents how international Findlay is. Hercules has operations also in China and Canada. Their manufacturing and distribution operations are able to make full use of the general foreign trade zone."

Business/education partnership
Businesses reap the benefits of Findlay's school system and institutions of higher education. Findlay University, a private four-year school of 4,000 students, offers an MBA program in addition to a nationally recognized environmental studies program.

Owens College, one of Ohio's largest technical schools, has a branch in Findlay. At any one time approximately 1,000 students are enrolled. Courses are also tailored to meet specific needs of local companies.