Development
The City of Shelby works closely with Richland Community Development Group, Team NEO and JobsOhio to provide a business-friendly environment for development, retention, and expansion.
Development in Shelby, Ohio
Contact Jessica Gribben, Economic Development Manger, Richland Area Chamber, at (419) 342-4159 with questions or for more information about Shelby, Ohio.
Looking for a space for your business?
Search for available properties on the Ohio Prospector website by clicking on the link below, or contact Jessica Gribben, Economic Development Liaison with questions.
Incentives & Exemptions
Community Reinvestment Area
This negotiable direct property tax exemption is for property owners (residential or commercial) who renovate existing or construct new buildings.
Enterprise Zone. This negotiable direct property tax exemption is for non-retail businesses who invest significantly in real and/or personal property to establish, expand, renovate or occupy.
Residential Application
Commercial Application
Foreign Trade Zone
Richland County, Ohio, is located in a Foreign Trade Zone that is designated for general purposes. Certain types of merchandise may be admitted into the zone without being subject to Customs’ duties or certain excise taxes. Additional incentives and financing options are listed at www.chooserichland.com.
Facade Improvement Grant
Facade Improvement 2024
This grant is made available for commercial buildings in the Central Business District as an incentive to make impactful improvements to buildings and spaces that will continue to move Shelby forward.
The Facade Grant Application is now available! Please read the application and call Economic Development Manager Jessica Gribben at 419-342-4159 before applying. Note that all work must be completed within the calendar year of application unless an exception is made by requesting in writing for an extension.
Workforce Development
The North Central State College Kehoe Center and Pioneer Career and Technology Center, both located in Shelby, specialize in workforce training.
About 800 students attend North Central State College’s Kehoe Center for Advanced Learning. The Kehoe Center is one of 10 SkillsMAX Centers in Ohio. In addition, the location offers a nationally recognized Integrated Systems Technology laboratory and a regional Advanced Manufacturing Tool & Die Center. The Kehoe Center celebrated the grand opening of the Ralph Phillips Conference Center in February 2014. This facility, centralized between Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus, will host corporate training sessions, trade conferences and banquet events.
Pioneer Career and Technology Center provides career training opportunities to 14 partner high schools as well as adult students. In addition to its career training, Pioneer also has a Corporate & Industry Training Services department with an authorized OSHA trainer.
Accessibility
Road
From the heart of Shelby, State Routes 61, 96, and 39 provide easy access to such thoroughfares such as US 30, Interstate 71, and the Ohio Turnpike (US 80/Interstate 90). Shelby is accessible by vehicle from Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, and Canton within 90 minutes; Toledo within 2 hours; and Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Parkersburg, WV, in 3 hours.
Rail
CSX and Ashland Railway (a shortline service) each have lines through Shelby. Ashland Railway operates 56 miles of track with a base operation in Mansfield, Ohio, and interchanges with CSX, Norfolk Southern and Wheeling & Lake Erie Railways.
Air
Shelby’s Airport (12G) offers two hangers to house up to 17 planes. The Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, home to the 179th Cyberspace Wing and Red Horse Squadron of the Ohio Air National Guard, is located along State Route 13 and only a 20-minute drive from Shelby. Commercial airlines are available at the Cleveland Hopkins International, Columbus John Glenn International, and Akron-Canton Regional Airports – each about 75 miles away
Why Shelby?
“Our company’s story began in Ohio and our presence in Shelby goes back for several decades. What began as a small solution to handle parts orders at our assembly factory, eventually grew into a stand-alone operation, occupying a considerable portion of the Central Ohio Industrial Park. When the time came to expand the operation into a new building, several locations were considered. Weighing factors such as transportation, utilities, taxes and available, affordable land, the City of Shelby was not only competitive, it surpassed the offerings of much larger cities in the Midwest. However, the definitive answer to “Why Shelby?” is our employees and the people of this community. We have found with few exceptions that folks around here demonstrate values such as stewardship, integrity, hard work and respect. People have several choices for training and continued education, strengthening our ability for innovation and growth. Many years ago, one of the MTD founders stated “The Past We Inherit. The Future We Create”. This phrase, while simple and profound, has deep meaning for our company and our employees. It extends beyond the walls of our factory and into our community. We are proud to be part of the City of Shelby and its future.”
– MTD PRODUCTS
CONTACT
Jessica Gribben, Economic Development Manager
Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development
