Multiple companies are planning to add nearly 600 new jobs across central Ohio in fields ranging from engineering to manufacturing, according to a release from the state.
The Ohio Department of Development on Aug. 24 announced 13 total projects adding 3,553 jobs across Ohio with more than $1.1 billion in total investment. Of the new projects, five are in central Ohio.
Several of the regional projects have direct ties to the booming data center industry in central Ohio. While the proliferation of data centers has become controversial in many communities, economic development leaders say the facilities produce jobs well beyond their footprint.
“Data center growth is creating an economic ecosystem that reaches well beyond the facilities themselves,”
Jonas Peterson, president of One Columbus, said in a statement.
Here are a look at the investments bringing new jobs to the region:
Westerman, Inc., Bremen and Hebron
Westerman is expanding its existing manufacturing operation to accommodate for growth in data centers and nuclear energy. The Hebron project in Licking County will be entirely dedicated to the production of nuclear transport and storage equipment.
“Energy customers are asking American manufacturers to do more, and Westerman is ready to meet that demand,” Jacob Garrett, CEO of Westerman, said in a statement.
Westerman is a manufacturer of metal storage tanks and transport containers for the oil & natural gas, water, nuclear and data center industries. The company specializes in high-pressure vessels for "challenging environments."
The firm expects to add 210 positions generating $13.3 million in new payroll by the end of 2029 in Fairfield County's village of Bremen. The state approved a 1.644% job creation tax credit for nine years for the Bremen project.
In Hebron, the firm plans to add 135 positions generating more than $8.4 million in new payroll by the end of 2029. The state approved a 1.486% job creation tax credit for eight years for the Hebron project.
Onda/Wieland USA, Delaware
Onda is planning to expand its manufacturing capabilities by leasing a new 100,000-square-foot space in Delaware. The company plans to add 100 new positions generating $6.7 million in new payroll by the end of 2029, more than tripling the workforce in Delaware.
The company is a subsidiary of Wieland, a global supplier of semi-finished copper and copper alloy products for automotive, electronics, refrigeration, air conditioning and other industries. The new facility will manufacture heat exchangers that remove heat from cooling systems, helping data centers operate reliably.
“Demand for high-performance data center cooling is accelerating, and this investment gives us the capacity to grow with our customers,” Rodrigo De Luca, VP of Wieland Onda, Global, said in a statement.
The state approved a 1.407% job creation tax credit for eight years for the project.
Burns & McDonnell Engineering, Columbus
The engineering firm Burns & McDonnell will relocate to a larger office space Downtown, according to a state release. This will allow the firm to add 45 positions generating $3.6 million in new payroll by the end of 2029. The company is an engineering, architecture, planning and construction firm serving the water, power, transportation, aviation and manufacturing sectors. The state approved a 1.343% job creation tax credit for seven years for the expansion.
John W. Danforth Company, Dublin
Danforth is planning to lease a new 50,000-square-foot facility to increase manufacturing and operational capacity. This will allow the firm to create 80 new positions generating $8 million in new payroll by the end of 2030. The company specializes in providing engineered mechanical solutions in the commercial, sports & entertainment, industrial, healthcare, education, government and advanced technology markets. The state approved a 1.571% tax credit for eight years.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Data center growth touted in addition of 500+ jobs in central Ohio
