Commissioners and county officials on Sept. 26 framed plans to market a large unincorporated property as an "advanced manufacturing campus," emphasized the need to consolidate water and wastewater infrastructure for growth, and described progress with state and federal agencies on Black River restoration.

The commissioners said an updated airport master plan and recent state support position the county to attract advanced manufacturing and related development to the New Russia Township area. County officials said master-plan conformity will be required for federal funding of airport- or site-related improvements.

Why it matters: commissioners said coordinated wastewater and water solutions are essential to support large-scale industrial or campus development without saddling individual townships or small utilities with prohibitive upgrade costs. They argued consolidation could produce economies of scale and access to state and EPA funding.

County administrator and commissioners described the site as a longstanding regional asset and said roughly $68 million in state funds and other support have put the county in contention for major projects. Commissioner remarks urged a rebrand away from the word “megasite” toward “advanced manufacturing campus" to reflect multiple potential uses and partnerships.

Don (surname not specified), chair of the Black River Advisory Committee, said the river has shown sustained improvement after decades of cleanup work. He told the board that Ohio EPA recently removed two beneficial-use impairments and that removing the remaining impairment (benthos, the organisms that live in river sediment) could allow the Black River to be delisted as an Area of Concern by about 2028.

Commissioners and staff linked the environmental and development work: dispersing uncoordinated septic systems and small package plants in newly developed frontages would risk water quality. They said consolidating wastewater treatment, pursuing federal and state grants, and reducing the number of inefficient small plants would lower costs for residents and support sustainable growth.

Officials said planning and zoning support for townships, engagement with Job and Economic Development (JED/JEDS) structures, and partnerships with state economic development entities are part of an integrated strategy. They asked staff to continue coordination with townships, the Ohio EPA, JobsOhio and other stakeholders.

Ending: Commissioners said they will continue outreach and planning to align zoning, infrastructure funding and master plans with the proposed campus vision and to keep the airport master plan and EPA coordination on track.