Sandusky & Seneca County CEDS
2024 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
Overview of the CEDS
What is the CEDS?
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a strategy-driven plan for regional economic development that is the result of a regionally owned planning process.
The CEDS is designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region.
Why is the CEDS Important?
- Builds on the strengths of region and identifies gaps in resources, expertise, and programs.
- Facilitates regional collaboration, expands supply chains, and grows and supports new industry clusters.
- Increases the likelihood of attracting federal funds and technical assistance by demonstrating resources are used efficiently and effectively.
- Makes a region eligible for some forms of federal funding.
- Increases resiliency and better positions the region to plan for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters and economic shocks.
- Serves as a call to action and an engagement platform for regional economic development initiatives [1] .
What are the Components of a CEDS?
Regional Assets
- This section highlights a sample of the region's natural and physical assets that provide areas of comparative advantage for the region.
Demographic & Economic Data
- A key component of the CEDS process is to analyze and document the economic, demographic, and social state of the region.
- The exact data points needed vary by region and should be chosen to help analytics to inform the development of the SWOT analysis and the Action Plan.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis:
- A SWOT analysis helps the region answer the question: "Where are we now?" by assessing the region's unique assets and areas of competitive advantage.
- The SWOT analysis also identifies the internal or external factors that can keep a region from realizing its potential.
Action Plan:
- The action plan, comprised of a vision statement, goals, objectives, and strategies, is the “heart and soul of the CEDS” that flows from the SWOT analysis.
- The action plan answers the question, “Where do we want to go and how are we going to get there?”
Evaluation Framework:
- The evaluation framework is utilized to track progress on the implementation of the Action Plan. It contains a variety of economic metrics.
- The evaluation framework answers the question, “How are we doing and what can we do better?”
- Measures selected should be based upon what is important to the region and what conditions need to be reversed or created.
Economic Resilience:
- A CEDS should also contain strategies to enhance economic resilience and build capacity to recover quickly from, withstand, or avoid economic or natural shocks.
- Strategies selected should be based upon what is important to the region and what conditions need to be reversed or created to establish responsive and durable information networks. This encourages communication and collaboration among regional stakeholders for existing and potential future challenges.
Introduction to Sandusky & Seneca Counties
This CEDS has been developed through a joint effort between Seneca and Sandusky Counties in Northwest Ohio. The two counties are in close proximity to the Toledo Metropolitan Area, and are approximately 90 miles north of Columbus. The largest cities in the area are Tiffin, which is in Seneca County, and Fremont, in Sandusky County. There are many other cities, villages, and townships within each county. Seneca County is bisected by U.S. 224, which runs the width of the county. Sandusky County is home to U.S. 6 and U.S. 20, which both run along the outskirts of the city of Fremont. Interstates 80 and 90 run along the top of Sandusky County, which makeup a part of the Ohio Turnpike.
According to the 2020 Census, Seneca County is home to 55,080 people and Sandusky County is home to 58,900 people (and together both counties have a total population of 113,980 people). In Sandusky and Seneca County, manufacturing is the largest industry, generating 36.8% of the region’s gross regional product (GRP) in 2022. Consequently, the largest occupation in the two counties is working in production.
Seneca and Sandusky County have multiple railways that are owned and operated by Norfolk Southern. Seneca County also has a railway owned and operated by CSX that runs through the City of Tiffin. Additionally, there is the Northern Ohio & Western Railroad which is owned by Sandusky-Seneca-Tiffin Port Authority (SSTPA) that runs through both Sandusky and Seneca Counties to Tiffin. There are also multiple airports in both counties. Seneca County has the Fostoria Metropolitan Airport, the Weiker Airport, and the Seneca County Airport. Additionally, Sandusky County has the Fremont Airport and the Sandusky County Regional Airport.
Both counties are home to multiple education institutions. Tiffin University and Heidelberg University are in Seneca County. Sandusky County is home to Terra State Community College. Furthermore, there are several tourist attractions located in or close to both counties. For example, the popular amusement park Cedar Point is around an hour drive from both county seats. Sandusky County is also home to the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, located at the President’s former summer estate in Fremont. Additionally, Tiffin is home to an award-winning Downtown Main Street.
Regional Assets
Sandusky and Seneca Counties are home to an abundance of natural, physical, human, and educational assets that have shaped the region and its people.
Interstates and U.S. Highways
Sandusky County is bisected by U.S. 6 and U.S. 20, which both go around the outskirts of the city of Fremont. At the top of the county are Interstates 80 and 90 which are a part of the Ohio Turnpike.
Seneca County is bisected by U.S. 224 which runs the length of the county. U.S. 23 also runs along the width of the county.
These roadway assets provide easy logistics for the transportation of goods to and from the counties. They also facilitate tourism.
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Rail Lines
Sandusky and Seneca counties both have rail assets, which includes Class 1 lines for Norfolk Southern and CSX which intersect with each other in multiple places in Seneca County. Sandusky County is primarily utilized by Norfolk Southern. The Northern Ohio & Western Railroad runs through both Sandusky and Seneca counties into the City of Tiffin. The region's rail assets support the manufacturing companies by facilitating movement of cargo and goods throughout the counties.
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Airports
Both Sandusky and Seneca Counties host several airports including the Sandusky Regional Airport, the Fremont Airport, the Seneca County Airport, the Fostoria Metropolitan Airport, the Weicker Airport, and the Bandit Field Airdrome. These airports are vital assets that provide general aviation connectivity for the two counties, which allows for the greater support of cargo and logistics operations.
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Parks and Natural Areas
There are a multitude of parks, nature reserves, and wildlife areas throughout both Sandusky County and Seneca County. Sandusky County is home to the North Coast Inland Trail, which is a 28 mile paved trail that runs throughout the county, and the Mull Covered Bridge, which is one of the last remaining covered bridges in Northwest Ohio. Seneca County hosts Opportunity Park, which provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities, including a fully accessible playground. These areas provide recreational opportunities to residents and visitors and help foster a high-quality of place.
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Educational Institutions
Sandusky County is home to Terra State Community College and Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Center. Seneca County is home to Heidelberg University and Tiffin University. There are a multitude of different educational institutions in Tiffin, including a North Central Ohio Educational Service Center campus, the North Central Academy, Bridges Academy, and Academy of Hair Design. Both Sandusky and Seneca County also have serval local school districts. These educational institutions help foster a culture of learning and are vital partners in workforce development in the region.
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Demographic & Economic Data
To inform the development of the SWOT analysis and the Action Plan, CRD used its capabilities in data analytics and visualization to develop several illustrations that present key demographic and economic data for Sandusky and Seneca County. The data here provides insights on industry clusters and projected industry growth, regional commuting patterns, and population change over a 10-year period.
Aging Workforce
An issue that the Sandusky-Seneca County region is faced with is an aging workforce. When large numbers of the workforce retire around the same time, there is a loss of institutional knowledge and many jobs to fill. When looking at the trends of age demographics in the region, we can see that between the years of 2022-2027 there will be a 9% decline in individuals between the ages of 55-59, an 8% decline in individuals between the ages of 60-64 years old, and a 4% decline in individuals between the ages of 65-69 years old. Other than the age ranges of 35-39 years old and 45-49 years old which see a 10% increase, the other lower age ranges do not show significant growth.
Population Change
Sandusky and Seneca County have experienced a declining population due to outward migration. According to the 2020 Census, between 2010 and 2020, Sandusky County lost 1,568 people, and Seneca County lost 2,021 people. Projections for population trends for 2020-2030 show a nominal growth in population of 240 people which equates to growth of >1%. The State of Ohio’s population is expected to grow by 1% while the United States will see a 5% growth in population by 2030.
Commuting Patterns
Daily net commuters accounts for how many individuals enter, stay, or leave Seneca or Sandusky County each day for work. In 2022, Sandusky County had a net gain of 33 people, while Seneca County had a net loss of 7,636 people leave the county to go to their place of employment. It is ideal to have ample employment opportunities within each county so residents do not have to leave or commute a long distance to their place of employment.
Industry Clusters
The chart to the right shows the projected employment concentration by industry (2032), the projected growth of the industry over the next ten years (2022-2032) and the current average wages paid by industry in 2022 dollars. The size of the industry bubble represents the employment concentration, which measures the comparative advantage the region has in an industry in terms of talent. A value of 1.0 means a concentration of jobs at the national average in a specified region and a value of above or below 1.0 means a higher or lower concentration of employment in a particular industry in that region. Over the next 10 years, the top five industries with projected employment growth in Seneca and Sandusky Counties are Information (30%), Utilities (23%), Educational Services (21%), Wholesale Trade (21%), and Manufacturing (17%). The employment concentration projection for 2032 shows a very competitive manufacturing concentration at nearly four times the national average. Other competitive employment concentrations in industries projected to grow include the Educational Services (1.73) and Utilities (1.10) industries.
Sandusky-Seneca County Summary Background
In addition, CRD has developed an infographic containing detailed information on population demographics, educational attainment, housing, poverty, labor force participation, income, and information on the region’s largest industries. Key insights derived from the analysis of the demographic and economic data are listed below.
SWOT Analysis
The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis helps the region establish a baseline of current economic conditions. The SWOT analysis assesses the region's unique assets and areas of competitive advantage. It also identifies the internal and external factors that can keep a region from realizing its potential.
Strengths
The manufacturing sector is strong and seeing growth.
A strong presence of career technology training and trade schools.
A robust local university presence.
Momentum in downtown areas (Tiffin & Fremont).
An expansive network of parks and trails.
Strong cooperation between economic development organizations.
Highway access to Route 20 and the Ohio Turnpike.
The communities are safe and family friendly.
Weaknesses
Housing stock is low.
Poor condition of major roadway corridors (Route 53 & Route 6).
Existing workforce shortage.
Lack of available land or building space for new or expanding businesses.
Lack of access to public water and sewer for new and expanding businesses.
Lack of diversity in the population.
Opportunities
Sandusky River waterfront development in downtown Tiffin and Fremont.
Utilization of local trade schools to train students for local jobs.
The fostering of more wide-spread cooperation by bringing all regional stakeholder groups together on economic development.
Economic growth via the green sector.
Economic growth via the technology sector.
Threats
Declining population.
Aging workforce.
Volatile housing market.
Inflation.
Action Plan
The action plan, comprised of a vision statement, goals, and strategies, is the “heart and soul of the CEDS” that flows from regional consensus built through the completion of the SWOT analysis. The action plan answers the question, “Where do we want to go and how are we going to get there?”
