Metal-Matic picks Middletown
Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: Economic Development
Forum Description: Local government efforts to develop the local Middletown area economy.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4537
Printed Date: Jun 24 2025 at 4:22am
Topic: Metal-Matic picks Middletown
Posted By: 409
Subject: Metal-Matic picks Middletown
Date Posted: Apr 30 2012 at 8:18pm
From the MJ:
Tube-maker picks MiddletownMetal-Matic plans to add 20 new jobs, start fall production.By Chelsey Levingston, Staff Writer 7:44 PM Monday, April 30, 2012 Metal-Matic plans to open its new Middletown facility in September, starting with up to 20 new employees and plans to increase to 200 new jobs in coming years, company officials told this newspaper Monday. The deal closed April 25 for Metal-Matic to buy one of the former MISA Metals plants from Worthington Industries, said Robert Baldauff, vice president of operations for the manufacturer. Metal-Matic, a Minnesota-based maker of carbon steel tubes for the automotive, appliance and construction industries, said the Middletown location was ideal for its proximity to steel suppliers and customers, and the quality of the facility, Baldauff said. “The deal is done and we’re proceeding with the appropriate things to get a plant in operation,” he said. “Most of the obstacles are behind us and we’re proceeding with equipping the plant with people and machinery.” The company is hiring for engineering and maintenance workers now and has already begun installation of equipment, he said. The company has said it estimates total employment to reach about 200 employees over the next decade, but it will take about 12 to 20 workers to open the plant. Bruce Petschen, an employee of Metal-Matic for 18 years, has been named plant supervisor. The Middletown Journal reported the company has received tax incentives of more than $500,000 from the city and state to purchase the 245,000-square-foot facility and open operations. The City of Middletown approved a 7-year Job Creation Incentive Grant valued at $254,000. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority approved a 55 percent, 7-year job creation tax credit valued at approximately $292,000. Metal-Matic is one of about 10 businesses off Yankee Road in Middletown that have opened or expanded in 2011 or have plans to in 2012. Two MISA Metals plants closed about a year ago after MISA Metals and Worthington Steel formed a joint venture to make steel building materials. Some of the equipment was moved to Worthington Steel’s operations in Monroe. Worthington Steel is part of Columbus-based Worthington Industries. Metal-Matic specializes in welded and cold-drawn carbon mechanical steel tubing. |
Replies:
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 6:28am
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Alright....today's Journal...
Middletown cleanup efforts may reduce with state change Middletown’s goal of cleaning up former industrial sites littered throughout the city could be hampered by a change in state policy. Officials said JobsOhio’s goal to change brownfield remediation funding from a grant-based program to offering low-interest loans would reduce the number projects around the state that are started next year. Middletown has relied on grants from the state in the past to clean up former industrial sites like Aeronca and a non-industrial site like Middletown Regional Hospital. The city’s goal is to make these sites available for future development and job growth. NOW, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST, WHEN ASKING CITY LEADERS, THAT THE REASON WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT NEW JOBS INTO TOWN IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO CLEAN BROWNFIELD LAND NOR ACREAGE TO OFFER COMPANIES LOOKING TO LOCATE HERE. I HAVE HEARD IT SEVERAL TIMES. WHAT ABOUT THE STATEMENT BELOW? Middletown has about 2,000 acres of land that can be developed, and about 9 percent of that land contains brownfields SEEMS TO ME WE HAVE LAND AVAILABLE. IF THIS IS TRUE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT MANY JOBS OVER THE YEARS HAVE GONE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, WHEN THE CITY HAD LAND TO OFFER ALL ALONG, WHY HAS THE CITY STRUCK OUT ON EVERY COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS AREA? ONE WOULD HAVE TO CONCLUDE A LACK OF EFFORT ON THE CITY'S PART, RIGHT? 2004 Aeronca $3 million Completed 2007 Former Middletown Regional Hospital $1.8 million Completed BROWNFIELD WORK COMPLETED. ARE THESE BEING MARKETED? ACTIVE OR OCCASIONAL ATTEMPTS? COMPLETED IN 2004-2007. ANY INTEREST FROM ANYONE? HOW LONG DOES THE CITY ANTICIPATE THESE PROPERTIES SITTING VACANT? ALOT OF GREEN SPACE CAUSED BY DEMOLITION. LITTLE TO NO OCCUPANCY OF THESE "OPEN SPACES" CREATED. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CREATE INTEREST IN THESE AREAS? |
Posted By: VietVet
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 6:47am
| Hopefully good news 409. Another opportunity for the people of Middletown who are unemployed or under-employed. Hope the company does as it promised and provides 200 jobs in the future before vacating the premises just as the tax incentives run out. One thing I have noticed. Each time an article is written about a company coming to the area......they never mention, what I would imagine, is a fairly important piece of the puzzle.....namely the wages paid and the benefits package offered. It is one thing to have jobs coming into town that will pay a decent, livable wage with bennies. It is another to have one come in paying $6 to $8 bucks an hour with limited or no bennies at all. No one can survive on that crap even if it is employment. Working for poverty wages as opposed to being unemployed......really no difference is there? Low wages helps no one, including the town. |
Posted By: lrisner
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 5:20pm
Well said! |
VietVet wrote:Posted By: Bocephus
Date Posted: May 01 2012 at 11:13pm
This is scarey
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