Quietly but steadily the last 20 months, Toledo’s Regional Growth Partnership appears to have done a stellar job of fulfilling its mission: to promote economic development that brings more jobs to northwest Ohio.

The agency set a 2014 goal of producing 55 projects in the region that would generate 2,200 jobs and capital investment of $1.5 billion.

It ended up with 76 projects, 3,569 jobs created, and capital investment of $1.87 billion, according to a report presented this month to the board of the growth partnership, the main economic development agency in northwest Ohio.

The goal this year is for 45 projects, 2,400 jobs, and $1.25 billion. Through the first eight months, 28 projects have materialized with 1,355 jobs created and $1.1 billion invested.

“Anybody can sit there and answer the phone and land a project if someone’s looking to come here,” said Dean Monske, the RGP’s president and chief executive officer. “What we’re about now is finding opportunities that would never come here otherwise.”

Best of all, not any of the 104 total projects in 2014 and 2015 are “maybe” or “promised,” Mr. Monske said. “They have either happened or are happening and in the construction phase.”

A key project last year was a $19.5 million investment by Sauder Woodworking Co. of Archbold, which added four lines of furniture it is producing for Ikea U.S., the American subsidiary of the Swedish home-furnishings retailer.

The investment was expected to create 250 jobs in Fulton County, but Sauder Woodworking chief executive Kevin Sauder said it’s likely to end up closer to 200 jobs — for the time being. 

Ikea wants more products that are sold in the United States to be made in the United States to save shipping costs.

“We’ve been identified as one of their strongest North American suppliers, so I really do believe [the jobs eventually created] will be greater than what we’ve worked out in this particular contract,” Mr. Sauder said.

One new equipment line is operating, and 40 workers have been hired. Two lines are being installed and tested, and room is being made for a fourth line, Mr. Sauder said. “We shipped the first items from the first new collection this past month,” he added.

The CEO credited the growth partnership, along with Fulton County and state officials, for helping smooth the development process.

Projects tallied by the Regional Growth Partnership this year include The Andersons’ new Monclova Township headquarters, which will preserve 450 jobs and could lead to more, and Sekisui Plastics USA’s new $5.2 million auto-parts manufacturing plant that created 50 jobs in Kenton in Hardin County.

According to the growth partnership, 77 percent of the projects span across five sectors which illustrate the strengths, in both expertise and assets, of northwest Ohio’s 17 counties, Mr. Monske said.

Thirty projects over the last 20 months are in advanced manufacturing, a sector that has generated 1,552 jobs and $320 million in investment. One such project was Sauder’s.

The automotive sector produced 19 projects, 1,073 jobs, and $203 million in investment. The top project was Tower Automotive in Bellevue in Sandusky County. Tower invested $32 million to add two auto frame assembly lines that created 138 jobs.

A food-processing category listed 10 projects, 936 jobs, and $203 million in new capital. Lakeview Farms in Delphos in Allen County was the key project, expanding its sour cream, dips, and dessert-making operations by adding 200 jobs and investing $9.7 million in new equipment.

The energy sector provided 11 projects, 248 jobs, and $1.48 billion in investments. It was led by the Oregon Clean Energy LLC gas-fired electric plant now under construction. The plant, on Lallendorf Road in Oregon, will create 25 jobs and cost $800 million.

A logistic and transportation-category generated 11 projects that are creating 531 jobs and $108 million in investment, the growth partnership said. The sector’s top project is the Texas-based McLane Co.’s new distribution warehouse in Findlay that will create 425 jobs.

More importantly, the project is the prime example of the economic development agency’s efforts to court project site selectors to generate project leads, Mr. Monske said.

In 2008, the agency identified the nation’s 2,000 top site selection consultants, winnowed that to 200, then began visiting those consultants, most of whom were in Chicago. 

“We would go on a regular basis to see these guys face-to-face,” Mr. Monske said.

One of the consultants was Michael Quint, senior vice president at Dallas-based site consultant Jackson & Cooksey.

“He was out of Texas and had never done a deal in Ohio. But we identified him as someone to get to know and let him know we were interested in working with him,” Mr. Monske said. “We ended up getting him here for a visit, and a couple of months later he calls and says, ‘I’ve got a project, and it may be a fit for you guys.’”

The project was McLane’s warehouse, and with Mr. Quint’s help, the firm chose Findlay.

Three years ago, less than 10 percent of northwest Ohio projects were developed by leads from site selectors. 

Last year, it was 30 percent, Mr. Monske said.

Contact Jon Chavez at: jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.

First Published September 27, 2015, 4:00 a.m.