Pioneer Economic Development Opportunities Report January 2024
Available Properties in Pioneer, OH
Welcome to Pioneer, Ohio! Nestled in Williams County in the northwest corner of the Buckeye State, this village boasts a rich history and a promising economic future. The village’s strategic location boasts an inventory of high-profile development-ready sites primed for new development. Pioneer is on the brink of exciting opportunities and growth, and is a unique blend of a great place to get away from city life and relax in nature, while still having access to amenities. The natural beauty surrounding the village has made it an excellent destination for outdoor recreation, as well as economic development.
Pioneer Sign
Location, Location, Location
Pioneer is strategically located, providing companies with easy access from Indiana and Michigan, as well as Ohio. The Toledo Express Airport is less than an hour away, and the Ft. Wayne International Airport is within 1 ½ hours travel time. Interstates 80/90 (east-west) and Interstate 69 (north-south), bring Lansing, Chicago, and Indianapolis to within a few hours’ drive. One can also make the drive to St. Louis and Nashville in fewer than 8 hours.
Pioneer on the map
While ambition, imagination, and location are essential to business success, so is the importance of education. Locally, the North Central Local Schools and other schools in the area are well-rated, provide a quality educational system, and offer quality instruction from dedicated teachers. For higher education, students can choose from an impressive array of options to continue their studies close to home including top-notch educational institutions such as Hillsdale College, Trine University, Bowling Green State University, the University of Toledo, Northwest State Community College, as well as several other colleges/universities. This available talent in such close proximity to Pioneer is an important strategic advantage for the village as the competition for workforce talent heats up nationwide. With six colleges and universities in Ohio and Michigan within an hour’s drive, the village is ready to prepare its residents for the jobs of the future.
When it comes to relaxation, the area offers plenty of recreational and leisure activities, from biking and kayaking to visiting local parks and quaint shops. Residents can take advantage of year-round outdoor activities. In addition, you can quickly access two of the Great Lakes — Lake Erie (1 hour 40 minutes away), and Lake Michigan (2 ¼ hours away). Williams County is known for its low crime rates and excellent first responders. You can find an exceptionally high quality of life in Pioneer and surrounding Williams County.
Clear Fork Creek in Crommer Park
Eagles Stadium
Why Pioneer?
What truly sets Pioneer apart is its sense of community. Local initiatives and collaborations between businesses, government entities, and civic organizations are shaping a future that reflects the shared values and aspirations of its residents.
Williams County Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO) partners with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Northwest State Community College to provide small business owners and entrepreneurs with resources to support their efforts to initiate or expand their businesses. Businesses can turn to the Northwest Ohio SBDC for assistance with business plan development, financial analysis, marketing, accounting, bookkeeping, and strategic planning.
Businesses in downtown Pioneer
The Northwest Ohio Region is experiencing significant new investment and economic growth, and Pioneer is ideally located to take full advantage of this improving business climate. The region is benefitting from the exciting renaissance and revitalization of Downtown Toledo, and the regional economic collaboration provided by one of Ohio’s premier economic development organizations, the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) of Northwest Ohio. And yet, Pioneer maintains the ambiance, charm, and pride of small-town living.
Pioneer’s economic engine is fueled by a diverse range of industries. From manufacturing to agriculture, the community displays resilience and adaptability. Pioneer is well positioned to support current and future growth industries and be a hub for innovation. Pioneer is proud of the $400 million investment by Aquabounty.
With a steady increase in employment rates and a host of job opportunities across sectors, the village is becoming a magnet for professionals seeking both a fulfilling career and a high quality of life. Today the Village of Pioneer has a population of approximately 1,380 with core employers located in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Ambition and imagination have proven successful for such local companies:
- Relfel Industries
- Altenloh Brink & Co.
- Toledo Tool and Die
- Universal Industrial Products
- Action Precision Products (APP)
- CNC and Precision Grinding
- Pioneer Industrial
- SOSS Invisible Hinges Manufacturer
Pioneer’s efficient and high-quality municipal utilities — electric, water, and sewer — have played a role in the success of these businesses. Established in 1912, the Pioneer Light Department serves more than 800 meters, with the majority being residential customers. The Light Department received a 2013 American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) Safety Award for transmission/distribution, and the village received an AMP System Improvement Award in 2013 for its pole replacement project. This project enabled the village to provide better grounding and coordination in wire and transformer sizing for the available load. Overall efficiency has improved, and customers are seeing cost savings from these upgrades. Pioneer is known for it’s reliable power and very impressive “Keep the Lights on” record and recently won the System Improvement Award 20 Circuit Upgrade at the 2023 AMP conference.
Pioneer specializes in providing innovative and cost-effective strategies for growth and expansion. Its team of experts is experienced in collaborating with clients in industries such as distribution and logistics, automotive, food processing, plastic fabrication, and injection molding. They can help you make the most of your resources and maximize your return on investment. The village has prime development-ready “Greenfield” sites such as the North Industrial Park (74.70 acres) and the South Industrial Park (136 acres), which have industrial zoning and incentives in place, as well as utilities to the site. Rounding out this exceptional inventory is the South Industrial Park Extension (90 acres). These sites are ready to support your company’s expansion or new location needs.
The village is open for business and could be an ideal location for businesses and people looking for that “right” location to reach their potential. Why not check us out? Just give us a call or stop by. We’ll be glad to show you around so you can see all that Pioneer has to offer.
Site opportunities include:
- 136 acres of industrial and vacant land
South Industrial Park
- 7 acres of industrial and vacant land
North Industrial Park
Pioneer South Industrial Park Extension
- 90 acres of vacant land
Public Power and AMP
Public power utilities are not-for-profit, community-owned electric systems that work to provide the highest quality, most reliable power to residents and businesses. They are a part of the communities and focus on what is best for the people and businesses they serve.
American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) is the nonprofit wholesale power supplier and services provider for 132 members in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; as well as the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, a joint action agency in Smyrna, Delaware. On behalf of our members, AMP deploys a diverse renewable generation portfolio along with environmentally responsible programs and services as part of a corporate commitment to sustainability.