Road, River, Rail, and Workforce –
Washington County Advantages
Washington County, Ohio, offers several key advantages for businesses. The region provides strategic access to major transportation routes, including rail, river, and highway systems, facilitating easy distribution to the East Coast markets. It is home to a skilled workforce, particularly in sectors such as plastics, polymers, and metals manufacturing. Additionally, the cost of living and operational expenses in the area are competitive, allowing businesses to thrive. Local and regional development organizations, like SeOPA and OhioSE, provide essential support for business development, site selection, and workforce training.
Shale Crescent USA Region
The Shale Crescent USA is a geographic region with a unique set of world-class assets. These assets along with an increase in regional natural gas production have created an unprecedented economic advantage for all energy-intensive businesses. According to a recent IHS Markit study, abundant low-cost natural gas and other logistical advantages have positioned the Shale Crescent USA as the most economic region for new and expanding petrochemical facilities.
The Shale Crescent USA is made up of the Marcellus and Utica shale-producing regions of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. The region’s primary area of activity are the counties bordering the Ohio River. Washington County sits at the heart of the region.
Energy Advantage:
In 2010, the Shale Crescent USA (OH, WV, and PA) produced 3% of U.S. natural gas. Today, the region produces almost 30% of U.S. natural gas. By 2040, the region is expected to be producing nearly 40% of total U.S. natural gas production. The abundance of energy has led to significant discounted natural gas prices both now and into the future for consumers within the region.
Other Advantages:
Water Access: The Ohio River provides an abundance of water for processing and transportation.
Proximity to Market: The Shale Crescent USA is within a day’s drive to over 50% of the North American Population/Markets.
Skilled Labor Force: The region has a qualified and efficient workforce with a history of industry-related skills.
Economic Advantage:
Abundant and low-cost natural gas and natural gas liquids have created significant economic advantages for all energy-intensive businesses. A recent IHS Markit study compared building a petrochemical facility on the Gulf Coast to building a petrochemical facility in the Shale Crescent USA. The study predicts that an ethylene project in the Shale Crescent USA region will produce a net present value (NPV in 2020) on EBITDA of $930 million over the life of the project, compared to an NPV of $217 million for a similar project on the US Gulf Coast. This represents an NPV cash flow advantage of $713 million for an investment in the Shale Crescent USA project versus a project on the US Gulf Coast. The NPV cash flow is over four times higher in the Shale Crescent USA project than in the US Gulf Coast project. Without considering the time value of money, the pre-tax cash flow of the Shale Crescent USA project from 2020 to 2040 amounts to $11.5 billion, compared to $7.9 billion for a similar Gulf Coast project, a pre-tax cash flow advantage of $3.6 billion.
For a more in-depth look at what the Shale Crescent Initiative entails and how you can benefit, watch this informative video from SCUSA president Jerry James.
Shale Crescent USA Organization
The Shale Crescent USA is a 501 c4 whose mission is to encourage economic growth in the region by attracting businesses that can benefit from the Shale Crescent USA region’s unique set of world-class assets. To learn more visit shalecrescentusa.com.
Metals & Magnets
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Eramet
Eramet’s Marietta facility is one of only a few manganese alloy manufacturing facilities in the USA. They manufacture a variety of manganese-based products including Silicomanganese (2% Carbon), Ferromanganese (High Carbon, Medium Carbon, Low Carbon) & Manganese by-products (Manganese tetraoxide and slag). Eramet has been an anchor employer along the State Route 7 Industrial Corridor for more than 60 years.
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Ferroglobe
Ferroglobe (Globe Metallurgical) uses state-of-the-art technology in their production processes, supplying critical ingredients for many industrial and consumer products, from silicones to solar power cells, from steel to aluminum to foundry components. They are among the world’s leading suppliers of silicon metal and its alloys, and manganese alloys, serving a customer base across the globe from Beverly, Ohio.
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Pioneer
The Pioneer Group is one of the largest full-service construction, maintenance, and fabrication companies in the Midwest, specializing in general, structural, mechanical, and electrical construction, pipe fabrication and installation, steel fabrication and erection, modular fabrication and assembly, and plant maintenance. Pioneer maintains ASME & National Board Stamps S-U-R-NB, ISO 9001:2015 Certifications, AISC Steel Fabricator Certifications, and API 1104 certifications.
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Magnum Magnetics
Magnum Magnetics is the largest manufacturer of flexible magnets in the United States, including printable magnetic sheeting and magnetic rolls, magnetic strip, and extruded magnets. They specialize in manufacturing flexible magnets (also called “rubber magnets”) for a variety of applications and industries, including commercial printing, wide-format signage and graphics, engineering, manufacturing, retail craft, and office products, and more.
Plastics & Polymers
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Dimex
Dimex is one of the largest compounders of recycled plastic scrap, supplying recycled flexible PVC and TPE compounds and blends to other environmentally friendly manufacturers. Dimex uses its own compounds in its industrial and consumer products, which uniquely positions them to not only understand their customers’ needs, but to also provide the engineering, formulation, manufacturing, testing, and distribution capabilities to consistently meet those needs quickly and effectively.
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Kraton
Kraton develops, manufactures, and markets bio-based chemicals and specialty polymers that deliver exceptional value and enhance the lives of people all over the world. As a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers (SBC) and pine chemicals, Kraton manufactures high-performance materials that differentiate their customers’ products and meet multi-market needs. Their facility in Belpre, Ohio, is the largest facility in their portfolio and it currently serves as their Innovation Center.
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Mondo
Mondo Polymer Technologies manufactures high-quality products for transportation and related industries. A wide variety of their products are made from recycled polyethylene and are environmentally safe. Headquartered in Reno, Ohio, Mondo Polymers offers solutions relating to rotational molding, injection molding, extrusion, and related fabrication and distribution services for its own products, as well as others manufactured under contract with other firms.
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Syensqo
Syensqo is a global leader in materials, chemicals, and solutions. Syensqo brings advancements in planes, cars, batteries, smart and medical devices, water and air treatment, to solve critical industrial, social, and environmental challenges. You can count on their innovative solutions to contribute to a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable future. Their facility in Marietta, Ohio, specializes in the production of Udel® Polysulfone and Radel® Polyphenylsulfone.