Stark Economic Development Board

What Stark Economic Development Board does

The Stark Economic Development Board (SEDB), legally Stark Economic Development Board, Inc., is a private non-profit corporation founded in May 1985 and headquartered at 400 3rd Street SE, Suite 310, Canton, Ohio. It is Stark County's designated economic development service provider, educator, and advocate, operating with a small staff of economic development professionals to help existing businesses grow, attract relocating companies, and support entrepreneurs. Core service lines include business attraction, retention and expansion assistance, site selection, real estate development support, environmental remediation funding, and zoning and regulatory compliance. SEDB administers the Stark County Port Authority (established June 22, 1995 by resolution of the Stark County Board of Commissioners), which delivers bond financing, PACE financing, and real estate programs, and operates U.S. Foreign Trade Zone #181 across 800+ acres of general-purpose and subzone land, providing duty deferral, reduction, or elimination for qualifying importers and exporters.

SEDB's revenue model is contribution-based rather than transaction-based: the organization is funded by local companies and foundations (including the Aultman Health Foundation, Paul & Carol David Foundation, Stark Community Foundation, Gessner Family Foundation, Timken Foundation, and corporate contributors such as Timken Company, Dominion Energy, and 415 Group). All services to businesses are provided at no cost, eliminating pricing as a commercial variable. The organization monetizes its statutory Port Authority role through bond and PACE administration and is the local Team NEO/JobsOhio partner, channeling state incentive flows into Stark County. Its principal programs beyond direct business assistance include the Strengthening Stark county-wide movement (launched 2018 with three focus areas and 20+ initiatives targeting workforce development, traded-sector employment, talent attraction, and innovation growth) and the Career Connect workforce placement initiative, which aggregates navigators from the Greater Stark County Urban League, ICAN Housing, Goodwill Industries, Stark County Job & Family Services, Ohio Means Jobs, Project REBUILD, Men's Challenge, and Stark County Community Action Agency.

Name

Stark Economic Development Board

Legal name

Stark Economic Development Board, Inc.

Website

https://starkcoohio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stark Economic Development Board is a Canton, Ohio-based private non-profit founded in 1985 that provides free economic development services — business attraction, expansion support, site selection, and financing — to businesses in Stark County while administering the Stark County Port Authority and Foreign Trade Zone #181.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction support
• Site selection assistance
• Foreign trade zone administration
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Contributions: SEDB is a private, non-profit corporation funded by local companies and foundations. The organization lists numerous foundation contributors (Aultman Health Foundation, Paul & Carol David Foundation, Stark Community Foundation, Gessner Family Foundation, Timken Foundation, etc.) and company contributors (415 Group, Dominion Energy, Timken Company, etc.).
2. Service Fees for Economic Development Programs: Revenue generated through administration of the Stark County Port Authority, which helps create and preserve jobs through financing, real estate and foreign trade zone programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stark Economic Development Board provides free economic development services to businesses seeking to start, expand, or relocate in Stark County, Ohio. Its offerings include business attraction, retention, and expansion assistance; site selection and real estate development support; administration of the Stark County Port Authority (including bond financing and PACE financing); operation of Foreign Trade Zone #181; environmental remediation funding; zoning and regulatory compliance support; and workforce development initiatives such as the Strengthening Stark movement and Career Connect program. The organization serves as a conduit connecting businesses with private equity, state job creation grants, and JobsOhio/Team NEO resources.

Product overview

The Stark Economic Development Board is a private, non-profit economic development organization that provides a comprehensive suite of services to grow businesses in Stark County, Ohio. Rather than a software product, it offers economic development services including business attraction, retention, and expansion assistance; administration of the Stark County Port Authority (including bond financing and PACE financing programs); management of Foreign Trade Zone #181; site selection and real estate development support; environmental remediation funding; and workforce development initiatives through the Strengthening Stark movement and Career Connect program. The organization serves as the local Team NEO and JobsOhio partner, connecting businesses with private equity, bond financing, and state job creation grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Strengthening Stark: A county-wide economic development movement overseen by Stark Economic Development Board, focused on creating a more vibrant economy FOR ALL through strategic priorities including market enrollment, employment expansion, talent attraction, and innovation growth.

Products and services

• Economic Development Services Core economic development services that help businesses start, expand, or relocate in Stark County, Ohio; includes business attraction, retention, and expansion assistance; site selection; real estate development; zoning and regulatory compliance support; and environmental remediation funding access. Aimed at business clients and corporate site selection teams.
• Stark County Port Authority Administration Administrative and operational support for the Stark County Port Authority, providing job creation and preservation through financing, real estate, and foreign trade zone programs; manages bond issuance, PACE financing, and port authority projects. Aimed at businesses and developers seeking project financing in Stark County.
• Foreign Trade Zone #181 Operation of U.S. Foreign Trade Zone #181 in Stark County, covering more than 800 acres of general purpose zone and subzone land. Offers duty deferral, reduction, or elimination for qualifying companies engaged in importing and exporting. Aimed at manufacturers, distributors, and logistics operations with cross-border trade activity.
• PACE Financing Property Assessed Clean Energy financing program enabling commercial property owners to obtain upfront financing for energy efficiency improvements, repaid through voluntary property tax assessments. Aimed at commercial property owners and developers seeking energy efficiency and clean energy project financing.
• Strengthening Stark Movement A county-wide economic improvement movement overseen by Stark Economic Development Board, focused on market-driven enrollment for in-demand industries, expanding traded sector employment, attracting and retaining talent aged 25-44, and driving innovation and productivity growth in Stark County.
• Career Connect A workforce placement initiative under Strengthening Stark that connects unemployed and underemployed job seekers with livable wage jobs, featuring navigator services that route residents through agencies including the Greater Stark County Urban League, ICAN Housing, Goodwill Industries, Stark County Job & Family Services, Ohio Means Jobs, Project REBUILD, Men's Challenge, and Stark County Community Action Agency.
• Site Selection & Real Estate Services Site selection assistance and real estate development services, working with local developers and commercial real estate agents to identify available buildings and sites for businesses looking to start, expand, or relocate in Stark County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 51,000+ jobs created or retained through assisted businesses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Team NEOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Private sector-led regional economic development organization created in 2003 by FirstEnergy Corporation, Greater Akron Chamber, Stark Development Board, Lorain County Chamber, Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, and Greater Cleveland Partnership. Team NEO engages in 'smart regionalism' to increase Northeast Ohio's economic power while maintaining local community strengths.
• JobsOhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate, non-profit economic development organization that helps businesses relocate, expand and prosper in Ohio. JobsOhio provides proactive, business-minded industry experts to help businesses grow and succeed through various programs aimed at businesses of all sizes.
• JumpStartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationally recognized nonprofit that serves to accelerate the success of diverse entrepreneurs and high growth companies. Has an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (Dan Brown) assigned to Stark County to support entrepreneurial ecosystem development.
• MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports, educates and champions manufacturing in Northern Ohio with the goal of transforming the region's economy into a powerful global player. Serves as the voice for the region's manufacturers and 'one stop shop' for public and private resources needed to compete globally.
• Stark Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation connecting people and charitable causes. Focuses on economic development, education, and strong neighborhoods. Oversees the Strengthening Stark movement which aims for a more vibrant economy FOR ALL through county-wide improvement planning.
• ECDI (Economic and Community Development Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Columbus with offices across Ohio. Leading SBA microloan intermediary, certified Community Development Corporation, and Treasury-designated Community Development Financial Institution serving small business clients in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
• NEFCO (Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council of governments formed in 1974 by elected officials in Portage, Stark, Summit and Wayne counties. Provides forum for discussing regional problems and coordinating local, state and federal planning programs.
• Ohio Means Jobs Stark and Tuscarawas CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier workforce development and training centers connecting job seekers with employers. Free service funded by U.S. Department of Labor and operated locally by Workforce Investment Board, Stark and Tuscarawas County Commissioners, and Mayor of Canton.
• Stark County Port AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished June 22, 1995 to promote economic development in Stark County. Uses broad statutory powers to help create and preserve jobs through financing, real estate, and Foreign Trade Zone programs. Operates FTZ #181 with 800+ acres of zone land.
• Strengthening StarkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement overseen by Stark Economic Development Board comprising economic development entities and community partners. Committed to aligning organizational goals toward county-wide improvement with priorities including workforce development, traded sector employment expansion, talent attraction, and innovation growth.
• Career ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce initiative under Strengthening Stark focused on placing unemployed and underemployed job seekers into livable wage jobs with intentional focus on economic mobility for minorities and low income residents. Includes navigating agencies: Greater Stark County Urban League, ICAN Housing, Goodwill Industries, Stark County Job & Family Services, Ohio Means Jobs, Project REBUILD, Men's Challenge, Stark County Community Action Agency.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• NEFCO (Northeast Ohio Four County Regional Planning): Regional council of governments for Portage, Stark, Summit, and Wayne counties. SEDB lists NEFCO as a partner; NEFCO coordinates regional planning with a related but distinct mandate.

Direct peers

• Team NEO: Regional economic development organization covering Northeast Ohio, including Stark County. SEDB is a founding local partner of Team NEO and operates in the same market with overlapping business-attraction and workforce development mandates.
• Dayton Development Coalition: Regional economic development organization for the Dayton region. Comparable mandate in business attraction/retention and workforce development in an Ohio legacy industrial market.
• Greater Akron Chamber: Regional chamber and economic development partner within Northeast Ohio. Operates in the same labor shed as SEDB and was a co-founding partner of Team NEO alongside SEDB in 2003.
• MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network): Cleveland-based nonprofit focused on manufacturing growth in Northern Ohio. SEDB is a partner and MAGNET supports overlapping manufacturers and workforce initiatives in the same region.
• Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber: Regional chamber serving Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Northeast Ohio. Co-founded Team NEO with SEDB and has a comparable legacy industrial economy with similar economic-development challenges.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Cleveland-area chamber and economic development organization. Co-founded Team NEO with SEDB and serves a comparable business-attraction, talent, and policy mandate in Northeast Ohio.
• One Columbus: Columbus Region's economic development organization. Operates with the same nonprofit model and JobsOhio-aligned mission as SEDB, focused on business attraction and expansion in central Ohio.
• JumpStart: Northeast Ohio nonprofit focused on accelerating entrepreneurs and high-growth companies. SEDB has an embedded Entrepreneur-in-Residence from JumpStart and they share a small-business/entrepreneurship development mandate.

Broad incumbents

• JobsOhio: State-level private nonprofit economic development organization. SEDB is a local JobsOhio partner, and both share the mission of business attraction, expansion, and job creation, but JobsOhio operates at state scale with substantially larger resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuKVVET2XsN0zhdwTbYIqPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SEDBStark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stark-development-board
• Xx.com/starkcountyedb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stark Economic Development Board