Allen Economic Development Group

What Allen Economic Development Group does

Allen Economic Development Group (AEDG) is a private nonprofit economic development organization founded in 1993 and headquartered at 144 S. Main Street, Suite 200, in Lima, Ohio. AEDG operates with a lean core staff of three (President & CEO, Business Development and Regional Workforce Development Director, and Executive Assistant) supported by a 17-member volunteer Board of Directors representing business, civic, and government leaders of Allen County. The organization provides free economic development services to businesses seeking to locate, expand, or remain in Allen County, including site selection assistance, incentive navigation (tax abatements, Opportunity Zones, CRAs), workforce development connections, and infrastructure coordination.

AEDG administers the Port Authority of Allen County (a political subdivision formed in 1982, reorganized in 2013), which deploys tools such as the Capital Lease Program (sales tax exemption on construction materials), BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio PACE financing, and support for the D'Arcy Loan Fund and Allen County Revolving Loan Fund. The organization coordinates with state-level partners (JobsOhio, Ohio Department of Development), regional partners (Regional Growth Partnership, Greater Lima Region), and a network of educational institutions (Apollo Career Center, Rhodes State College, OSU Lima, UNOH, Bluffton University) to deliver workforce pipeline initiatives including the annual MakerFest event reaching 1,600 high school students from 22 schools. AEDG's business model is not revenue-generating in the commercial sense; it is funded through collaborative government partnerships and does not charge businesses for its services, with the value delivered measured in capital investment attracted, jobs created, and projects facilitated (e.g., Google $500M Project BOSC data center, P&G $501M expansion, Amazon delivery station, Vanamatic expansion).

Name

Allen Economic Development Group

Legal name

Allen Economic Development Group

Website

https://aedg.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Allen Economic Development Group (AEDG) is a nonprofit economic development organization serving Allen County, Ohio, providing free site selection, incentive navigation, and workforce development services to businesses seeking to locate or expand in the Lima region. AEDG also administers the Port Authority of Allen County and partners with state agencies and educational institutions to drive regional job creation and capital investment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Park Owners Association Management (BPAJAHAH)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction services
• Site selection assistance
• Workforce development programs
• Incentive navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lima

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. Government/Funding Support: AEDG is funded through collaborative partnerships with local government (Allen County, City of Lima), the Greater Lima Region, and state development organizations (JobsOhio, Ohio Department of Development). As a nonprofit economic development organization, they do not charge businesses for their services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Allen Economic Development Group (AEDG) is a nonprofit economic development organization serving Allen County, Ohio. It provides free services to help businesses locate, expand, and grow in the region, including site selection assistance, business retention and expansion visits, incentive navigation, workforce development connections, and access to financing programs. AEDG also administers the Port Authority of Allen County, which delivers capital lease, PACE financing, and infrastructure support tools.

Product overview

Allen Economic Development Group (AEDG) operates as a service-based economic development organization rather than a product company. It offers a portfolio of economic development services including site selection assistance, business financing programs (D'Arcy Loan Fund, Allen County Revolving Loan Fund), tax incentive navigation (Enterprise Zone, CRA, Opportunity Zones), JobsOhio programs (Small Business Grants, Talent Acquisition Services, Relocation Incentives), Port Authority services (Capital Lease Program, BetterBuildings PACE financing), and workforce development initiatives including MakerFest. The organization also maintains a portfolio of available industrial and commercial sites in Allen County for business attraction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Economic Development Services
• D'Arcy Loan Fund
• Allen County Revolving Loan Fund
• Tax Abatement Programs
• JobsOhio Small Business Grant
• JobsOhio Talent Acquisition Services
• JobsOhio Relocation Incentive
• Capital Lease Program
• BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio (BBNWO) PACE Financing
• Industrial and Commercial Site Listings

Quantifiable outcome

• Lima/Allen County ranked #4 Tier 3 Metropolitan Area nationally for business competitiveness by Site Selection magazine (2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2026Google is investing $500 million in a data center in Lima, Ohio (Project BOSC). AEDG facilitated the project which includes $50M in local infrastructure investment and $13.7M water infrastructure improvements. The project represents the largest private-sector investment in Allen County history and will create 50 permanent jobs.
• Greater Lima Region (GLR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLR works in collaboration with AEDG to support economic, business, and community development in Allen County and surrounding region. Dave Stratton serves as President & CEO of GLR while Cynthia Leis leads AEDG. GLR provides funding support to AEDG and focuses on economic/community development across 8 counties.
• Port Authority of Allen CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAAC was created in 1982 and reorganized in 2013, administered by AEDG. It advances economic development through acquiring, constructing, financing, and operating Port Authority facilities. Cynthia Leis serves as Executive Director. Supports infrastructure projects, capital lease programs, and real estate development.
• Regional Growth Partnership (RGP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRGP serves as the economic development organization for the Toledo region and collaborates with AEDG on project attraction, OSIP grants, and site development. Chase Eikenbary, VP of Project Management, works directly with AEDG on business development.
• JobsOhiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level economic development organization providing incentives, workforce programs, and business attraction support. AEDG assists companies through JobsOhio Small Business Grant applications, Relocation Incentives, and Talent Acquisition Services. AEDG facilitated $550,000 in grants to 19 Allen County businesses since 2020.
• Regional Growth PartnershipcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVice President/Project Management Chase Eikenbary stated: 'The hard work starts and ends with Cindy Leis and her team, whose leadership continues to move Allen County forward. When local, regional, and state partners align around opportunities like this, it's clear that our strong regional economy is only getting stronger.'
• City of LimacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity government partner for economic development projects. Collaborative coordination on data center project for wastewater, water supply, and roadway infrastructure. Mayor Sharetta Smith serves on AEDG Board of Directors.
• Allen CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner for economic development. Allen County Commissioners approved data center agreements. County Engineer and Sanitary Engineer involved in infrastructure projects. Commissioner Beth Seibert serves on AEDG Board.
• Apollo Career CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer and technical education provider in Allen County. Collaborates with AEDG on workforce development initiatives, including MakerFest event and TechCred programs. Provides skilled workforce training for area employers.
• Rhodes State CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education institution in Lima providing workforce development and talent pipeline support. Cynthia Spiers serves on AEDG Board. Partner in workforce development initiatives.
• University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education institution in Lima providing career preparation and workforce training. Stephanie Malloy serves on AEDG Board. Partner in talent pipeline development.
• The Ohio State University - LimamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional campus of OSU providing higher education and workforce development programs. Partner in regional talent pipeline initiatives.
• Lima/Allen County Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of commerce providing business networking and advocacy. Josh Unterbrink serves on AEDG Board. Co-sponsor of MakerFest and annual events.
• Elida Local SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school district receiving $250,000 annually through 15-year tax abatement offset agreement with Google data center project. Partnership demonstrates direct community benefit from economic development projects.
• Ohio LogisticsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor logistics company developing two 100,000 sq ft spec buildings in Gateway Commerce Park with Clouse Construction. Project funded through Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) grant. AEDG facilitated the project with RGP.
• Clouse ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction company partnering with Ohio Logistics on Gateway Commerce Park spec buildings. Key partner in industrial development projects.
• VanamaticmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-generation family-owned precision manufacturer. Expanded with CNC division at Delphos Industrial Park. Created 57 new jobs (exceeding 50-job commitment). Invested $7.5M+ in machinery, equipment, and building improvements. Port Authority secured $525,000 in grants for infrastructure supporting Vanamatic expansion.
• PERRY proTECHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology solutions company that relocated headquarters with AEDG assistance. Received tax abatements and capital lease program support for new facility along I-75. Becky Taylor serves on AEDG Board.
• Allen County Sanitary EngineermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty office involved in infrastructure projects. Ron Meyer serves on Port Authority Board. Collaborates on water and wastewater infrastructure improvements for economic development projects.
• Allen Water DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater utility provider for Allen County. Partner in data center infrastructure projects including $13.6M water infrastructure improvements.
• City of Lima UtilitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal utility provider. Partner in economic development infrastructure projects and site development.
• Ohio Department of DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing development programs and funding. Partner in CEDS planning process and various incentive programs.
• Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState transportation agency. Partner on Thayer Road roundabout and other infrastructure projects. District 1 collaborated on State Route 81 roundabout.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@AllenCountyED
• Xx.com/AllenEconDG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/allen-economic-development-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Allen Economic Development Group