Union County-Marysville Economic Development

What Union County-Marysville Economic Development does

Union County-Marysville Economic Development (UCED) is a government economic development organization serving Union County and the City of Marysville, Ohio, with a small staff led by Economic Development Director Eric Phillips. It coordinates business attraction, retention, and expansion activities for one of Ohio's fastest-growing counties (population 69,637), targeting six verticals: Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Automotive & Smart Tech, Foreign Direct Investment, Research & Development, and Small Business. Its anchor asset cluster includes the 33 Smart Mobility Corridor (35+ miles of connected-vehicle infrastructure with 94 roadside units, 800+ onboard units, 32 connected traffic signals, and a 432-strand fiber network), the Transportation Research Center's 540-acre SMARTCenter, the Automotive & Mobility Innovation Center (AMIC) incubator, the BUILD coworking facility, and 33 Innovation Park. The organization also acts as a service broker—site selection, incentives navigation, property search via an embedded Catylist tool, and direct enterprise outreach—while partnering with JobsOhio, One Columbus, and Ohio Life Sciences to channel leads.

Services are provided free of charge to businesses. UCED's revenue model is a hybrid of public appropriations (Union County, City of Marysville, JobsOhio) and a tiered corporate partnership program (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Supporter) anchored by Honda, Scotts Miracle-Gro, AWS, Memorial Health, and Union Rural Electric. GTM is relationship-driven: direct engagement with site selectors and corporate decision-makers, partner referrals, and event-driven outreach anchored by Ohio's Future of Mobility Conference. The client base spans enterprise employers (Honda: 7,110 employees; Scotts Miracle-Gro: 1,500; Memorial Health: 1,181) and a long tail of small businesses and international companies—particularly 22+ Japanese-owned firms contributing $8B in cumulative FDI over 40 years.

In April 2026, UCED secured the Premier Life Sciences Ready Community designation from Ohio Life Sciences (one of six in the state), and in May 2026 co-launched the Forward Union-Marysville Economic Development Strategy with Boyette Strategic Advisors following engagement with 1,800+ stakeholders. The organization is leveraging these to expand into life sciences, data center attraction (AWS already on-shoring capacity in Jerome Township), and autonomous logistics (Einride SAE Level 4 deployment with EASE Logistics, June 2026).

Name

Union County-Marysville Economic Development

Legal name

Union County-Marysville Economic Development

Website

https://growunioncountyohio.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1820

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Government economic development organization coordinating business attraction, incentives, and site selection for Union County and Marysville, Ohio, operating free services funded by public appropriations and a tiered corporate partnership program anchored by Honda.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Land & Build-to-Suit Site Brokerage (BPAJACAJ)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business attraction programs
• Site selection support
• Workforce development
• Community development planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Marysville

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnership/Investment Program: The organization operates a partnership investment program where businesses and organizations invest financially to support economic development efforts. Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Supporter tiers provide funding.
2. Public Funding and Grants: Government-funded economic development services supported by Union County, City of Marysville, and state economic development agencies like JobsOhio

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UCED coordinates business attraction, retention, and expansion across six target industries (Advanced Manufacturing, Agriculture, Automotive & Smart Tech, Foreign Direct Investment, Research & Development, and Small Business). It provides free site selection assistance, incentives facilitation, workforce development support, international (Japanese) business resources, and access to physical assets including 33 Innovation Park, the Automotive & Mobility Innovation Center (AMIC), and BUILD Space coworking. Services are delivered through direct engagement, partner referrals, and an online property search tool.

Product overview

Union County-Marysville Economic Development is an economic development organization (not a software product company) that offers a portfolio of programs, services, and physical facilities to support business growth and investment in Union County, Ohio. The portfolio includes real estate development initiatives (33 Innovation Park), technology incubators (Automotive & Mobility Innovation Center), coworking spaces (BUILD Space), property search tools, strategic planning services, international business support (Japanese Resources), and sector-specific designations (Premier Life Sciences Ready Community). The organization operates tiered partnership programs for investors and provides various resources for small businesses, startups, and large employers. No single unified software product or SaaS platform is offered; rather, the organization provides consultative services, physical infrastructure, and community programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 33 Innovation Park Business innovation park offering commercial space and development opportunities for businesses in the mobility and technology sectors within America's Innovation Belt.
• Automotive & Mobility Innovation Center (AMIC) Smart Tech incubator space for businesses in the Midwest, providing flexible office solutions with state-of-the-art amenities including 24/7 access, secure storage, and on-site support services for automotive and mobility innovation companies.
• BUILD Space Coworking Modern office facilities with high-speed internet, conference rooms, and collaborative workspaces for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Marysville.
• Property Search Tool Streamlined property search tool allowing users to browse square footage, leasing agents, and property data for available industrial and commercial sites in Union County.
• Small Business Support Services Comprehensive guidance through the complexities of establishing and growing a business in Union County, including navigation of regulations, access to resources and networks, and startup support.
• Japanese Business Resources Specialized resources for Japanese residents and businesses in the Union County and Marysville area, including language-specific materials and cultural support services.
• Economic Development Partnership Program Investment partnership program offering Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Supporter tier sponsorships for businesses to support economic development efforts, with varying levels of visibility and engagement opportunities.
• Data Center Resources Resources and support for data center development and operations in Union County, attracting technology infrastructure investments.
• Forward Union-Marysville Strategic Plan Comprehensive economic development strategy developed with Boyette Strategic Advisors, involving 1,800 participants through interviews and surveys, guiding business retention, industry attraction, and infrastructure investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 4th nationally for percentage housing growth among counties with 5,000+ units
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core, flagship and supporting.

• Boyette Strategic AdvisorsstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 May 2026Developed the Forward Union-Marysville Economic Development Strategy through extensive stakeholder engagement (1,800+ participants, 1,700+ survey responses).
• JobsOhiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState economic development organization providing resources to empower businesses and individuals; key referral partner for business attraction and expansion efforts in Ohio.
• One ColumbuscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional economic development organization covering the Columbus Region; partners on marketing and business development for Union County.
• Ohio Life SciencesstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide life sciences industry association; awarded Union County Premier Life Sciences Ready Community designation and provides marketing visibility.
• HondaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship partner since 1979; Honda of America has invested $4.4 billion and employs 7,110+ workers. Platinum partner supporting economic development efforts.
• Scotts Miracle-GrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner with world headquarters in Marysville; 1,500 employees; agricultural R&D operations supporting regional economy.
• Union CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner and government stakeholder; provides public funding and support for economic development initiatives.
• City of MarysvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum partner and municipal government; co-developer of Economic Development Strategy; supports business-friendly policies.
• Memorial HealthsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGold partner; major healthcare employer (1,181 employees) and community health provider; supports workforce health and quality of life.
• Union Rural ElectricsupportingTechnology or IntegrationGold partner; provides electric utility infrastructure critical for industrial and commercial development.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver partner with data center operations in Marysville and Jerome Township; significant infrastructure investment in the region.
• EASE LogisticssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver partner; warehouse logistics company; collaborating on autonomous electric truck deployment with Einride.
• AMIC (Automotive & Mobility Innovation Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmart Tech Incubator Space for businesses in the Midwest; hosts Ohio's Future of Mobility Conference; supports mobility innovation ecosystem.
• 33 Innovation ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness opportunities in America's Innovation Belt; supports emerging technology companies and innovation-driven economic development.
• The Beta DistrictstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation ecosystem spanning Columbus; Union County hosts key assets including the 33 Smart Corridor and AMIC within Beta District.
• ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners on DriveOhio Truck Automation Corridor initiative and 33 Smart Mobility Corridor infrastructure development.
• Union County Chamber of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-located at headquarters; supports business networking, advocacy, and community development.
• Union County AirportsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral aviation airport with zoning regulations administered to ensure safe aircraft operations in vicinity.
• LUC Regional Planning CommissionsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAdministers Comprehensive Land Use Plans for municipalities and townships; supports coordinated planning.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dayton Development Coalition: Regional economic development organization serving the Dayton region (Ohio); comparable mission of business attraction, workforce development, and FDI support within Ohio's innovation corridor.
• JobsOhio: State-level private economic development corporation for Ohio; partners with and refers deals to Union County-Marysville EDO on business attraction, site selection, and incentives. Same core function at different geographic scale.
• McCallum Sweeney Consulting: Site selection and incentive negotiation consultancy serving corporate clients choosing US locations; comparable function in the same business attraction funnel as a county EDO.
• REDI Cincinnati: Regional economic development initiative for the Cincinnati tri-state area; comparable scope of site selection, talent attraction, and target-industry programs in Ohio's broader footprint.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation: Indiana's statewide public-private economic development organization; runs parallel business attraction, FDI, and site-readiness programs in the neighboring Midwest innovation corridor.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Cleveland-area chamber/EDO hybrid focused on business growth, talent, and inclusion; comparable urban-suburban EDO model serving a defined Ohio region.
• One Columbus: Regional economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region; co-markets Union County to site selectors and corporate decision-makers under a shared FDI/attraction mandate.
• Detroit Regional Partnership: Regional EDO promoting the Detroit region for automotive and mobility FDI; highly comparable to Union County given shared automotive heritage and focus on next-generation mobility investment.
• Greater Akron Chamber: Regional chamber/EDO hybrid for the Akron region (Ohio); offers comparable business retention, attraction, and small-business support services to a defined Northeast Ohio geography.

Broad incumbents

• Site Selectors Guild: Industry association of professional site selection consultants that actively refers corporate expansion projects to EDOs like Union County-Marysville; broader incumbent in the same attraction ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GrowUC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ucmed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Union County-Marysville Economic Development