Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is a Washington County, Ohio economic development entity chartered under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4582 that issues tax-exempt conduit bonds (>$250M since 2002) and manages industrial real estate, including the developing Appalachian Multimodal Port on the Ohio River.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersMarietta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Southeastern Ohio Port Authority does
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority (SeOPA) is a county-level port authority and economic development organization chartered under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4582 and founded in 2002 to serve Washington County, Ohio. Its functional mandate is to facilitate public-purpose capital formation and industrial development within its jurisdiction, primarily through the issuance of tax-exempt conduit bonds and the management of industrial real estate assets. Since inception, SeOPA has facilitated more than $250 million in bond issuance, anchored by a $200M+ financing for Memorial Health Systems and a $34M financing for Marietta College, with additional activity supporting Good River Distribution and other regional employers.
SeOPA's core product set is twofold: (1) conduit bond issuance services that allow nonprofit and public-purpose borrowers to access tax-exempt capital markets, and (2) industrial park and riverfront real estate development, most notably through its control of the former Muskingum River Plant (acquired 2021) and the 51-acre Gorsuch site (acquired 2025), which together form the foundation of the proposed Appalachian Multimodal Port along the Ohio River. The authority is positioning this multimodal port as a logistics and data center hub, signaling a strategic pivot from pure administrative bond conduit toward operating real estate and tenant attraction.
The business model is a hybrid of public appropriation and project-based fee generation. Operating funding is derived from an approximately $175,000 annual appropriation from Washington County and roughly $100,000 in partner contributions, supplemented by bond issuance fees, lease income from industrial park tenants, and project-specific management fees. Revenue is therefore small in absolute terms (sub-$1M operating band) but the authority facilitates a meaningfully larger capital flow on a pass-through basis. Leadership is provided by CEO Jesse Roush and Director of Operations Mackenzie Goldsberry, supported by a county-appointed board.
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
- Legal name
- Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
- Website
- https://seohioport.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is a Washington County, Ohio economic development entity chartered under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4582 that issues tax-exempt conduit bonds (>$250M since 2002) and manages industrial real estate, including the developing Appalachian Multimodal Port on the Ohio River.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Economic Development Services
- NAICS
- Regulation and Administration of Transportation Programs (92612), Port and Harbor Operations (48831)
- SIC
- Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)
Keywords
Where Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marietta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Bond Issuance Services: SeOPA issues bonds on behalf of borrowers to make proceeds available for projects, working with traditional lending institutions and public partners. The financial strength is based on the creditworthiness of the underlying borrower.
- Sales Tax Exemption Pass-Through: SeOPA has exemption from sales tax on building and construction materials incorporated into its facilities. Through structured lease transactions, this exemption is passed on to companies.
- Real Estate Asset Revenue: Revenue generated from real estate assets owned by the Port Authority, including industrial properties and commercial buildings.
- Service Fees: Fees charged for technical assistance services including site selection, infrastructure development, project management, and regulatory navigation support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | County Appropriation (2024) |
| Other | Annual | Private Partner Contributions |
| Other | Annual | Pioneer Level Partnership |
| Other | Annual | Founder Level Partnership |
| Other | Annual | Settler Level Partnership |
| Other | Annual | Explorer Level Partnership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is an economic development organization that provides businesses with bond financing, site selection assistance, structured lease programs that pass through sales tax exemptions on construction materials, technical assistance for infrastructure and project management, and access to available commercial and industrial properties. It operates as a public-private partnership facilitating growth initiatives across Washington County, Ohio.
Product overview
The Southeastern Ohio Port Authority (SeOPA) is a public-private economic development organization, not a software product company. It offers a suite of economic development services centered around three core pillars: Strategic Partnerships, Project Coordination, and Economic Enhancement. The Strategic Partnerships service enables collaboration with businesses, investors, and government entities. Project Coordination provides access to resources for infrastructure development and business expansion. Economic Enhancement supports local initiatives. Additional services include a Site Selector Database, Property Showcase, Conduit Financing (bond issuance), Structured Lease programs, and Technical Assistance for site selection, regulatory navigation, and workforce development. These services collectively form an integrated economic development ecosystem designed to foster growth and investment in Washington County, Ohio.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $250M in bond funding issued since 2002
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, supporting and strategic.
- Memorial Health SystemsmajorMajor recipient of bond funding; SeOPA issued over $200M in bonds for construction, expansion, and renovation projects at Belpre and Marietta campuses, supporting healthcare infrastructure for the region.
- Marietta CollegemajorSeOPA issued nearly $34M in bonds in 2020 for construction and renovation projects supporting academic and athletic programs.
- Good River Distribution, LLCcoreSeOPA supported construction of the Good River Distribution water plant on SR7 with bond funding in 2013. The facility serves the majority of the county's industrial manufacturing base and aided in retention of 500 jobs.
- SAIHEATcoreSeOPA routinely works with new data center businesses like SAIHEAT by sharing available site information and helping make introductions to local landowners. SeOPA has been a strong supporter of education on advanced technology in agriculture industry.
- Ohio University Small Business Development CentersupportingReferral partner for small business resources; Ohio University SBDC offers free face-to-face business consulting and at-cost training.
- Building Bridges 2 CareerssupportingPartner organization providing workforce development resources for new entrepreneurs and existing businesses.
- JobsOhiocoreState-level economic development partner assisting with job creation and new market tax credits for businesses expanding in Washington County.
- Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG)coreRegional economic development organization that SeOPA partners with to facilitate capital investment for area businesses.
- City of MariettacorePartnership on the Residential Revitalization Program aimed at supporting economic revitalization, enhancing safety, and improving quality of life by addressing blighted residential properties.
- Shale Crescent USAstrategic501 c4 organization focused on encouraging economic growth in the Shale Crescent USA region by attracting businesses that benefit from the region's unique assets including abundant low-cost natural gas.
- Washington County Career CentercoreProvides workforce training programs including CISCO Networking Academy, Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing, Chemical Operator training, and customized programs for area industries.
- Marietta CollegesupportingPartner in workforce development; Sarah Mouch serves as Ex-Officio board member representing Marietta College on SeOPA board.
- Washington State College of OhiosupportingPartner in workforce development; Sarah Parker serves as Ex-Officio board member representing WSCO on SeOPA board.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ohio Port Authorities (e.g., Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority): Other Ohio port authorities organized under the same Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4582 that governs SeOPA. These entities share the same legal structure, conduit financing capabilities, and industrial park development mandates, operating at larger scale and different geographies in Ohio.
- JobsOhio: Ohio's statewide private economic development corporation. Both organizations provide financing facilitation, site selection, and project coordination for businesses expanding in Ohio, though JobsOhio operates at a state-wide scale versus SeOPA's county-level focus.
Direct peers
- America's Power Port Authorities (various): Peer port authorities across the U.S. that similarly combine conduit bond issuance, industrial property management, and economic development services. Comparable organizations like the Virginia Port Authority or Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority share SeOPA's hybrid public-private role.
- Buckeye Hills Regional Council: Regional council serving eight southeastern Ohio counties, including Washington County. Provides revolving loan fund assistance and economic development support to the same regional businesses and local governments that SeOPA serves.
- Shale Crescent USA: 501(c)(4) organization marketing the same southeastern Ohio/West Virginia region to attract energy-intensive businesses. A direct strategic partner of SeOPA, both are working to attract the same industrial and data center tenants to the same geographic footprint.
- Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG): Regional economic development organization serving southeastern Ohio. SeOPA explicitly partners with APEG to facilitate capital investment, making them direct collaborators addressing the same customers and projects in overlapping regional territory.
Others
- Greater Ohio Policy Center: Ohio-based nonprofit focused on revitalizing legacy industrial and downtown districts. Their work on land reuse and industrial redevelopment in legacy Ohio sites is thematically connected to SeOPA's industrial park redevelopment of former AEP and AMP power plant sites.
- Revitalize Ohio: Ohio-based nonprofit focused on legacy industrial property redevelopment and community revitalization. Thematically aligned with SeOPA's Muskingum River Industrial Park and Residential Revitalization Program at former power plant and brownfield sites.
Regional players
- Wayne Economic Development Corporation: County-level economic development organization in Ohio. Functions similarly to SeOPA at a different county level, focused on attracting businesses, facilitating financing, and managing local property assets.
- Belmont County Port Authority: Neighboring Ohio port authority serving Belmont County, adjacent to Washington County. Operates under the same Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4582 framework, providing comparable economic development services, bond issuance, and industrial park development in a neighboring region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority social profiles
Digital presenceSoutheastern Ohio Port Authority financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southeastern Ohio Port Authority
What does Southeastern Ohio Port Authority do?
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is an economic development organization that provides businesses with bond financing, site selection assistance, structured lease programs that pass through sales tax exemptions on construction materials, technical assistance for infrastructure and project management, and access to available commercial and industrial properties. It operates as a public-private partnership facilitating growth initiatives across Washington County, Ohio.
Is Southeastern Ohio Port Authority a public or private company?
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Southeastern Ohio Port Authority founded?
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Southeastern Ohio Port Authority based?
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority is headquartered in Marietta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southeastern Ohio Port Authority make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Bond Issuance Services are the primary driver. The others are sales Tax Exemption Pass-Through, real Estate Asset Revenue and service Fees.
Who are Southeastern Ohio Port Authority's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ohio Port Authorities (e.g., Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority) and JobsOhio. Direct peers are America's Power Port Authorities (various), Buckeye Hills Regional Council, Shale Crescent USA and Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG). Others are Greater Ohio Policy Center and Revitalize Ohio. Regional players are Wayne Economic Development Corporation and Belmont County Port Authority.
Does Southeastern Ohio Port Authority have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southeastern Ohio Port Authority.
What industry is Southeastern Ohio Port Authority in?
Southeastern Ohio Port Authority's product category is Economic Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAN, Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local), with a secondary code of BPAIALAF, Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals). Its NAICS code is 92612 and its SIC code is 6512.