State ED officials visit local companies

VW City ED information

Among the three stops in the city of Van Wert made by Chase Eikenbary, Governor Kasich’s liaison for northwest Ohio, and John Recker, senior project manager for the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio, was Central Insurance Companies.

While at Central, company President/CEO Bill Purmort and Van Wert City Economic Development Director Cindy Leis told of investments made over the years by Central to make the location a showcase for visitors.

Other visits included a luncheon with representatives from Power 10, the company managing the Opportunity Fund Initiative, and the Business Development Corporation, where the campaign has raised more than $1 million toward economic development initiatives for the community.

Finally, the group ended its tour at Elmco Engineering, where Chief Financial Officer Annie Shartzer and other company representatives spoke of the need to increase floor space to accommodate growing sales and consolidation of the operations.