Doing Business

Large Enough to Serve, Small Enough to Care

Fostoria is a community with a strong, smart and plentiful workforce; where neighbors greet each other by name; where businesses work together for the common good; and where new industries are not simply welcomed, but encouraged and nurtured.

In fact, there are a lot of things to say about the City of Fostoria, where town and country meet in the interest of good business and good living. Where highways and railways converge at the crossroads of the Midwest. Where families and companies can put down roots. Where there is room to grow!

Ohio consistently ranks as one of the top places in the nation to live and do business. The state offers low business costs, a supportive business environment, plentiful, productive labor force and outstanding scenic and recreational attractions.

A non-metropolitan community of 14,000, Fostoria is located in a market area of 138,000 within a 30 minute commute. A wide range of resources exist to help start, locate or expand your business in Fostoria.

Excellent Location

Located in Northwest Ohio, you cannot find a more central, productive or suitable location. At the heart of the Midwest's industrial corridor, our crossroads stretch from Detroit to Cincinnati, Pittsburgh to Chicago.

Transportation

An excellent transportation network of U.S. and State Highways makes doing business in Fostoria convenient for all. We also have three major rail lines traversing the city, providing direct access to coastal and gulf ports.

Incentives

Located in the Community Reinvestment Area, incentives are possible, including workforce development, financial and technical assistance. Utility rates are competitive with surrounding areas and industrial user incentives may be available.

Available Labor

A labor force of over 185,000 drawn from five surrounding counties provides businesses with a well-trained pool of employees. Customized skills training is available through local community and technical colleges.

Workforce Development

Ohio Means Jobs Seneca County

 The OhioMeansJobs Seneca County Resource Center is a partnership between the Seneca County DJFS and our community OhioMeansJobs Seneca County Partners that offers a wide range of free services to individuals in the surrounding community. These services are designed to help individuals find jobs or find better jobs.

 

Jobs Fostoria

 This public group is to promote Jobs available in the Fostoria area. Please post job openings only along with contact information for job seekers to pursue these potential jobs. For additional information on companies hiring in Fostoria, visit http://fostoriaedc.org/job-openings/ or jobsfostoria.com

 

 

Fostoria Learning Center

The objective of the Fostoria Learning Center is to increase the education attainment level of the residents of Fostoria, Ohio and the surrounding area by fostering a deep and rich community of lifelong learning. Higher learning increases local economic development principally by increasing the quality of the local workforce and secondly by increasing local innovative ideas. Our region’s competitive advantage depends entirely on the quality of its citizens and workforce, which is one of the reasons this initiative is so important. The Fostoria Learning Center provides an opportunity for the community to make a meaningful investment in its own residents while also becoming a compelling role model for other communities.

Starters

Who’s it for?

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, or a seasoned entrepreneur looking to launch a new product or service, CO.STARTERS is for you. The only real prerequisites are (1) having an idea you’re ready, willing, and excited to share and pursue and (2) a willingness to study, shape and fine-tune that idea in a supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment. If you’re creative and community-minded, and you’re serious about turning your passion into a sustainable business, we want you.

For more information about CO.STARTERS click HERE

For advising hours please visit : http://www.fostoriaohio.org/advising-hours/

Financial Data

Local Property Tax

All real property is assessed at the local level, and tax rates are regulated by local officials and voters. The County Auditor, the chief assessing officer, lists and values the real property with the county for taxation purposes, under the direction and supervision of the County Board of Tax Appeals.

*Fostoria does not have personal property tax.

Current Property Tax Rates

Tax rates by county/district can be found on the respective Auditor’s web sites.

Hancock County Sales Tax

Hancock County Auditor: Charity Rauschenberg

Website

Seneca County Sales Tax

Seneca County Auditor: Julie Adkins

Website

Wood County Sales Tax

Wood County Auditor: Matthew Oestreich

Website

City Income Tax

Director of Finance: Steve Dandurand

Website

Benefactor & Director Members

Transportation

The City of Fostoria is centrally located within three different counties Seneca, Wood and Hancock. Fostoria also has a city owned public Airport that is located 2 miles northeast of city limits. Fostoria has an excellent transportation network containing numerous highways and railways and is also close to The Ohio Turnpike (1-80/90) and Interstate 75. 

 

Routes Include:

  • U.S 23 | Toledo to Columbus
  • U.S 23 | Toledo to Columbus
  • Ohio 12 | Connects with the Ohio Turnpike and I-75
  • Ohio 18 | Intersects in the city, providing easy multi-direction access
  • Ohio 199 | Intersects in the city, providing easy multi-direction access
  • Ohio 587 | Intersects in the city, providing easy multi-direction access
  • Ohio 613 | Intersects in the city, providing easy multi-direction access
Within 3 hours of 80% of the country's auto assembly plants
Within 500 miles of 67% of the nation's population

Motor Carriers/Trucks

Over 500 major bureau carriers have authority to provide service to and from the city of Fostoria. Services include 25 regular and 35 irregular route common carriers servicing daily, 9 carriers offering containerized service for export and import, 16 companies offering pickup and deliver service to and from the city.

Railroads

Main line service by 2 railroads, both with yards and interchange agreements, provides Fostoria with rail shipping facilities in all directions. Norfolk Southern & CSX Transportation connect with comprehensive intermodal transportation ports for both domestic and international shipping. Efficient service is provided to the Pacific and Atlantic seaboards and south to the Gulf Coast.

Air Facilities

The Fostoria Municipal Airport offers a 5005' X 100' all weather surface runway, high intensity transmitter activated runway lights and beacon, hanger space and a full time base operator. Fostoria is also less than 2 hours away from DTW and 45 miles from Toledo Express Airport and Burlington Air Express air-cargo hub. The airport has regularly scheduled flights with more than 40 daily departures and general aviation service connecting most major cities.

Port Facilities

Less than 50 miles from Fostoria is the only diversified cargo-handling port on the Great Lakes. The Port of Toledo is a domestic and international shipping center located along the Maumee River and has a 150 acre overseas cargo center which offers world traders the benefits of a Foreign Trade Zone operation. Total Port cargo annually averages 12 million tons.