Southeast Ohio: March 23, 2026 –– DEIP II SPEC LLC and the Community Improvement Corporation of Gallia County (CIC of Gallia County) in collaboration with Como Development, JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), Ohio Department of Development, Gallia County Economic Development, and the Gallia County Commissioners, today announced the development of a 50,000 square-foot speculative building at the Dan Evans Industrial Park. The spec building at the 77-acre SiteOhio Authenticated site will be supported by a $2 million JobsOhio Grant through the Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP).
“The spec building at Dan Evans Industrial Park will be a vital driver of business expansion and job creation in Gallia County,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “Investing in the site alongside state and local partners empowers Southeast Ohio to further build on its manufacturing legacy, with new companies having the opportunity to quickly utilize an exceptional speculative building upon completion.”
The overall investment of over $6.1 million includes site preparation and the construction of a new 50,000 square-foot building that will be expandable to 250,000 square feet. The building will be well-suited for manufacturing, warehousing, and light industrial projects. The 10-acre project site has been subdivided from the SiteOhio Authenticated 77-acre parcel within the Dan Evans Industrial Park in Gallia County. Construction on the building will begin this spring and is anticipated to be completed by early 2027. The building is available for lease or purchase.
“By constructing this building, Gallia County will have a tremendous asset to attract additional industrial investment,” said Patrick Saunders, President of the Community Improvement Corporation of Gallia County. “The CIC is focused on the betterment of Gallia County through economic development, and this building will be a powerful tool to accomplish that objective.”
The Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) was established to create property within the state that is not being developed by the market, but has proven demand and known economic benefits. This program improves the state’s competitive edge with respect to attracting new investment and job creation by filling gaps in the state’s inventory portfolio.
The Dan Evans Industrial Park is strategically located less than one mile from a four-lane highway (US-35) and within a day’s drive of more than 60% of the U.S. population. The Park, which was established in 1998, is home to numerous existing companies and is in close proximity to historic industrial investments currently underway in the steel, aerospace, energy generation, automotive, food manufacturing industries taking place in the Ohio Valley region. The largest of which is Nucor Steel’s $4B Sheet Mill in Apple Grove, West Virginia.
“For many years Gallia County has not possessed available square footage suitable to attract industrial investment,” said Taylor Stepp, the Gallia County Economic Development Director. “This spec building will add much needed industrial inventory to land a new industrial park tenant, which will yield new jobs and investment for Gallia County. We are thankful for the investment that CIC of Gallia County, JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development have made into Gallia County.”
The project also received $1 million from the All Ohio Future Fund through the Ohio Department of Development to assist in financing site preparations, road extension, and utilities.
“Ohio’s economic momentum isn’t happening by chance. It’s the result of intentional investments in our people, our places, and our undeniable potential,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “By building this spec site, our partners in Gallia County are positioning themselves for future growth. They’re not waiting for their opportunity — they’re taking it — and that’s exactly why we created the All Ohio Future Fund.”
The All Ohio Future Fund was established by the DeWine Administration in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly to support local communities with site-readiness and preparation to attract economic development projects.
“Bringing new, well-paying jobs to Gallia County is a top priority for the Commission and this project will help do just that,” said the Gallia County Commissioners in a joint statement. “We look forward to supporting the eventual tenant of the spec building as they invest in Gallia County.”
The Gallia County Commissioners supported the spec building development with a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax abatement, which will aid in the development and marketing of the building.
“This industrial park’s location will allow access to our region’s labor surplus and support continued growth in Gallia County,” said Matt Abbott, OhioSE President and CEO. “We were pleased to work with the Gallia County Community Improvement Corporation and DEIP II to provide assistance for this spec building project.”
–
Contact: Taylor Stepp, Gallia County Economic Development Director: (740) 245-7223 and tstepp@rio.edu Matt Englehart, JobsOhio Communications Manager: (614) 300-1152 and englehart@jobsohio.com; or Sarah Arnold, OhioSE Director of Communication & Marketing: 740.525.5510 and sarah@ohiose.com.
Community Improvement Corporation of Gallia County: the CIC of Gallia County is focused on the betterment of Gallia County through industrial and economic development. The CIC has successfully developed the Dan Evans Industrial Park and has served the community since 1964.
University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College: promotes economic growth in Gallia County through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses and industries. It provides resources that encourage investment and development, resulting in economic vitality, diversification of Gallia County’s tax base, and improved quality of life for Gallia County residents. Learn more at GrowGallia.com.
Como Development is an Ohio-based development firm that specializes in flex/industrial projects. Como has partnered with multiple communities to help bring speculative industrial buildings to fruition, creating needed products in areas with great labor and good thoroughfare connectivity. www.comodevelopment.com
Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve. Learn more at OhioSE.com.
JobsOhio,Ohio’s private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.