People Make the Business — and We Have the Best Around.
Your business deserves the level of employees you’ll find in Stark County.
Business.com explains the critical nature of good employees for a business, stating that they carry out your mission, are dedicated to your goals, positively influence your customers, and drive revenue. You experience exceptional value associated with this single facet of your business.
Stark County is business-friendly. We support businesses seeking to relocate here and make the process easier, cutting through red tape and other needless clutter to get you where you want to be when you want to be there.
That’s partly why 223 companies exceeding 2.5M in revenue call Stark County home. These companies account for $7.74B in total traded sector business revenue. These companies appreciate the level of quality and skills of the Stark County workforce, employing over 21K people, which represents 12% of the private sector employment in our county.
Talent is nurtured here.
Stark County’s workforce system is structured around employer alignment rather than institutional silos. More than 21,000 students are enrolled across 6 local colleges and universities, with programs designed in collaboration with industry to meet current and projected workforce needs.
Employers benefit from:
- Direct engagement with training providers
- Customizable workforce development programs
- A labor pool with experience in manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics
The region’s approach emphasizes responsiveness, adjusting training pipelines based on employer demand rather than fixed academic models.
Partnerships play a major role.
One important factor making Stark County business-friendly is our local Workforce Development Board, the mission of which is to assist area businesses in meeting their workforce needs by coordinating workforce development activities of the numerous employment, education, and economic development entities in the region. It is their vision that by doing so, they will ultimately play a significant role in supporting the economic prosperity of our communities and their citizens.
We also have the perfect partnership with the OhioMeansJobs One-Stop, which supports the mission of the Workforce Development Board and enhances economic development in Stark and Tuscarawas counties by providing a common point of access to all partner programs and to the desired employment, education, and training information, along with activities for both employers and job seekers. The OhioMeansJobs One-Stop System acts as a consolidated employment resource for all one-stop partner programs, employers, and job seekers.
Workforce Development Insights.
The Stark County workforce is a true natural resource for businesses.
We attend to our human capital by applying the most successful and up-to-date workforce development knowledge and tactics. This is largely based on the philosophy that employees are the number one factor in the performance of a company. An engaged employee is a productive employee, essential because workforce productivity affects sales, customer satisfaction, company confidence, and more.
We focus on providing our businesses access to a skilled workforce, which enhances competitiveness, bolsters the acquisition and retention of talent, and builds stronger networks with other organizations and entities. Stark County workforce development is defined as strategies, programs, and initiatives to enrich the skills, knowledge, and capabilities of our workforce. There are three types of workforce development — on-the-job training, educational programs (such as certifications, degrees, and continuing education), and community-based programs that help employees with “soft skills.”
Stark County’s workforce development programs apply the acknowledged key elements of that venture as outlined by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP).
Job Seeker Report
Workforce development programs help individuals:
- Identify career goals
- Gain essential skills and credentials
- Overcome barriers such as transportation, childcare, or housing
- Secure employment and advance in their careers
Business and Employer Engagement
Workforce development professionals partner with employers to:
- Understand hiring needs
- Design relevant training programs
- Create work-based learning opportunities (e.g., apprenticeships, internships)
- Develop talent pipelines tailored to local and regional economies
Collaborative Ecosystem
Collaborative Ecosystem Workforce development involves collaboration across:
- Government agencies (local, state, and federal)
- Educational institutions
- Nonprofit and community-based organizations
- Economic development entities
- Employers and industry leaders
Incentives Come in the Form of Loans, Grants, and Tax Credits
We help you secure project-specific, customized state-level financial assistance.
Stark County enjoys a unique collaboration with Team NEO, the designated JobsOhio network partner for Northeast Ohio. JobsOhio supports Stark County business growth with special incentives. Projects are evaluated on a per-case basis with significant consideration given to the following criteria:
Job Creation
New Payroll
Fixed Asset Investment
Industry Sector
Business Operation/Financial Backing
Out-of-State Competition
Project Timing
Return On Investment Projects must fall within one of the following JobsOhio supported industry sectors:
| Industry Sector | Focus Areas |
|---|---|
| Advanced Manufacturing | Additive, semiconductors, composites |
| Aerospace & Aviation | Aviation hubs, R&D, defense integration |
| Automotive | OEMs, advanced mobility |
| Advanced Mobility | EVs, autonomous systems |
| Energy & Chemicals | Petrochemicals, renewables |
| Financial Services | Banking, Insurtech |
| Food & Agribusiness | Food processing, agriculture |
| Healthcare | Pharma, biotech, life sciences |
| Logistics & Distribution | Warehousing, transport, intermodal |
| Military & Federal | Federal R&D, bases, defense supply |
| Technology | AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors |
A Perfect Partnership
Stark County partners with JobsOhio and their small business incentive program to provide grant support of up to $50K for small to medium-sized companies with revenues between $100K and $25M.
This program has target priorities of companies of underrepresented-ownership (51%), including minority-owned, women-owned, Veteran-owned, and disabled-owned. To be eligible, these companies must have at least 12 months of operating history and a minimum of 10% incremental job or payroll growth.
Tax credits can be considered when a company commits to create a defined number of jobs. Ohio approves a tax credit based on a percentage of the new payroll, not including existing jobs. The company only receives the credit if it actually creates the jobs and reports them every year. The credit is refundable, so even if the company doesn’t owe much in taxes, they still get the difference as a check.
Stark County Economic Development Board is the business community’s concierge service, facilitating access to state-level incentives; local incentive packages; site or facility selection; utility, zoning, and permitting help; talent recruitment assistance; training grants and programs; entrepreneur support; and more. Furthermore, the Stark County Port Authority assists in the process of creating and managing foreign trade zones (FTZs) within Stark County; serves as a financing vehicle for business development; helps in real estate acquisition and development to further Stark County’s economic development activities; and provides you a resource for funding infrastructure and related improvements necessary for economic development.