BCDC helping businesses for 40 years

PHOTOS BY HEATHER IMMLER | BGNN

Board members of the nonprofit Barberton Community Development Corporation were given a tour of the warehouse space at the Seiberling Complex, 345 15th St., which houses more than a dozen businesses. BCDC celebrates 40 years of helping businesses in and around Barberton. This bulk system is used by Continental Carbon.

By CHRISTINA McCUNE | BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON  If you’ve ever hung up your clothes with a plastic hanger, there’s a chance you’re using something that came through a Barberton facility.

Integrity Processing is one of more than a dozen businesses that is making good use of space in part of the former Seiberling Rubber Co. at 345 15th St. On a recent tour, molds used to make hangers were observed in one area and boxes filled and ready to be transported were on the other side of an aisle in the tidy Seiberling Complex. Pallets were piled high in another area and outside a bulk system is in use by Continental Carbon.

Barberton Community Development Corporation can be thanked for making the space available to the businesses as well as quietly helping hundreds of other businesses over its 40 years. BCDC tends to work behind the scenes helping to give businesses a boost when they need it in Barberton, Norton and New Franklin.

Mayor William B. Judge is among about 20 volunteers who serve on the BCDC board. His father, William J. Judge, who served as mayor in the 1980s and passed away in 2017, is credited with establishing the BCDC on the heels of major industries pulling out of Barberton. Tom Anders was the first chairman. He and another former chairman, Tom Harnden, were among community leaders and public officials who serve on the all-volunteer board and were treated to an inside look of the Seiberling Complex building last month. Bob McKee is the current chairman of the board.

A large part of the facility that was unable to be renovated was razed last year. A part still exists that has yet to be renovated and could potentially be used for office space in the future.

The BCDC has only three paid employees: Scott Wagner, executive director, Francis Vislavsky, facility manager, and Kitty Sawyer, loan and officer administrator.

The nonprofit organization has been helping businesses with various loan programs, assistance and guidance. Focusing on all aspects of economic development, BCDC has assisted businesses relocating or expanding and has met their needs and helped with long-term goals. Targets are power generation and advanced energy, advanced manufacturing, specialty chemicals, biomedical, polymers/silicons manufacturing and distribution and health care/health care supported industries.
BCDC has been instrumental in helping some businesses and works with other organizations such as Barberton Community Foundation. Harnden said the BCDC has helped many small businesses which has made a positive economic impact on the city. The organization also has helped surrounding cities.

“In retrospect, we’ve tried to maintain people working in Barberton and understanding that companies go through cycles and you need to recognize that if a company is going through a cycle maybe they need a little assistance to maintain their ability to stay in business,” Anders said.

BCDC board members who were present at the tour included Anders and Harnden, Brad Angeloff, John Angerer, Colin Delagrange, Rebecca Gearhart, Josh Gordon, Bob Incorvati, Mayor William Judge, Bob Martin, Bob McKee and Barry Rosenbaum.

Companies that operate from 345 15th St., include Action Recycling, Continental Carbon, Full Circle Technology, Integrity Processing, Interstate Express, K & K Services, Legacy Polymers, John Dow, Stay-Well Naturals, LLC, Relco Trucking, Facility Services Group, You-Load-It, Yerman & Young Painting.

For more information about BCDC, call 330-745-3070.